somehow,” Tari said, moving to stand beside Wizard Edvin.
“If you’ll excuse me, then. I’ll see you at the southern hall, Tari,” Arion said before sauntering off.
Tari and the wizard watched him go before the wizard turned and smiled at Tari. When Arion was out of sight the wizard pointed to Tari and then made the gesture for “good boy” “move” and “the Continent.”
Tari curtsied with the rustle of skirts.
Wizard Edvin smiled, but Tari could see another emotion clouded his eyes. “Caution” he gestured, adding the motions for “not,” “all,” and “want.”
“Be careful,” Wizard Edvin said in Calnoric, his grandfatherly face downcast.
Tari stewed over Wizard Edvin’s warning for a moment. She had a feeling that not everyone was so pleased with her bonding as the monarchs and general public. The attempted kidnapping was all the proof she needed for that. However, Tari had hoped it was a small enough percentile that vigilance would not be necessary. Those who were against the match were probably few, but if a wizard was taking the time to warn her, they were most likely powerful.
Tari gestured “understood,” and curtsied again. When she straightened up the wizard was smiling like a cheerful grandpa.
He smacked his belly before laughing. “Arion… very lucky,” he said in human before gesturing, “well met.”
Tari returned the sign, and the wizard hummed under his breath as he started down the corridor.
Tari watched him go, jumping when she turned back to find Evlawyn had appeared at her elbow.
“I received a letter for you, Lady Tari,” Evlawyn said, handing the sealed envelope over. “I noticed the seal and thought it might be prudent to give it to you as soon as possible.”
Tari winced at the insignia stamped in the wax, it was Seer Ringali’s. “ Well thought Evlawyn,” Tari said, smiling at her handmaiden before opening the letter.
Tarinthali Ringali
I am coming to Haven . You cannot grow soft and sloppy, even if the courts hold you up as a messiah. You will meet me at the Aquavi entrance to the palace on the second day of the feast of Stag Hallow at sunrise. Bring the human whelp they’ve you chained to.
PS: I do not appreciate being your laundry service.
The letter wasn’t signed, but it didn’t need to be. Seer Ringali’s humor and personality were rather… unique for most elves.
Tari exhaled. “Seer Ringali is arriving in two days. I am to meet him with Arion at sunrise.”
“Shall we ready for battle, Lady Tari?” Evlawyn asked. They had been preparing for this for days.
“Let’s. I am glad to have you with me, Evlawyn. You are quite the ally.”
“I am with you until the end, Lady Tari.”
“Thank you, this very well may be it.”
Two days later Tari stood with Arion in the chill of dawn. Tari was in her best dress—a violet creation that brought out the soft blonde shades of her hair, which was carefully bushed and tumbled freely down her back.
Arion was impressive as usual in his formal armor. Tari was secretly glad he was so massive . It would bring her comfort when facing Seer Ringali.
“Seer Ringali is your teacher?” Arion asked , butchering the elvish name as he watched sunlight crawl over the white, limestone road that connected the city and palace.
“Yes, and I am his protégé,” Tari said, curling her hands into fists to keep from wringing them. She glanced at Evlawyn, who was standing demurely on the grand staircase that wove up to the palace. The handmaiden nodded in encouragement.
Arion nodded and squinted, still staring at the road. “You are nervous.”
Tari exhaled. “Blast your mind reading.”
“Emotion sensing. And it does not take our bond to notice that you are squirrelly.”
Tari thoughtfully fussed with the gold linked belt that was chained at the waist of her dress. “Seer Ringali’s opinion is very important to me. I look up to him the way you would look to a general, although I know
“If you’ll excuse me, then. I’ll see you at the southern hall, Tari,” Arion said before sauntering off.
Tari and the wizard watched him go before the wizard turned and smiled at Tari. When Arion was out of sight the wizard pointed to Tari and then made the gesture for “good boy” “move” and “the Continent.”
Tari curtsied with the rustle of skirts.
Wizard Edvin smiled, but Tari could see another emotion clouded his eyes. “Caution” he gestured, adding the motions for “not,” “all,” and “want.”
“Be careful,” Wizard Edvin said in Calnoric, his grandfatherly face downcast.
Tari stewed over Wizard Edvin’s warning for a moment. She had a feeling that not everyone was so pleased with her bonding as the monarchs and general public. The attempted kidnapping was all the proof she needed for that. However, Tari had hoped it was a small enough percentile that vigilance would not be necessary. Those who were against the match were probably few, but if a wizard was taking the time to warn her, they were most likely powerful.
Tari gestured “understood,” and curtsied again. When she straightened up the wizard was smiling like a cheerful grandpa.
He smacked his belly before laughing. “Arion… very lucky,” he said in human before gesturing, “well met.”
Tari returned the sign, and the wizard hummed under his breath as he started down the corridor.
Tari watched him go, jumping when she turned back to find Evlawyn had appeared at her elbow.
“I received a letter for you, Lady Tari,” Evlawyn said, handing the sealed envelope over. “I noticed the seal and thought it might be prudent to give it to you as soon as possible.”
Tari winced at the insignia stamped in the wax, it was Seer Ringali’s. “ Well thought Evlawyn,” Tari said, smiling at her handmaiden before opening the letter.
Tarinthali Ringali
I am coming to Haven . You cannot grow soft and sloppy, even if the courts hold you up as a messiah. You will meet me at the Aquavi entrance to the palace on the second day of the feast of Stag Hallow at sunrise. Bring the human whelp they’ve you chained to.
PS: I do not appreciate being your laundry service.
The letter wasn’t signed, but it didn’t need to be. Seer Ringali’s humor and personality were rather… unique for most elves.
Tari exhaled. “Seer Ringali is arriving in two days. I am to meet him with Arion at sunrise.”
“Shall we ready for battle, Lady Tari?” Evlawyn asked. They had been preparing for this for days.
“Let’s. I am glad to have you with me, Evlawyn. You are quite the ally.”
“I am with you until the end, Lady Tari.”
“Thank you, this very well may be it.”
Two days later Tari stood with Arion in the chill of dawn. Tari was in her best dress—a violet creation that brought out the soft blonde shades of her hair, which was carefully bushed and tumbled freely down her back.
Arion was impressive as usual in his formal armor. Tari was secretly glad he was so massive . It would bring her comfort when facing Seer Ringali.
“Seer Ringali is your teacher?” Arion asked , butchering the elvish name as he watched sunlight crawl over the white, limestone road that connected the city and palace.
“Yes, and I am his protégé,” Tari said, curling her hands into fists to keep from wringing them. She glanced at Evlawyn, who was standing demurely on the grand staircase that wove up to the palace. The handmaiden nodded in encouragement.
Arion nodded and squinted, still staring at the road. “You are nervous.”
Tari exhaled. “Blast your mind reading.”
“Emotion sensing. And it does not take our bond to notice that you are squirrelly.”
Tari thoughtfully fussed with the gold linked belt that was chained at the waist of her dress. “Seer Ringali’s opinion is very important to me. I look up to him the way you would look to a general, although I know
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