“Oh,” was all she managed to say for a while. She had been expecting this, but it still stung. “I have very little that belongs to the Erith. Much of what I had with me was human-made, and I assume the Taellan do not want that back?”
“That is so,” Kallish still would not meet her eyes, “though they have required the return of any Erith clothing as well.”
“Of course, svegraen.” Arrow felt heat in her face as well. The errand was demeaning for warriors of their stature, a deliberate slight by the Taellan, doubtless the elder still furious at the fact it had been Kallish’s cadre that brought the ‘kin into the Taellaneth.
She moved across the room to a pair of flat boxes and brought them to an uncluttered part of the bench.
“This is for the Taellan.” She indicated the first box, which contained the credit cards, gems and other items provided by the Chief Scribe over the years. Giving the items back left her reliant on the ‘kin, and her own resources. The sense of lightness as she released the box to the warriors was the obligations that went with the Erith’s items leaving her shoulders. Finally.
She indicated the second box. “This is for the Academy.” Spell items that she had not used. “And this,” she put a hand on the paper-wrapped bundle on top of the first box, “is for the warrior or warriors who were kind enough to lend me the clothing. It has been cleansed, and I return it with great thanks, svegraen.”
Kallish nodded, she and Xeveran each taking a box.
“Thank you, mage.” The quiet tone was heavy with something Arrow could not place.
“What of the Taellaneth. Were there many dead? Have the Preceptor and Lady Seivella recovered? Sir Messian?”
“We are forbidden from discussing such matters,” Xeveran put in unexpectedly, with a wary glance at his leader.
“I understand,” Arrow said with a small bow, pure reflex to deflect their mutual awkwardness.
“You seem content here,” Kallish remarked, something that had definitely not been in the Taellan’s script when they sent this particular pair of warriors to fetch items back from an exiled mage.
“I am.” Arrow felt a genuine smile cross her face. “The local muster has been welcoming, and it is a luxury to have a proper workroom to use.”
Something loosened in Kallish, the warrior’s shoulders dropping slightly, mouth curving in what might have been a smile.
“Do you know what you will do now?” Xeveran asked, openly curious.
“I am not certain,” she answered honestly, “I have not had much time to consider. The Prime has said he will have work for me if I wish,” she added, knowing that the information would rankle the Erith, but also because it was true.
“There is time to decide,” Kallish said. She went perfectly still for a moment, then reached into a pocket, holding something out to Arrow. “If you have need of us, mage.”
In the warrior’s hand was a small, dark disk. A long-range communicator disk. Arrow went still in her turn. The warrior was going against the Taellan and Lord Whintnath’s orders, offering her help. The offer made her heart swell a moment, a smile bidding for freedom on her mouth. For all that the warrior’s care had irritated her, she had found, perversely, that she missed Kallish’s acerbic manner when it was gone. Along with others.
“That is generous. Thank you, svegraen.” She took the disk carefully, like the precious object it was. “And I have one for you.” She dug into the drawer under the workbench and produced an equally small disk. Kallish took it with a nod. “You and your cadre are welcome here.”
“We will remember.” Kallish made a small bow, then sighed. “Now we must go.”
“Good hunting, svegraen.”
“Good hunting, mage.”
THANK YOU
Thank you very much for reading REVEALED, The Taellaneth - Book 2.
If you enjoyed it, please leave a review at the store you got it from. Reviews are really helpful for other readers decide whether the book is for them.
Arrow’s story continues in BETRAYED, The Taellaneth - Book 3, which will be out soon, and you can find information about it at my website: http://www.taellaneth.com
If you want to know what I’m working on and when the next book will be available, you can contact me and sign up for my newsletter at the website, too: http://www.taellaneth.com.
ALSO BY THE AUTHOR
The Taellaneth series
CONCEALED, Book 1
REVEALED, Book 2
BETRAYED, Book 3 (coming soon)
TAINTED, Book 4 (Autumn 2018)
CLOAKED, Book 5 (Autumn 2018)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vanessa Nelson lives in Scotland, United Kingdom where she tries to fit her day job in between writing and tending to the demands of two spoiled cats and a giant dog. As far as the cats are concerned, they should always come first. The dog lets her know when he’s not getting enough attention by chewing the house.
You can find out more information at the following places:
Website: http://www.taellaneth.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Taellaneth
Revealed: The Taellaneth - Book 2 Page 31
