Warna gaped at Kalynn, conscious all the while of the gathering audience. She glanced at Verice and Wolfe.
Wolfe snorted and rolled his eyes. “And people thinkIhave a temper.”
Verice stood there like a stone.
“Caged, dressed in rags, scrubbing out barracks,” Kalynn’s outraged voice was low and controlled but somehow managed to bounce off every wall and into waiting ears. “I took you at your word.” Kalynn’s glare was aimed directly at Verice. “You told me you’d offered her protection. I should have known that your own biases would—”
Warna couldn’t believe that Verice was just standing there, his face grim and rigid, his cheek red where Kalynn had slapped him. Frustratingly silent, offering no defense as the seer spewed her anger.
“Kalynn.” Warna grabbed her arm, and pulled her around. “Kalynn, you’re wrong.” Warna met her glare for glare. “You know nothing about what’s going on here, and you are making something—”
“Really?” Kalynn folded her arms over her chest. “Where did you sleep last night? Beside some hearth?”
Warna flushed and just managed not to look at Verice.
“Ha,” Kalynn exclaimed, taking Warna’s silence as some sort of affirmation.
Warna straightened, lifting her chin. “Seer Kalynn, you are wrong. All who stand here with me know that. Lord High Baron Verice has offered us shelter, safety and the utmost courtesy. Something which you lack, Seer.”
That shut her up. If Warna had slapped her, Kalynn could not have looked more shocked.
“This land is at war,” Warna continued. “Andwe,” she put emphasis on the word. “are working to restore, preserve and thrive in Tassinic. Did you expect to find me in ruffled silks and fine linens?”
“No,” Kalynn shook her head. “Not that. But—”
“There was an attack,” Warna pointed out, ignoring Kalynn’s protest. “We’ve people to house and feed, and little daylight left. Your visit is unfortunate, for we cannot offer you hospitality at this time. If you wish to speak to Lord High Baron Verice, please to keep it quick. There’s work to be done.”
“Warna,” Kalynn’s tone was apologetic but Warna was in no mood to hear it.
“Offer your apologies to Verice,” Warna snapped. “That’s where they’re owed.” She turned on her heel, and stomped back to the third barracks, where the woman huddled, with fear on awe on their faces. “Ladies.” She tried to keep the anger out of her voice. “Let’s be about it, shall we?” She walked through their midst, and right through the door, her stomach in knots.
It wasn’t until she’d set every able body to work, wasn’t until she was on her hands and knees, scrubbing a non-existent spot on the floor, that she was willing to face the real reason she still felt sick.
“Warna, get thehumansinto the—”
Verice stood silent, his cheek burning from Kalynn’s blow.
“Verice.” Kalynn reached out to him, her hand hovering over his cheek. “Verice, I am sorry. I thought that...it looked like…” She sighed, and dropped her hand. “I fear that I overreacted.”
“Really?” Wolfe said.
Kalynn glanced at him in irritation. “Verice, I am sorry. I apologize for—”
Verice lifted a hand. “While you may have misread the situation, there is still a truth to your words. A hard truth perhaps, but true nonetheless. Warna is correct, however. We had a village burnt to the ground by the Usurper’s forces, and I—” Verice rubbed his cheek. “I have much to do. It would be best to have your say, and depart quickly.”
“I’m sorry, lad,” Wolfe said. “Kalynn and I will be traveling for a time, and I wanted you to know that we were leaving. Charrin is at Valltera, at the Royal Court, and I’ve secured the Tower, no worries there. You have the cat.” There was a trace of malicious satisfaction in his voice. “It will be some time before we’re back in touch.”
“It’s been years since you’ve left your home,” Verice said. “How long will you be gone?”
“Months,” Wolfe shrugged. “Maybe longer.”
“That long?” Verice raised an eyebrow.
“I haveseen,” Kalynn said softly. “There’s a task needs doing.”
“And we must pursue it,” Wolfe said. “The places we must go, we can’t use any portals.”
Verice gave his mentor and friend a long, steady look. “What aren’t you telling me?”
