I couldn't believe it. I had known Daeron since we were children. We'd been friends since we were both five years old--17 years, now. How could he have kept this a secret that entire time? /You managed it yourself,/ I reminded myself after the initial shock had worn off. I was still hidden in the shadows. Daeron hadn't noticed me. I watched as after a moment the stone he was raising fell to the ground and he cursed, putting his hands on his knees and panting. I froze, unsure of what to do. /Of all people, it's someone I trust with my life. I don't have to be alone. But will he want to know that I know?/
I decided he would have to. I stepped out of the shadows and slowly approached him. He still hadn't noticed me. His head was between his knees as if he might faint. My voice caught in my throat. "Daeron?" I spoke quietly, hoping not to startle him. No luck. His head whipped up, and he stared at me in alarm, unspeaking for a moment.
Clearing his throat he said, "Ah! I wouldn't have expected to see you here! You really come this far into the woods? I was on a hunt, myself." He looked at me with what could only be described as a fearful hope, waiting to see if I accepted the lie. I didn't.
"Where's your bow, then?" I asked, challenging him.
Daeron flushed and looked around. "I...hm. I seem to have forgotten it. Thank goodness I haven't seen any game worth shooting," he said hastily, his eyes shifting a bit. I could still see the fear in them and decided it was cruel to keep up the charade.
"You always were a terrible liar, my friend," I started, gently. "I saw you with the stone. You're a Praecant."
He looked at me, silent. He didn't seem to know what to say. He'd been caught, and as far as he knew, that meant he was doomed. To ease his worries, I continued quickly, not giving him a chance to respond.
"It's alright. Your secret ends with me. I promise."
Shaking his head, he took a few steps back. There was a look of defeat on his face. "Lynarra, I can't ask you to do that. It isn't safe for you. If the village were to find out, and it surfaced that you knew, they--"
"They won't find out. At least not from me," I assured him. "Besides, I'm already not safe. Look." Reaching a hand out and holding it palm down, I said, "Erigo."
Daeron's eyes widened in surprise as a stone rose from the ground and flew toward my hand. As I turned my hand over the stone followed, hovering a few inches above it. I let the stone fall into my open palm.
"There. We are even."
"You're a--how did you--but--" he stammered.
I raised an eyebrow. "I could say the same to you," I said, looking at him pointedly. "Now, I believe we have a lot to talk about." I sat down on the soft grass and gestured for him to join me.
Some time later, we sat quietly as we processed everything. I was the first to break the silence. "But you don't know any other incantations?" I asked, still slightly confused.
" No, just that one. There have been...incidents...throughout my life that were inexplicable," Daeron said with a shrug, "so when I overheard that man at the Greenton Inn telling his stories of the Praecant army and he used the word, I...I don't know, I thought I should try it. And now here we are." He sighed.
I hugged my knees to my chest and stared intently at the tree line. "I have to end things with Quill," I said flatly. My stomach flipped, and I thought I might be sick.
My friend turned his head sharply to look at me then, a deep frown creasing his features.
"What? Why?"
"To keep him safe," I whispered, trying not to let my voice break. "It's dangerous enough to associate with one Praecant, but two? You're his brother. I have to let him go."
Daeron said nothing. Instead, he put a hand on my shoulder and turned his gaze back toward the tree line. He knew I was right.
~~~
"What do you mean, you can't marry me?"
I wrung my hands. We were standing in the stables. The silence hung heavy between us, broken only by the occasional huff of a horse. Quill was staring at me with an unnerving intensity, his eyes demanding an answer from me.
"I'm sorry." I bit my lip to keep it from trembling.
"'I'm sorry' is not enough of an answer, Lyn." His voice held an unusual hardness. I'd never witnessed Quill angry and I was quickly deciding I did not like it. "This has something to do with what you said when I proposed, doesn't it?"
I looked at him, trying to will him not to make this any more difficult on me than it already was.
"I already told you, there's nothing you can say that will make me stop loving you. But if telling me will ease your worries, then tell me. What is it?"
I turned away. Looking at the hurt and confusion on his face was too much to bear. "It doesn't matter now," I breathed.
He put his hands on my arms, forcing me to face him. "Yes, it does. Just tell me. Please."
"I can't." I shook my head. "I can't tell you, but...I can't marry you, Quill." Now it was he who turned away. I reached out to touch him, but he yanked away from me. Voice quivering, I said the last words I would ever say to him.
"Just know that I--I still love you."
"Right."
The anger in his voice was biting. His eyes refused to meet mine. I walked on unsteady legs out of the stable. Tears streamed down my face and it was all I could do to keep my ragged breathing from turning into sobs before I was out of earshot. Behind me, I heard Quill curse as he slammed something against the wall.