Before I ate or drank I had to find out who that rider was.
I stepped into the common room, scanning the few people seated on cushions at the low, rough tables. They all had gray, brown, or blue cloaks hung behind them, or hats. No dark cloaks or helms. So I wandered farther inside and encountered a young woman about my age.
"Hot punch? Stew?" she offered, wiping her hands on her apron.
"My companion came in just ahead of me. Wearing a helm. Where--"
"Oh! The other runner? Wanted a private room. Third down, that hall," she said cheerily. "What'll I bring you?"
"I'll order in a moment." The savory aroma of stew had woken my insides fiercely, and I realized that I had not eaten a bite the entire day before.
As I trod down the hall, I made and discarded plausible excuses. When I reached the tapestry I decided against speaking at all. I'd just take a quick peek, and if the livery was Merindar, then I'd have to hire someone to ride back and warn the Renselaeuses.
I pulled my soggy cloak up around my eyes, stuck out my gloved finger, and poked gently at the edge of the tapestry. Remember the surmise I recorded on my arrival at the Residence that day in early spring--that if anyone were to know everyone's business, it would be the servants?
I glanced inside in time to see a pale, familiar face jerk up.
And for a long, amazing moment, there we were, Meliara and Shevraeth, mud-spattered and wet, just like last year, looking at one another in silence.
I stepped into the common room, scanning the few people seated on cushions at the low, rough tables. They all had gray, brown, or blue cloaks hung behind them, or hats. No dark cloaks or helms. So I wandered farther inside and encountered a young woman about my age.
"Hot punch? Stew?" she offered, wiping her hands on her apron.
"My companion came in just ahead of me. Wearing a helm. Where--"
"Oh! The other runner? Wanted a private room. Third down, that hall," she said cheerily. "What'll I bring you?"
"I'll order in a moment." The savory aroma of stew had woken my insides fiercely, and I realized that I had not eaten a bite the entire day before.
As I trod down the hall, I made and discarded plausible excuses. When I reached the tapestry I decided against speaking at all. I'd just take a quick peek, and if the livery was Merindar, then I'd have to hire someone to ride back and warn the Renselaeuses.
I pulled my soggy cloak up around my eyes, stuck out my gloved finger, and poked gently at the edge of the tapestry. Remember the surmise I recorded on my arrival at the Residence that day in early spring--that if anyone were to know everyone's business, it would be the servants?
I glanced inside in time to see a pale, familiar face jerk up.
And for a long, amazing moment, there we were, Meliara and Shevraeth, mud-spattered and wet, just like last year, looking at one another in silence.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Court Duel ]
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