Read Sword's Blessing for Free Online Page B

Giselle held her breath as she watched him, wondering. What could she say? Thank you! How could you? Idiot!
    Armand frowned, blinking, rubbing his eyes again, and then opening his mouth.
    No. She could berate him later. “Do you need something?” she asked softly.
    He narrowed his eyes, half-sitting up and staring at her as if he couldn’t quite believe his eyes. Finally, he managed, “I’m fine…Ada?”
    He could have driven a stake through her heart and hurt her less. Giselle drew a breath, shivering, and felt her knees buckle, forcing her to sit down on the bench. “Armand?” she asked softly. “Armand, do you feel all right?”
    “I feel okay. But it’s Manas, remember?” He sat up. “Hey, where are we, anyway? Is there a bathroom around?”
    “Over there,” she held out a shaking finger. “…Manas.”
    “You okay?” he asked, leaning down. She swallowed, unable to look him in the eye, and nodded. “Be right back.”
    Giselle watched him go, gulping for air. Ada? Her mortal name? More than fifty years together and he could only remember her mortal name? She shivered in cold and wrapped her arms around herself, trying not to break down and cry. The hollow in her chest wouldn’t let her stay dry eyed. She pressed her hand to her lips, muffling a sob, only praying no one would see her like this.
    At first, her prayers were answered, and she grieved in private. Then a hand slid onto her shoulder and Samantha sat beside her. “I’m sorry, Giselle. I hoped I was wrong.”
    She gasped, refusing to look up at the woman. Which was worse? Armand dead or Armand there before her and remembering nothing but their long dead mortal names? “Wh–” she hiccupped. “What happened?”
    “I asked him what he remembered,” Samantha said. “He said he knew your name was Ada and you were a dear friend. He had no idea who we were, nor anything that had happened in his life.” She paused for a moment and then sighed. “Essentially, I think I reincarnated him, Giselle.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “Memories of the life he had before–including you, ascendancy, his time as an Angel…they’re locked.” Samantha shook her head. “They can be retrieved, but it takes something life changing. Near death experience, becoming an Angel again, a deal with a Damned.”
    “Then he can make a deal with Eli!” Giselle sat up, looking over at Samantha finally. Her hair was in a knot on top of her head and she looked haggard, tired. “That will work, won’t it?”
    Samantha shook her head. “Not unless Armand gives Eli his soul. And I’m not letting him do that.”
    “That’s it?” Giselle squeaked out. “He goes on his way and I’m supposed to leave him here?”
    “Is that what you want?” Samantha asked.
    “No!” Restless, Giselle shot up and began to pace, still shivering even in the hot southern sun filtering through the trees. “You don’t understand! Armand and I…we…” she gasped. “We were born together, we grew up together, we were imprisoned together, we ran away together, we died together and we ascended together! This…this is wrong! This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.”
    “Then I guess you’re coming with us?” Samantha asked. “You could also take him and run. I can guarantee you if you stick around we’ll get you in trouble with someone, if not Cyrene, then your own people. At the same time, having us around means having a lot more resources.”
    She stared for a moment, still shaking. Armand came out of the bathroom, talking animatedly with Eli, and for a jarring moment she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. To walk away now…“Yes. I’m coming. I can’t leave him.”
    * * * *
    Good grief this Angel girl was difficult to deal with. Samantha couldn’t exactly blame Giselle–with her loyalty split between the man she clearly loved and the cause she had ascended to, it was no wonder she was conflicted. Samantha opened her mouth to tell Giselle she thought coming along