An Entirely-Unexpected Revelation

Book excerpt: Back Blurb: She's earned her shield in a quarter the time it usually takes. She's slain the Evil Wizard Henig to save the Realm and extract vengeance for the murder of her parents. She's taken the reins of her far-flung merchant empire - including the Metreedis' Secret and Ancient Mission. And she's managed to navigate a solution to falling in love with both of her Knight-Companions. Karana is surely due a break... But Wind and Wave are no respecters of competence... or are they? Supposedly only those the Goddess really wants to see are allowed to come to the shores of Her Blessed Isle ******** Teaser: "You must ask the Goddess to heal him. That's a fatal wound, Karana. His skull is cracked and blood pools against his brain." "No!" Karana gasped, her strength quite wrung out. Kefen lay unmoving, his head in her lap, the huge purpling bruise standing out from his forehead. "To each their time must come. Perhaps it is simply his time." The words were almost harsh, but the tone somehow carried a compassion that was... beyond human. "No!" Karana cried again. "It can't be!" "And why not?" the strange, silvery woman asked, seeming merely curious. "Because - because-" Words failed the knightess, and she bent her head. "Because?" "Because I don't want him to die," Karana whispered. "We never want those we cherish to die," the silvery woman said calmly. "And yet they all do. Why not this one? Why not now? What is he to you that you would ask the Great Goddess to save him?" Karana shook with tears she could not shed. "He is my Bound Companion." What else could she say after all? It was Ivan's ring on her finger. All Karana had of Kefen was an unsigned contract under review by a coterie of lawyers. And kisses and... more... and a lifetime's worth of promises in eyes that were molten chocolate when they met hers...