Gail Martin - The summoner

Tris grinned. "Maybe. Then again, Jonmarc looked determined to keep her out late."

Kiara chuckled. "In a wicked sort of way, I kind of enjoy seeing Carina look so unnerved around Jonmarc. She's usually so damnably in control. He's the first one she hasn't scared off."

"I don't think he scares easily," Tris replied, linking his hand with hers as they walked from the temple. He glanced back over his shoulder, but the image of the Lady remained mere glass.

"You're not going to find an answer that makes sense, Tris," Kiara said, guessing his thoughts. "Stop trying."

He smiled and sighed as they headed down the corridor. "I imagine not," he admitted. "Funny how, not too long ago, I didn't think there were any mysteries at all. And now…"

"Now you're one of the 'hounds of the Goddess,'" she finished.

He looked at her quizzically. "What?"

She shrugged. "I read that somewhere, in a book about a sorceress from long ago. She called herself the 'hound of the Goddess' because she came when the Lady called and did as the Lady told."

"Hound of the Goddess, huh?" Tris mused. He thought about the road ahead of him, the odds against them, and his friends' willingness to stake their lives on his magic. A good pack of hounds could bring down a formidable enemy, like a stag or a bear. Tomorrow, they would meet with Staden to talk of war, and the prince who never wanted to be king would recruit an army to

avenge his family and take back his kingdom. Tomorrow.

But for tonight, he thought, holding tight to Kiara's hand, he had already won more than he ever dreamed possible. It was all he needed, for now. Tomorrow would come soon enough.