“Anyone opposing him would have been promptly arrested … and now I wonder where that collection might have been kept.”
Others joined the speculation as servants were called to attend to the body, and the most uniform emotion the group shared was an air of disappointment. The entity perceived that Zolind’s guests disliked the idea of no longer being an intimate of so important a man, although “intimate” wasn’t precisely the right word. Zolind had been really close to no one but Ollon Kapmar; the rest had been all but faceless company for a man who had disliked dining alone.
At that point the entity withdrew, and once it had returned to the coach Kambil dissolved the bond. He joined the others in taking a deep breath to celebrate their first success, then rapped on the coach roof to signal the driver to get them away from there. There was still one further chore to be done tonight, and then they would be able to return to the residence to eat and rest. Tomorrow … well, that remained to be seen, depending on whether or not the rest of the Advisors held their meeting, or attended the farewell ceremony for Zolind.
Kambil smiled into the darkness as the coach began to move. There was no need for their entity to attend a farewell ceremony, but the full Advisory meeting was another matter entirely….
CHAPTER SIX
“I’ve been looking forward to this all day,” Lanir said as he closed the bedchamber door behind us. “I felt tempted to taste your charms yesterday, but I dislike lack of response in a woman. I expected to have most of the day with you today, not realizing that I would be called away on business. Don’t bother ringing for a maid. Helping you out of that gown will be my pleasure.”
“First answer a question for me,” I said, crossing most of the room before stopping and turning back to look at him. “My group was winning that final competition, and then suddenly we were unconscious. How did they do that?”
“Hilsom powder in your underclothes, which stayed undisturbed until the underclothes were shaken with Air magic, forced you out of touch with the power, and then Earth magic users helped the powder to put you to sleep,” be answered easily enough as he followed me across the room. “That’s what’s usually done, although it’s never been necessary in the final round before.”
“And what became of my groupmates?” I asked, standing my ground as his arms began to circle me. “Were they all claimed by someone like you?”
“I have no idea what became of them, nor do I care,” he replied, smiling down at me as his embrace slowly tightened. “And I believe you’ll discover that there is no one else precisely like me. Raise your lips to mine.”
“For what purpose?” I asked, flatly refusing to let my voice tremble. “I may be prepared to say goodbye to you and this vile place, but that doesn’t necessarily call for a kiss.”
“Are you trying to tease me?” he asked, his tone less than pleased. “If you are because you think I might enjoy it, allow me to assure you that you’re wrong. Denial is not my idea of enjoyment, and can only bring you punishment. Although how the need for punishment can be possible after the orders you’ve been given …”
“Have you finally noticed that I’m not as obedient as I’m supposed to be?” I asked in what I hoped was a mocking tone. “It’s certainly about time, as the touch of you against my body is making me ill. Release me this moment, or you’ll surely wish you had.”
“How dare you!” he began to demand in a growl, and then his expression abruptly changed. Fear flashed in his eyes as he suddenly touched the power, but his burst of understanding came too late. I’d already applied a tiny line of flames to his forearms under his sleeves, which made him flinch back with a scream even as he opened his own talent wide.
“What have you done?” he choked out in a strangled whisper, cradling his arms in
Others joined the speculation as servants were called to attend to the body, and the most uniform emotion the group shared was an air of disappointment. The entity perceived that Zolind’s guests disliked the idea of no longer being an intimate of so important a man, although “intimate” wasn’t precisely the right word. Zolind had been really close to no one but Ollon Kapmar; the rest had been all but faceless company for a man who had disliked dining alone.
At that point the entity withdrew, and once it had returned to the coach Kambil dissolved the bond. He joined the others in taking a deep breath to celebrate their first success, then rapped on the coach roof to signal the driver to get them away from there. There was still one further chore to be done tonight, and then they would be able to return to the residence to eat and rest. Tomorrow … well, that remained to be seen, depending on whether or not the rest of the Advisors held their meeting, or attended the farewell ceremony for Zolind.
Kambil smiled into the darkness as the coach began to move. There was no need for their entity to attend a farewell ceremony, but the full Advisory meeting was another matter entirely….
CHAPTER SIX
“I’ve been looking forward to this all day,” Lanir said as he closed the bedchamber door behind us. “I felt tempted to taste your charms yesterday, but I dislike lack of response in a woman. I expected to have most of the day with you today, not realizing that I would be called away on business. Don’t bother ringing for a maid. Helping you out of that gown will be my pleasure.”
“First answer a question for me,” I said, crossing most of the room before stopping and turning back to look at him. “My group was winning that final competition, and then suddenly we were unconscious. How did they do that?”
“Hilsom powder in your underclothes, which stayed undisturbed until the underclothes were shaken with Air magic, forced you out of touch with the power, and then Earth magic users helped the powder to put you to sleep,” be answered easily enough as he followed me across the room. “That’s what’s usually done, although it’s never been necessary in the final round before.”
“And what became of my groupmates?” I asked, standing my ground as his arms began to circle me. “Were they all claimed by someone like you?”
“I have no idea what became of them, nor do I care,” he replied, smiling down at me as his embrace slowly tightened. “And I believe you’ll discover that there is no one else precisely like me. Raise your lips to mine.”
“For what purpose?” I asked, flatly refusing to let my voice tremble. “I may be prepared to say goodbye to you and this vile place, but that doesn’t necessarily call for a kiss.”
“Are you trying to tease me?” he asked, his tone less than pleased. “If you are because you think I might enjoy it, allow me to assure you that you’re wrong. Denial is not my idea of enjoyment, and can only bring you punishment. Although how the need for punishment can be possible after the orders you’ve been given …”
“Have you finally noticed that I’m not as obedient as I’m supposed to be?” I asked in what I hoped was a mocking tone. “It’s certainly about time, as the touch of you against my body is making me ill. Release me this moment, or you’ll surely wish you had.”
“How dare you!” he began to demand in a growl, and then his expression abruptly changed. Fear flashed in his eyes as he suddenly touched the power, but his burst of understanding came too late. I’d already applied a tiny line of flames to his forearms under his sleeves, which made him flinch back with a scream even as he opened his own talent wide.
“What have you done?” he choked out in a strangled whisper, cradling his arms in
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