Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
I look over at Arrod. The human man is fingering his sash as he charms the barmaid, leaning closer to her than he should. He’s giving her a flirty smile that I’ve seen him flash at Gwenna all week long. “Do you think he’s handsome?”
“I think he should have been smacked a bit more as a boy,” she replies tartly. “Then he wouldn’t be so full of himself.”
Erupting with laughter, I pound a fist on the bar. She’s got him pegged, all right. My thoughts were the same—a man who’s gotten by on his charm and money all this time. But if he has coin, is he our thief? Has he always been wealthy, or is it a more recent development? “You think he’s trustworthy?”
She considers this for a moment. “Do you mean, do I trust him to carry me out of a collapsing tunnel? I don’t trust any of you lot to do that.”
I lean in so I can lower my voice. “I’d carry you out.”
Gwenna puts a finger on my nose and pushes me away. “And you’d demand a kiss for it.”
“Taurians don’t kiss. We save our tongues for other things.”
Her color gets high.
“But we won’t speak of that,” I drawl, reminding myself of Sarya. “What do you think of Hemmen?”
“I try not to think of him at all,” Gwenna retorts. “But if I must…he reminds me a lot of Aspeth.”
“Aspeth?” I’m startled by her answer.
“Sorry, Sparrow. It’s taking me a long time to remember to call her that.” She grimaces and stares down at her drink. “But aye, he reminds me of her. She was always creeping off into corners to read, would rather sit in a chair with a book than attend a party.”
Considering that currently Hemmen is at a distant table with a beer in one hand and a book in the other, ignoring his surroundings, it’s not much of an observation. “That’s all you’ve got on him?”
“Like I said, he reminds me of my friend. He’s terrible at just about everything Master Jay sets him to, except that he’s knowledgeable about Old Prell. I’m not going to complain about that, because I’m terrible at everything as well, and I am not knowledgeable about Old Prell in the slightest.”
“You can ask me. I’m happy to share what I know. You pick up a lot just by being in the field.”
She seems surprised at my offer, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as she studies me. “Thank you. That’s very kind. I don’t like being the worst member of our team. Bad enough that I’m the only female one. I’d like to be successful at something.”
“You’re just fine,” I reassure her. “Everyone’s terrible when they start out as fledglings.”
“Yes, but I was a repeater. I should have some experience.”
“Doesn’t matter. If you were good at everything they throw at us, you’d be wearing an artificer sash instead.”
She lifts her beer, acknowledging my words.
“And what about Kipp?”
“Kipp is exactly what he seems to be,” she says, her tone taking on a defensive note. “He’s self-contained and very competent. It’s just that we communicate through words and he doesn’t, so that’s the biggest issue. That and his size. But if I needed someone to carry me out of a collapsing tunnel…well, he wouldn’t be able to, but he’d do what he could to save me anyhow.”
Loyal, affectionate words. Their bond is stronger than she’s let on through the week. I consider this, wondering if I need to pry at her more. I haven’t found a single shred of evidence that would lead me to a thieving repeater, but we’re all still settling into our roles as fledglings. Any smart crook would wait for things to grow quiet before making a move. I need to be patient, too.
She’s gazing up at me, that challenging look still on her face.
“And what do you think of me?” I ask, curious. “What are your observations?”
Gwenna tilts her head and takes another sip of her drink. Then she gives a tiny shrug of her shoulders and touches her fledgling sash, and her body language changes to one of fluttery discomfort. “I think you’re a flirt and you use your charm like a weapon. But you won’t let anyone get close to you. You keep them right where you want them.”
I stare down at her. That was…far more astute than I’d like.
A smile blooms across her lips and she straightens, her posture growing more erect with her confidence. She likes having rattled me. Lifting her chin, she asks, “How’d you get burned anyhow?”
Just like that, the easy fun of the night is gone. All the patchy fur around my eyes has grown back, and thanks to the guild healers, you’d never know I was injured. I drawl my answer, choosing it carefully so I can watch her response. “I don’t recall saying I was burned.”