Homecoming by Autumn Dawn Read Free Book Online

devoted to Rihlia’s father, a factor that had moved him to agree to the betrothal; inherited supporters could make such a difference.
    The other side would do anything to destroy that support.
    They might try to kill Rihlia.
    He sighed. He wanted her here. Duty was part of it, but he wanted the little girl they’d lost to find her way home. He knew a part of her was gone forever, but something remained. His Rihlia was lost in a maze of thorns, and it was up to him to cut her a way out. She might not like his methods, but he was looking for results. He would find a way to bring her back.
    * * * *
    Wiley would do almost anything to get home, so she let Jasmine convince her to try her scheme, even though she doubted it would work. She knew the capabilities of their guards far better than Jas. Without explaining how she knew, it was impossible to convince Jas to give up. Who knew? Maybe her crazy plan would actually work.
    It wasn’t hard to get outside, near the woods. Either her guards had been ordered to be especially lenient, or they had confidence they could keep her under control. She suspected both, knowing Jayems. She had an uneasy feeling that he’d also been informed what they were up to. She opened her mouth to caution Jasmine, but it was too late.
    “All right, start counting,” Jas said, and took off into the brush outside the Citadel.
     
    Their guards watched, but didn’t interfere with the game. That made Wiley even more uneasy. She just couldn’t see this plan working, but Jas never gave up.
    The idea was to play hide and seek, with Lemming doing the tracking. Gradually, Jasmine was going to work her way back toward the gate to Earth. Having been conscious when she was brought in, she actually knew where that was. She’d assured Wiley that it wasn’t far.
    As agreed, they played the game five times. On the fifth try, Jas made her run for it.
    She didn’t come back.
    Wiley bit her lip as she watched the woods. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
    Jayems’ steward, Knighten, appeared at her elbow. “Come along, milady. Your lord wishes to speak to you.”
    Her eyes narrowed with worry, and she glanced at the trees. “My friend’s still out there.”
    “Lord Keilor is seeing to her.” He herded her along by the simple expedient of stepping into her space.
    Resenting his presumption, she let herself be ushered into Jayems’ rooms, prepared to act angry. It was hard when she was worrying what Keilor’s “seeing to her”
    entailed. If he hurt her, it would be Wiley’s fault for agreeing to the scheme. Jasmine was too impulsive sometimes, but Jayems had promised not to hurt her. She just hoped he was as good as his word.
    Jayems looked up from the papers on his desk when she came in. “Please be seated, Rihlia.” He flicked a glance at Knighten, who left the room.
    “I was in the middle of a game,” she said curtly.
    “I heard.” He looked at her for a long moment. “I think it’s time I explained my position more fully. My duty is to protect my family and the people under my authority. I suspect an invasion of humans from the gate would violate that agreement, don’t you?”
    His words confirmed that the guards had overheard them. She looked aside. “We just want to go home.”
    “Secrecy has protected us for three hundred years. How do you think your rescuers would react to discovering the Dark Lands and the Haunt? The television reporters would become involved, the military, your late government. Use your imagination.”
    She shivered. He was painting an ugly picture. “Just let us go, then.” Her voice had gotten smaller.
    “No.” He didn’t qualify it or try to soothe her sensibilities. He looked back at his work. “You may go.”
    “What about Jasmine? You promised not to hurt her.”
    He met her gaze with eyes the color of polished bronze. “I haven’t touched her.”
    She heard the subtle emphasis. Seriously spooked, she shut herself in her room