Her back to her friend, so that she faced the interior of their quarters in darkness, Julina sighed deeply before answering. "I felt such a fool last night! There was no need to declare to Amrhost that I intend to keep my eye upon his every action, or that I intend to pursue him to the very depths of the Burning Lands if he means to betray us! Whether or no, I could do so without uttering a word to him, or to anyone. And even if it is his intent to betray us, there is little he could do or say that
would benefit the enemy, and harm us in the bargain.
"And yet my heart harbours this . . . this anger against the man! I want to strike out at him!"
"Why?" Rhia asked her as she finished drying her hair, leaned over Julina and hung up her towel on a wooden peg to dry.
Julina breathed a deep, angry sigh. "I don't know! Well . . . that's not entirely true. I do know; at least, part of the reason why. I want the truth . . . not from him but of him. Does that make any sense?"
"It would," Rhia offered timidly, "if you had some sort of feeling for him-"
"What? Some sort of . . . what are you talking about? I am a swordmain!" Julina spluttered. "My life has been . . ."