She smiled. She rather liked that title. Much better than "apprentice." She believed she'd left her "apprentice" singing days long behind her.
"And I've seen you! Nobody except Luthan has seen you and he isn't talking. I heard Koz is trying. All the others are avid to know when you'll be coming to the Castle. Can you tell me—"
"—You will come with me now." A large Friend that Jikata vaguely recognized and who looked more like a bodyguard entered the room. He held out a massive hand.
Sighing, the young man put his fingers in the other's clasp and was drawn to his feet. Another Friend came in, this one a young, pretty woman, carrying a glass of orange juice. She gave it to the Chevalier, and winked at him.
Attraction spun between them.
Weariness settled in on Jikata and another large man, a Friend in purple, moved from behind the two and took her arm. She stiffened, but all she felt was concern from him, no threat. "Come with me, Lady. There's a light meal and a soft bed waiting for you." He walked slowly and she leaned a little on him. Before they left the room, she turned back to the Chevalier who had an arm around the woman's shoulders. He worked fast.
"Congratulations," Jikata said, since he seemed to have achieved something he'd wanted.
He gave her a smile much shier than the one he'd given the young woman. "Merci." He inclined his head. "Merci, Exotique Singer."
Jikata's escort opened the door and they departed, and once again she was taken away from any outside source of information.
Left only with questions: what exactly were Chevaliers, and Marshalls, who was Koz and what Castle?
What invasion force? To where?
ECHOES IN THE DARK
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2622-1
Copyright © 2009 by Robin D. Owens
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Worldwide Library, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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Table of Contents
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2
3
4
5
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AUTHOR NOTE
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Luthan/Jetyer Cut Scene
Exotique Meeting Cut Scene
First rough draft of Chapter 1
Jikata Chevalier Cut Scene
Echoes in the Dark Page 47