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over the dragon’s refusal to help him hunt down Oksana or to Slide back to Trilene and burn what was left of it to the ground.
    Kellinar took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh then threw the rock as far as he could out over the water. It landed with a plop and immediately sank from view, leaving only a spreading circle of ripples.
    It was time to go back to the hold. Taela’s sorrow had died back, and she was focused now. Obviously she had worked through something, and he sensed her stepping forward without him. It was time for him to face everything.
    Kellinar turned and started down the dock toward shore. He made it only a few steps before stopping short when he saw the other thing he’d been avoiding standing on the steps to the dock. Dhovara. The Mage Councilor of the Tower of Wind and Water, his former teacher, and Anevay’s aunt.
    Sadness dwelled in the depths of her eyes even though she smiled at him, her bright white teeth a sharp contrast to her dark skin. She walked down the dock, her bare feet silent on the damp boards, and her hips swaying slightly as the floating structure moved with the water underneath it.
    “Kellinar, it is good to see you once again.” She stopped and crossed her arms under her breasts. “I was beginning to fear I would never see you. Was it everything you avoided, or just me?”
    He smiled sadly. “Everything.”
    “It does no one any good to avoid the truth, Kellinar. It only delays and compounds the pain.” Sympathy filled her expression. “Death is never an easy thing to take, and Galdrilene’s loss was tremendous. Although I do have to say, Mckale and Maleena have really stepped into the emptiness left by Bardeck and Emallya.” She cocked her head slightly and eyed him. “Galdrilene has found healing, but I do not think you have yet. Why? What keeps you from finding peace?”
    Kellinar scowled. “How can you even ask that? Fates be damned, Dhovara. It’s my fault Anevay is dead. It’s my fault Emallya and Bardeck are dead. The whole shadow-blasted thing is my fault!” The echo of his shout floated across the water.
    Dhovara’s expression slowly changed to anger as she listened to him. “Your fault? How dare you belittle Anevay in such a way.” Although she didn’t raise her voice it shook with outrage.
    “Belittle her?” Taken aback, he looked at her in total confusion. “How have I belittled Anevay?”
    Dhovara moved until she was nearly toe to toe with him, her dark eyes flashing as she jabbed a finger into his chest. “Anevay was a strong and independent young woman. She may have been sweet and slow to anger but that did not make her weak!”
    Kellinar backed up a step. “I know it didn’t! She was my bondmate, only Latia knew her better than me. I know exactly how strong and independent she was.”
    Dhovara moved forward a step. “Then why do you try to take it from her? Why do you try to strip her honor from her?”
    “I’m not. What in the name of the Fates are you talking about, Dhovara?”
    “Anevay was strong; she did not need you to make her decisions for her. She was quite capable of deciding a course of action without her bondmate to guide her.”
    “I know that!” He took another step back.
    “And yet you would take that away from her by insisting it was your fault!” She stepped forward again. “Anevay was her own person. It was her choice to stay and fight that battle. It was her honor to enter that fight no matter the outcome. And I know that even if she had known how it was going to end, she would have fought anyway. Latia would have fought anyway. Neither of them would have abandoned you to battle in order to save their own hides.” Dhovara’s voice rose as she continued to punctuate each word with a jab of her finger. “You will not take her honor by taking the blame on your own shoulders. You will not sully her memory by claiming rights to her decisions!”
    “She would never have had to decide whether or not to fight