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’m wounded at her dismissal. “You know, you don’t like me and I’m trying to figure out what I did.”
“It’s not that I don’t like you.” She pauses to look over at me, her expression one of exasperation. “But I need to pass this year, and you’re not taking being a fledgling very seriously.”
I’ve been deliberately encouraging this line of thought so no one will suspect that I’m watching them. Even so, I don’t like that Gwenna thinks I’m not serious about any of this. “What makes you think I’m not?”
“Because…well, you’re you.” She gestures at me.
I don’t even know what that means. “What, because I like to have fun? Nothing in the rules says I need to spend my days frowning at the world around us.”
“That’s not it at all.” Gwenna pauses again, clasping the sheet of parchment to her breasts so it doesn’t flutter away. “You’re good at everything without even having to try hard. You know plenty about Old Prell. You can handle yourself in a fight. You’re excellent on the obstacle courses. Heck, you probably already have the city memorized and came just to bother me.”
Her answer’s a little too close for comfort and reminds me how very astute she is.
“Me,” she continues, “I’m not good at anything. I’m not athletic. I’m out of my depth in all of this, and I’m a woman. I need to push harder than everyone else so I can catch up.”
Oh. Is that the reason she frowns at me so when I try to flirt? “You want me to help you?”
“Help me with what?”
I shrug. “Whatever you like. I can teach you the basics of Old Prellian glyphs. I don’t know many, mind you, but most artificers don’t. You just need to know some of the more common ones that you might run across scribed onto old buildings or on walls. I can assist you with training. Whatever you feel you need to brush up on, I can work with you. I don’t mind.”
She pauses, blinking up at me. “You’d help me with all of that?”
“Of course. It’d probably be on the weekends, since that’s our only free time.” I rub my chin, thinking. “Well, not this weekend, of course. There’s the wedding for Master Siskin and his partner, Tern. Everyone’s going…well, except Master Jay, but that’s just how Master Jay is.”
“Not everyone. I wasn’t invited to a wedding.”
Ah. I suppose I was the only fledgling who was invited. Tern is friendly with the Taurians in town, and I’ve worked with him several times on a variety of rescue missions. He probably didn’t think about my status when he invited me. “You can come with me. No one will think twice if I bring a date.”
Gwenna’s expression changes to a withering look. “Is this another bout of you flirting?”
Her wariness makes me choose my words carefully. “No, this is me suggesting you show up at my side so we can check out what you’re up against.”
Some of the tension in her frame eases. “What do you mean, what I’m up against?”
“We see which masters act offended because you’re female. We see which ones treat you like anyone else. We see if any repeaters or fledglings are invited and how they act. We chat with the masters and see what they say their teams are good at. In short, we collect information on everyone. Because we’re not going to be scouring the streets endlessly. After a few more weeks of preliminary training, we’re going to be doing team exercises, and then we’ll be pitted against the fledgling teams of other masters. Wouldn’t you rather know what to expect so you can train properly?”
She pauses, thinking. “I don’t have much in the way of dressy clothing.”
“Neither do I. We can linger at the back of the wedding so no one notices if we’re shabby. And after the wedding, they’re celebrating at a tavern. We can get dinner, a few drinks, spy on everyone. It’ll be great fun.”
“Mmm.” Gwenna considers this and then eyes me speculatively. “And what are you expecting in exchange for dinner and this information?”
“Companionship.”
Her brow goes up.
“Of the chaste, friendly sort. I wouldn’t expect you to suck my cock simply because you got a mouthful of bread,” I scoff. “Any male who does expect that should be hit over the head, and repeatedly.”
My cock isn’t working right now anyhow, thanks to the potion.
Gwenna’s mouth curves in a faint smile. “On that, we’re in agreement.”
I smile back. Damn, she’s prickly, but it doesn’t bother me. I understand the reasons behind her crabbiness, and it makes me feel a strange wave of affection for her. It also makes me want to protect her from idiots like Arrod and Hemmen more than ever. I like that she keeps me on my toes. Makes me think. Reminds me of Sarya, but in a completely different way.