Page 19 of Unseen Lord

As we makeour way back to the village, I observe the man beside me. This morning I would have called him evil and villainous. Now, as I watch him checking on the wounded we pass and talking with the people—his people—comforting them, encouraging them, I have to wonder about things.

It wasn't so long ago that I would have also called Elias the villain of my story.

These Vane Spero brothers are proving quite the prickly pair for me. Have I really misjudged him so entirely?

"Tell me about this place," I say.

"There are four known tribes of this land, as you are aware."

I nod. "Earth, Air, Fire and Water," I say. This is common knowledge, though I haven't had cause to actually visit any of them, so this is all theoretical to me.

He nods. "There is a fifth that is not known. That is a closely guarded secret. And it lives here on this island."

The little girl I saved earlier runs over to us and throws her arms around me. "You're a god!" she says, her blue eyes wide and adoring. She holds her arms to me and I comply and pick her up to carry her.

"What's your name?" I ask. There wasn't a lot of time for niceties earlier.

"Lala," she says. "Well, that's what mum and pops call me. My real name is big. Want to hear it?"

I nod. "Very much."

"It's Lalunalinkli," she says the syllabus slowly, like they are unfamiliar to her.

"That's an extraordinary name, for an extraordinary girl."

I turn to face the Rider, who has paused to watch us. "Arias, this is Lala. Lala, this is… "

"I know who he is, silly," she says with a giggle. "He's the White Knight who protects us."

"Is he now?" I say, studying the Rider closer. He almost seems to blush at that.

"Where are your parents, little one?" he asks with a softness in his voice I've never heard. "They must be worried."

As if on cue, the mother I met earlier runs over to us. "Lala! I've been looking everywhere for you."

When she realizes who's with her daughter, she nearly gapes. First, she bows to the Rider with tears in her eyes. "Thank you for your protection, my Knight."

Then she hugs me while I'm still holding the kid. "And you, thank you. I can't thank you enough."

"You don't owe us thanks," Arias says. "It is our duty to protect the people of this village."

The mother smiles and nods as I hand Lala over to her.

The little girl smiles and waves as we head to Kayla and Tavian's cottage.

"You saved that family?" he asks.

"I helped out, yes."

"And you found a way to remove your shackles I see," he says, nodding to my hands.

"Remove the hands, remove the shackles."

He shakes his head at that. "You are a strange woman, Watcher. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for what I did to you. I… don't always make the best choices."

He's so awkward I almost feel sorry for him.

"My parents were right about one thing. My plan was foolish and ended badly. I just hope… I hope that even if you can't forgive me, you can at least overlook my own transgressions for the greater good."