Luminara Whisperwind's Arc

Chapter 3 of 5

Kael's silence stretched long after she placed the chain and carving in his hand. Luminara stepped back and walked to the small cottage at the field's edge. She sat on its stone step and waited. Friend or mate. She did not know which word he was holding. A monkey scampered up the path and tugged her sleeve. It pointed past the cottage to a wide stone ring in the grass, carved with twin grooves meant for two clasped hands. A binding circle. She had passed it a hundred times and never let herself name it. She could not ask him with her mouth. So she went back and lifted his fire-wrapped staff from where it leaned against the oak. She carried it to the stone ring and set its burning end into one groove. The other groove stayed empty, waiting. Kael watched her from the tree. Then he walked to the ring, took the staff from her hand, and laid it fully across both grooves. The embers flared and held. He had answered. Not friend. She pressed her palm to her mouth and finally let herself believe it.