Colors of Chaos

LXXVII

CERRYL AND LEYLADIN stood in the entry foyer of her house. Outside, a cold drizzle fell through the darkness, the mist rising from the stone walks and roads thick enough to blot out the lamps from the adjoining houses.

“I enjoyed dinner, and being here…again.” Cerryl dropped his hand from the door and took her hands. Her fingers were cool in his.

“Father talked too much…” A wry smile flashed across her lips and vanished.

“It was all right. He doesn’t have too many people to talk to, I wouldn’t imagine. Not besides you.”

Leyladin frowned.

“What’s the matter?”

“Sometimes…” She offered a small sigh, taking her hands back, but not moving away. “Sometimes, I’m not good at being patient, either. I wish I were.”

“You could come. Jeslek wouldn’t mind having a healer.”

“No. If I come, then you can’t do what you must. You won’t look out for yourself, and then we’ll have no chance at all.” Her words were firm. “I don’t like it. But I know.”

Cerryl wanted to shake his head. “Know what?”

“You’re leaving tomorrow. How do you feel about that?” Leyladin asked.

“Worried. You didn’t answer my question.”

“Worried about what?” Her deep green eyes glinted.

“Leaving you, of course.”

“Ha! You said that because I expected it.”

Cerryl forced an enigmatic smile.

“Don’t do that.” She frowned. “I can’t tell if you’re teasing or if you’re still giving me that order-cursed smile because you don’t want to disagree with me.”

Cerryl grinned. “You’re beautiful when your eyes flash like that.”

“They will flash. I know Anya’s going with Jeslek, after they deal with Hydolar, but you’ll end up in Spidlar together-or close enough. She’s still pure poison, especially for you. She may smile, but she hates you, partly because you don’t manipulate easily and partly because of me. She can’t stand the thought that a White mage could love-and touch-a Black.”

“I can see that…Is that why you can’t come?”

“Partly. Kinowin also asked that I not go.”

Cerryl concealed a swallow. At times, it seemed as though he were still the mill boy or the apprentice and everyone else knew what was happening and he could only catch glimpses. Even when he asked and searched, he got no answers or answers that weren’t answers at all. “Did he say why?”

“He said it would be a war, a war that Candar had not seen the like of and would not again until Fairhaven fell, and that would be many more generations. Many more.”

From anyone but Kinowin…“He said that?”

“He told me that my going wouldn’t be good for me or for you. He was most firm.” Her eyes glinted with anger, anger Cerryl could feel before it faded. “Most firm.”

Leyladin smiled sadly and put her arms around Cerryl. “He also said you had much to do and to learn…if Myral’s visions were to come to pass.”

“What about us?”

“If they don’t…” Her eyes misted in the dim light.

Cerryl hugged her to him, even more tightly, so tightly he almost felt that black and white, or black and gray, twisted around each other in the dimness. Their lips met, and there was no hesitation, not for either.