Lady
Pallon said in a strong, clear voice that sounded like a spoon
ringing against crystal. “I see you brought your friend, Sheela
isn’t it? Well come here child and show me a proper curtsy.”
Purla had taught Sheela how to curtsy
because so many nobles visited the inn. She came out from behind
Frath and did her absolute best.
“Well, that’s very nice. You need to hold
your elbows out a bit more, but it’ll do. Come in, come in, have
some lunch and tell me all about yourself.” She held the door open
and gracefully gestured for them to enter. Frath put his arm out
for Sheela and they walked through.
“Come into the parlor. Lunch is being made
as we speak,” she informed them while walking gracefully ahead.
Sheela stared at the entry in awe. The floor was russet-brown and
beige marble. Balconies overlooked the entry from each wing, and a
grand staircase split halfway up, going to both sides.
Lady Pallon led them through the second door
on the right, which turned out to be the parlor. Paintings lined
the walls of the sophisticated room with its expensive furniture
and decorations. A small fire flickered in the fireplace, making
the room warm and cozy. While the obvious wealth and affluence of
the lady and her estate were intimidating, there was a manner about
her that made Frath feel comfortable and he could sense Sheela
relaxing as well.
“Here we are. Sit, sit by the fire and get
warm,” she said gesturing toward a long couch with thick green
cushions. “Where is your cloak, child?” Lady Pallon asked Sheela
with a disapproving frown.
“I haven’t got one yet, Milady,” Sheela
replied, taking the seat tentatively as though afraid she would get
in trouble for sitting in the presence of nobility. Frath sat next
to her.
Instead of replying to Sheela, Lady Pallon
chastised Frath. “And you didn’t see fit to provide her with one?”
His only reaction was to blush in shame. The lady clucked in
disapproval. “We shall just have to remedy that.” She walked out of
the room, all the while shaking her head and mumbling under her
breath about foolish youngsters.
“Are we in trouble?” Sheela asked worriedly,
holding onto him.
Frath took his sword off and set it on a
nearby table so that he could sit back. “No, not at all. Lady
Pallon is a wonderful woman and wants us to be safe and warm,
that’s all.” As he put his arm around her shoulders again, she
leaned into him and rested both hands on his thigh. The touch sent
a thrill through him. He slid the hand on her shoulders down her
side to her hip, ready to move it if she protested at all. Her only
response was to lean harder against him and run one of her hands
slowly up and down his thigh.
Neither of them said a word while they sat
there concentrating on each other’s touch. “It’s nice to see young
people in love,” Lady Fallon said, startling them. “No, no. Don’t
let me stop you from being close,” she insisted when they separated
a little. “You get as close as you like. I have your cloak my
dear.” She set a folded, dark-green cloak on the arm of the couch
next to Sheela who reached over and ran a hand along the smooth
fabric.
“Milady, it’s too fine,” Sheela
protested.
“Nonsense, it’s an old thing that was my
daughter’s and hasn’t been used in years.” Lady Pallon waved off
the protest casually as she sat on an elegant, cushioned chair
across from them. “You’ll take it, wear it and I’ll hear no more
chirping about it otherwise.” The tone was matter-of-fact and
Sheela didn’t even try to argue.
“How is your daughter, Milady?” Frath
asked gently, knowing it was a sensitive subject.
She clasped her hands in her lap and sighed
in frustration. “That girl . . .” Lady Pallon shook her head. Combs
held her white hair tight, keeping it from moving with the motion.
“Melody is such a mess right now. I swear I don’t know what I’m
going to do with her.” Tears welled up in her eyes and one
Pallon said in a strong, clear voice that sounded like a spoon
ringing against crystal. “I see you brought your friend, Sheela
isn’t it? Well come here child and show me a proper curtsy.”
Purla had taught Sheela how to curtsy
because so many nobles visited the inn. She came out from behind
Frath and did her absolute best.
“Well, that’s very nice. You need to hold
your elbows out a bit more, but it’ll do. Come in, come in, have
some lunch and tell me all about yourself.” She held the door open
and gracefully gestured for them to enter. Frath put his arm out
for Sheela and they walked through.
“Come into the parlor. Lunch is being made
as we speak,” she informed them while walking gracefully ahead.
Sheela stared at the entry in awe. The floor was russet-brown and
beige marble. Balconies overlooked the entry from each wing, and a
grand staircase split halfway up, going to both sides.
Lady Pallon led them through the second door
on the right, which turned out to be the parlor. Paintings lined
the walls of the sophisticated room with its expensive furniture
and decorations. A small fire flickered in the fireplace, making
the room warm and cozy. While the obvious wealth and affluence of
the lady and her estate were intimidating, there was a manner about
her that made Frath feel comfortable and he could sense Sheela
relaxing as well.
“Here we are. Sit, sit by the fire and get
warm,” she said gesturing toward a long couch with thick green
cushions. “Where is your cloak, child?” Lady Pallon asked Sheela
with a disapproving frown.
“I haven’t got one yet, Milady,” Sheela
replied, taking the seat tentatively as though afraid she would get
in trouble for sitting in the presence of nobility. Frath sat next
to her.
Instead of replying to Sheela, Lady Pallon
chastised Frath. “And you didn’t see fit to provide her with one?”
His only reaction was to blush in shame. The lady clucked in
disapproval. “We shall just have to remedy that.” She walked out of
the room, all the while shaking her head and mumbling under her
breath about foolish youngsters.
“Are we in trouble?” Sheela asked worriedly,
holding onto him.
Frath took his sword off and set it on a
nearby table so that he could sit back. “No, not at all. Lady
Pallon is a wonderful woman and wants us to be safe and warm,
that’s all.” As he put his arm around her shoulders again, she
leaned into him and rested both hands on his thigh. The touch sent
a thrill through him. He slid the hand on her shoulders down her
side to her hip, ready to move it if she protested at all. Her only
response was to lean harder against him and run one of her hands
slowly up and down his thigh.
Neither of them said a word while they sat
there concentrating on each other’s touch. “It’s nice to see young
people in love,” Lady Fallon said, startling them. “No, no. Don’t
let me stop you from being close,” she insisted when they separated
a little. “You get as close as you like. I have your cloak my
dear.” She set a folded, dark-green cloak on the arm of the couch
next to Sheela who reached over and ran a hand along the smooth
fabric.
“Milady, it’s too fine,” Sheela
protested.
“Nonsense, it’s an old thing that was my
daughter’s and hasn’t been used in years.” Lady Pallon waved off
the protest casually as she sat on an elegant, cushioned chair
across from them. “You’ll take it, wear it and I’ll hear no more
chirping about it otherwise.” The tone was matter-of-fact and
Sheela didn’t even try to argue.
“How is your daughter, Milady?” Frath
asked gently, knowing it was a sensitive subject.
She clasped her hands in her lap and sighed
in frustration. “That girl . . .” Lady Pallon shook her head. Combs
held her white hair tight, keeping it from moving with the motion.
“Melody is such a mess right now. I swear I don’t know what I’m
going to do with her.” Tears welled up in her eyes and one
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