The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📗

“I understand.”

Nobles lived differently from the rest of us. It was something my father had told me. Family and power was everything. I might not understand personally, but I believed Kataleya had thought this through and was making a choice she wouldn’t regret.

I was concerned about one thing, however. Whitley Yorn seemed to have more trust in the Chespars than he did in Nykal.

As soon as I let Kataleya go, she quickly walked over and opened the door.

“Well, I hope you like the room,” she said.

“Of course. It’s beautiful.”

“It’s where my brother stayed when he lived here.”

“I didn’t know you had a brother.”

“Yes, he helps my father oversee this side of Lycast. He’s married with his own children in Tilly, where he’s the lord.”

“So he’s a lot older?” I asked.

“Just two years.”

“Only two?”

“I am the odd one for not being married yet, but I reckon it will be soon.” She sat on the bed.

I remained standing.

“I don’t think I ever told you that you were the other man, Jon,” she said softly. “Trevor and I have been trying to build a relationship for some time. It was put on hold for a little while, but he is pursuing me more aggressively now.” She made a bit of a face. “I don’t think aggressive is the right word, as I welcome it.”

I thought about telling her she didn’t need to explain any of this, but I had a feeling she was doing it not to make me feel better but for herself. I let her continue without interruption.

“He was here two days ago. I think he may have asked my father for permission to ask my hand in marriage.”

I found myself wondering if they had spent the night together but decided I didn’t want to know.

“I’m still not sure, though,” she said to my shock.

“Oh?”

Kataleya stood from the bed and went to the door. She looked out into the hall. Then she returned and sat on the bed again. I couldn’t tell if she expected me to sit next to her or not.

In a quiet voice, she said, “We argued.”

“About what?”

“About why I ran off when we were all cursed to tell the truth.”

“What did you say?”

“Many things, but I’m not quite sure why I’m telling you all of this. I suppose I just feel the need to warn you. I do think things will work out with Trevor, but they might not. I’m not asking you to wait for me. I would never do that. I just…I’m confused.” She stared at me for a long while. “I thought something might happen between you and the sheriff’s daughter in Granlo. She is very pretty, and the sheriff seemed excited about marrying her off to a sorcerer of the king.” Kataleya paused. “Really, nothing happened?”

“Nothing did,” I confirmed.

“Why is that?”

“I don’t think you got to know her very well,” I told Kataleya honestly. “She’s not my type.”

“Who is?”

I could see what she was hinting at. She wanted me to help her with her confusion, but this was just getting me more confused. It was time to be straightforward.

“May I shut the door?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Just try to speak quietly for now.”

“Kataleya,” I began. “I wanted to be with you.”

“I know. I’m sorry for that.”

I nodded. “The point is that I’ve come to accept that it’s not going to work out between us. You were right when you said that if things were different we might’ve made something beautiful together. But all this confusion of yours is just making me confused. I know you must be scared about marrying because you’re not much older than I am, and it would terrify me as well. However, I don’t believe I can help you. If there was no Trevor, and if your father accepted me, things would be different. But there is a Trevor. And your father thinks of me as low class. I think it’s best if we forget what happened.”

“You’re right.” She looked down for a short time, then she began to nod. “Thank you. I know what I want now.”

“What’s that?”

She showed me a wry smile. I could tell she wasn’t going to answer me.

“Can I ask you something else?” I tried.

“Sure.”

“Can you get the red diamond back from your father?”

Her eyebrows lowered. “I’m not sure I can do that.”

“It’s important,” I added. “I think I’m getting somewhere with Hadley.”

Now her eyebrows lifted. “Why does it sound like you’re empathizing with the witch?”

“I’m not sure what I feel yet, but I know I want to meet her. The only way I’m doing that is by convincing her to come here. And the only way I’m doing that is by finding some way to use that diamond, like I did before. I don’t think it was right of your father to take it. In fact, I don’t think your father was right to do a lot of things.”

“But I can’t tell my father what to do.” She spoke as if she could never convince her father of anything. I hoped that wasn’t true.

“Can you at least tell me where he would’ve put the diamond?”

She leaned away from me and turned her head slightly to look at me from the side. “You’re not thinking about taking it without permission.”

“I am if you’re not going to help me.”

She stood up from the bed. “Jon, try to relax.”

“I’m relaxed.”

“You seem angry.”

“I’m not angry. I just think it’s important.”

Her mouth curled. “She’s a witch, a dteria user. I have never heard of one who is good, so I am inclined to agree with my father. I don’t think you should be using anything from her bag without knowing what it does. At least wait for my instructor to get back to us. Otherwise it might be dangerous.”

“I can heal anything that might happen to me.”

“That you know of. Perhaps this diamond is twisting your mind in some way that healing cannot help. It would explain why it seems like you care