She was mulling over which when Bombax caught up to her. She flinched inwardly as he did so, prepared for the worst. She kept her eyes averted and continued walking.

“Are you thinking the same thing I am about all this?” he asked quietly, surprising her. “That this attack was no accident?”

She nodded. “Someone in the Keep fired that rail sling to provoke it. The attack was planned ahead of time.”

His big hands tightened on the staff he bore. “One of the Trolls?”

“Hard to believe. They’re sworn to us. Most have been here a long time.”

“That Elf you brought into the Keep with your sister? What do you know of him?”

She stopped where she was, fighting down a surge of new anger. “That boy you brought into the Keep when you came back from Varfleet? What do you know of him?”

“I know he rescued me. He saved my life.”

“Well, Cymrian did the same for me. He killed five men doing it, too.”

She turned and walked on, forcing him to come after her. All at once, she didn’t want him there.

“Why are you so angry?” he asked, grabbing her arm.

She stopped again and carefully extracted herself. “I don’t like how you’re acting. It isn’t who you are. I’m not sure you’ve recovered from what happened with the Mwellrets.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me.” He stared at her a moment, and she could see the confusion in his eyes. “I love you, Aphen. I don’t like thinking that maybe you don’t love me.”

It caught her by surprise. “Why would you say that?”

“That Elf follows you around like a puppy. What am I supposed to think?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t given you any reason to doubt me.”

“Maybe you don’t see it the way I do. Do you still love me? Can you say the words?”

Impulsively, she reached up and touched his cheek. “Of course I can say them. I love you. You are my life partner. I didn’t make that choice without giving thought to it. It was not done lightly or with any intention of not honoring it.”

“I want to believe that,” he said.

She dropped her hand to his arm and gripped it. “Let’s leave this discussion for later. Let’s concentrate on what’s at hand. I want to find out who fired that rail sling. I want you to help me. Let’s be united on this.”

He nodded slowly. “That’s how I want it, too.”

“United, then.” She gave him a quick smile. “We should talk to everyone. Maybe there’s something we can learn.”