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)
“And your father? What does he think of all this?” I ask, because I know Mereden’s father is noble. Not the heir, but one of the spares. I’m guessing they were expecting her to make an advantageous marriage.
Her expression tightens. “We, ah, haven’t told my family yet.”
“We might have to if we can’t get income soon,” Lark says, glancing over at Mer. “We’re still figuring things out, obviously.”
“I’ll be on the lookout for odd jobs,” I tell them. “Seems we’re all in need of a bit of coin these days.”
Lark lifts her chin, glancing up at Raptor, who’s still across the room. “What’s the story with you and him?”
“Other than us being fledglings together? There is no story.”
“I don’t know.” Mereden sits up, craning her neck to get a glimpse. “He does keep looking over here a lot for someone who’s just a friend.”
“It’s complicated,” I tell them. I don’t know what else to say. I’m not sure I want to tell them that it’s complicated because I was feeling sick from sensing a dead body so I fucked him to distract myself and it turns out he doesn’t know it was me and he’s also pining over some other woman. That seems like far too much. I just smile brightly and gesture at the food spread. “Have you tried the rolls? They’re amazing.”
* * *
A short time later, Raptor and I head out from the tavern. Our easy mood from earlier is gone, and our conversation as we head back to the dormitory is sparse. I’m thinking about how happy Mereden and Lark are, and Sparrow and Hawk, and the newly married couple of Siskin and Tern. I didn’t come to Vastwarren to seek out a relationship. I came here for a job. But seeing so many people so happy and paired up makes me feel lonely. Hormones, I suspect, and I want to squeeze my crampy abdomen with relief and delight.
Raptor holds the door to the nest open for me, and I step inside, then wait politely for him. We stare at each other in the doorway, and then he gives me his best smile and cocks a thumb to the kitchen. “I’m going to grab a drink of water to wash the onion out of my mouth. Want anything?”
“No, I’m going to change and write a letter to my mother.” I want to carefully fold my dress and bodice so they don’t wrinkle, and I’ll need to change if I plan on lounging on my bunk and writing.
He nods and retreats, and I head for the dorm sleeping quarters.
I’m not surprised to see they’re empty. The sun hasn’t even set yet, so there’s plenty of day left. Hemmen’s probably at the library, and Arrod is, well, doing whatever it is Arrod does on weekends. Kipp’s bed is made but his shell is gone, and I suspect he’s in the kitchen if he’s in the house at all. Privacy is hard to find, and I decide not to waste it.
With quick motions, I flick open the laces at the front of my bodice and give myself room to breathe deep. My breasts bounce as they’re freed from their cage, and I scratch at the skin underneath the thick material. I sling my pack from its spot on the bedpost to the center of my bed. I have two changes of uniform, my traveling dress, and a nightgown, and I’m not sure what’s best to wear at the end of the day. It feels silly to wear a uniform, but my traveling dress is equally uncomfortable, and yet I don’t want to get into my nightgown so early. It feels like it’d be an invitation, and one I’m not inclined to extend if Raptor already has a woman.
I ponder for a moment longer, and then pull open my bag to get a uniform after all. It’s not as if I have a ton of choices. Perhaps when I start making artificer money, I can afford a lounging sort of dress. Until then—
I stare down at the strange item in my bag. What the mucking hell is that? It looks like…a tube of some kind but decorated with what look like Prellian glyphs. As I stare down at it, uncomprehending, the glyphs begin to glow and shimmer golden.
Quickly, I shut my bag again and take a step backward. Then another. I run into the side of Raptor’s bed, and it hits the backs of my knees. I flop onto it, staring at my bag in horror.
How do I have a working artifact? How is that possible?
It’s in my bag, so someone clearly placed it there while I was gone. They wanted me to have it…or they want me to get into trouble. Do they know I’m a mancer and they’re going to blackmail me in some way?