In Which Vera Makes an Introduction

February 12, 1177

Oddly conscious of her brother-in-law's eyes drilling into the back of her skull, Vera's toes twitched against the lining of her boot. She hadn't meant to bring the entourage, but she'd made the apparently stupid mistake of mentioning to Riona that she was planning on visiting the mysterious blind boy at Lorn's chapel. At the mention of the place, Riona's face had flushed a sickly white, an alien sort of panic in her eyes as she insisted on accompanying her--which would have been bad enough if Isidro hadn't been in the room to decide that anything Riona found worrisome was worth the extra supervision of his own self.

Figuring she couldn't be less comfortable anyway, Vera slouched against the hard back of the pew. As much as she loved them both, it was difficult to have a conversation amidst Riona's frequent interruptions and Isidro's unyielding surveillance. She didn't think she'd said two words since arriving. The boy must have thought her an awful bore. "Sorry about this."

The boy shrugged. Riona's response was a bit more verbal. "What? Was he hoping you two would have some time alone?"

"Riona!" Vera shot her sister a glare, then turned back to the boy. "Really. My sister knows better than... that."

The boy gave a sheepish little half-smile. Funny how he could manage it without having seen one... or had he? She supposed she could ask, but there wouldn't be much point in it when he couldn't answer.

"Look, were you planning on doing anything other than just sitting there?" Behind her, Riona's foot tapped against the floorboards, the sound echoing slightly off the chapel's stone walls. "I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to."

Vera rolled her eyes. "Then go. No one's stopping you."

Riona said nothing, but neither did she move. What was her issue with this place anyway? It wasn't all that long ago when she'd been a regular visitor. Had she and Rona had a falling out? They weren't fighting over the whole Lonriad-and-Aspen thing, were they?

More than a little annoyed, she glanced back at the boy, who was looking back at her--or at least, had his head turned somewhat in her direction. His smile was gone, a concerned frown in its place. "You all right?"

He swallowed. Not like he could tell her anything more than that. Why had she even asked? Stupid!

"I wish you could answer me."

"I'm surprised to see you back so soon."

The voice was alarming enough to drive Vera out of her seat--and Riona too, it seemed. Then again, it was the parish priest. Vera had only ever seen him among crowds, but somehow she wasn't surprised to learn he had that power.

"We were just leaving." Riona reached for Vera's arm and guided her around the pew, then started toward the door and gestured for her to follow. As she passed him, Vera exchanged a look with a suspicious Isidro, who drew himself to his feet and shuffled warily after them.

Brother Remiel's strange eyes glinted. "Were you, now?"

"Yes." Riona's response was quick--too quick.

A twisted sort of smile played on Remiel's lips. Vera fell queasy at the sight of the thing; for all the way it curved, it didn't feel like a smile at all. "Surely not without a kiss on her ladyship's hand?"

Riona then did something Vera had never seen her do--quiver. The motion unyielding, she took a stunted half-step backward as Brother Remiel drew nearer; Isidro took her in his arms and did his best to steady her. "It is a privilege to kiss her ladyship's hand, not an entitlement--and judging by her body language, I take it you haven't been granted the honor."

Vera's heart beat a little faster as her brother-in-law's grip on her sister tightened. It was a new level of tension even for Isidro and she couldn't blame him at all; if a man could set Riona trembling, then a little tension was nothing.

Unimpressed, Remiel crossed his arms. "I take it you're the husband."

"That's right--and clergyman or not, I won't have you so much as looking at my wife without her leave."

A bored sniff escaping him, Remiel obliged--not out of defeat, Vera knew acutely, but disregard. "Very well. Now who is this one?" Those eerie golden eyes left Riona and landed instead on Vera. Some icy chain wrapped itself around her spine and choked. "Your sister, I take it?"

"Don't even think about it," Isidro snarled.

Remiel chuckled under his breath. If Vera had ever heard a less inviting laugh, she'd made a point to forget it. "Sir, I believe you gravely misjudge my motives. I am simply making a point to introduce myself to a patron of my chapel--nothing more."

He held out his hand for her to shake it, an impatient twitch hinting that he might grab for hers if she refused to offer it. She tried to raise it if only to chase him off, but found she couldn't; the ice around her spine had spread throughout her arm.

"You're being quite rude, you know." His hand drew a little nearer, needling downward in a dive for her own. Riona cringed. Isidro scowled, easing his hold on Riona as if preparing to charge on Remiel. Unable to even step back, Vera closed her eyes and braced herself.

But he never touched her. There was something--someone--blocking the way.

In spite of it all, she had to smile.

NEXT CHAPTER: