Chapter 38
Varum didn’t want to leave Kalyani. He couldn’t explain the feeling of impending doom, no matter how he tried to rationalize it.
He chalked it up to being overly cautious after Tanira’s exploits the day before.
Yet as he made his way to his office, the urge to turn back grew stronger with every step he took.
He couldn’t stop thinking about her reaction when he spoke about the gills. The shock that’d slackened her face had been real. He hadn’t had the heart to push when she denied it so strongly. She really hadn’t known about breathing underwater.
When he reached the Assembly Hall, he halted.
The pull to return to Kalyani was so strong that he actually took a step backward, as if some unknown force had grabbed him from behind.
He looked around as he dragged in a lungful of air.
Something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong. He spun around at the same time he heard someone calling his name.
Varum looked to the side to see Nirav hurrying over.
The unease that churned in Varum’s gut only grew when he spotted his friend’s tense expression.
“I’m glad I caught you,” Nirav said in a low voice when he reached him.
Varum noted the way the older elf’s gaze darted about suspiciously. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think you should go to your office.”
“Why?”
Nirav grabbed his arm and began leading him toward Varum’s. “I heard someone’s office was being raided.”
“What has that to do with me?”
“Maybe nothing, but I don’t want to take any chances. I think we should leave with Kalyani right now.”
Varum halted and jerked his arm from Nirav’s grasp. “We’re not ready. It would put her in danger.”
“Then we can get ready within a few hours.” Nirav leaned close. “I don’t have a good feeling.”
Neither did Varum. “If something was going to happen to me, it would’ve been last night when Arvind paid me a visit.”
“Maybe.”
“He doesn’t hesitate. Ever.”
Nirav blew out a breath. “I can’t get anyone to tell me what’s going on. I’d rather be safe.”
“All right,” Varum agreed, no longer able to ignore the growing worry. “We move the plans up. Bring the large sack we use when we go hunting. It’ll be perfect for Kalyani to hide in.”
Nirav nodded, then his expression tightened as his gaze moved over Varum’s shoulder. Varum turned and spotted a group of spear-wielding soldiers headed straight for them. They weren’t just any elves. They were the elite squadron assigned to the Tidewarden.
“Get to Kalyani,” Varum whispered over his shoulder.
He didn’t look to see if Nirav left. He knew his friend would take care of Kalyani. Varum looked around at the stone-faced soldiers quickly surrounding him. A growing crowd gathered around them to see what was going on, but all he could think about was Nirav getting to Kalyani.
“Come with us,” one of the soldiers demanded.
There were too many people watching for Varum to try to escape.
That was likely why the soldiers had found him outside of his home.
The best thing would be for him to go with them and see what was going on.
The only thing he had done wrong was bring Kalyani into the city, and there was no way anyone knew about that.
Arvind was likely just putting on a show.
Varum nodded to the squad leader. Then, in unison, all eight soldiers turned to the side to retrace their steps.
Varum walked in the middle of the group, but they didn’t take him to the Tidewarden’s office.
Instead, they led him to the detention center.
He buried the dread that filled him. He had spent his life learning to hide his feelings, and he was a master at it.
No one would know the depths of his worry—or his fear.
The soldiers guided him into an empty room.
As he turned around, the door shut behind him.
He fought against the urge to rush toward it and yank it open, but he kept himself rooted to the spot.
He wouldn’t do or say anything until he found out why he was being detained.
Varum stood in the middle of the room and stared at the door, waiting.
Someone would interrogate him. All he had to do was bide his time until he learned what was going on.
There were no windows in the room, but he still didn’t drop his guard.
He was glad he had left home. Otherwise, the soldiers would’ve gone there and found Kalyani.
At least she was safe. No matter what, Nirav would get her out of the city.
He would remedy Varum’s lapse in judgment.
Though could Varum still call it that after their night together?
What they had shared, the emotions that had engulfed him, felt as if the gods had bestowed a gift upon him.
One that he never would’ve discovered if he hadn’t brought Kalyani into the city.
He’d learned a great deal from her in a short time.
She had erased the things he had erroneously believed about humans.
He saw them through her eyes now, and he was forever changed because of it.
The door suddenly opened, snapping him from his thoughts. Just as Varum had expected, it was Arvind who strolled in. The Tidewarden stared at him for a long moment before quietly closing the door and leaning back against it with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I’ve expected to bring you here for many years,” Arvind said.
Varum quirked a brow. “Have you? And here I thought you were a fair elf.”
“My duty is to this city, above and beyond my personal beliefs.”
“Since all I’ve ever done is serve Tarangarh, I know I’ve done nothing to warrant being detained.”
Arvind snorted as he disdainfully raked his eyes over Varum. “You have no idea how embarrassed I was to have my beloved daughter chase after you while you ignored her, and then, you had the gall to rebuff her love. Nothing I said could dissuade her from you.”
“Shouldn’t you be glad we’re no longer dating?”
“Your presence has left a stain on my family that can never be washed away.”
Varum had heard such words before. Normally, he let them roll away, but he was tired of allowing others to make such remarks. “You wouldn’t think that way had my parents remained.”
“But they didn’t. Because of you,” Arvind stated.
“Blame me all you want. I know the truth. And so do they. Why don’t we skip this little scene and move on to what you really brought me here for, so I can go home?”
Arvind dropped his arms as he pushed away from the wall. “Home? You’re never leaving here again.”
That ominous feeling from before barreled into Varum tenfold. He fought to stay on his feet as the room spun.
“You’re being charged with treason for colluding with the Masters to bring about the downfall of Tarangarh.”
Varum gaped at him and fisted his hands in outrage. “You know I’m not a part of that. I wrote the damn report!”
“You were seen helping to secure abductees in a sloop,” Arvind said over him. “You will have a trial, as is our way, but the end result will be the same. Death or imprisonment for the rest of your life.”
Varum took a step forward, Kalyani’s name on his lips as Arvind walked out, slamming the door with a finality that brought Varum to his knees.