Impulsively, she bolted the door, stripped, flung her clothes about, and jumped on the bed naked.She rolled about, chortling.
This would be the best summerever.
Her pack was by the bed, and she lunged over the side of the bed, and dug out her spoon.With that in hand, she flung herself back on her pillows.
The silver of the spoon glowed in the moonlight.
Halithe propped herself up, angling the bowl of the spoon so that the light hit it just right.She breathed on the bowl, watched her breath dry, then took a deep breath and focused her mind.
“Show me,” she whispered, thinking of Caris, of her auburn hair gleaming in this same light.“Show me,” she commanded, pressure building in her chest as her breasts heaved with her breathing.
Something flickered in the silver bowl.
Halithe jerked up, and the image vanished, but she’d seen it, oh she’d seen it!Lovely auburn hair and warm brown eyes, and—
She hugged the spoon to her chest, feeling stupid and elated all at the same time.The cooler air from the open window tickled her skin.She shivered with pleasure and quickly burrowed under the blankets.
A yawn cracked her jaw then, and she settled deep into the bed on her side, her pillow bunched up under her head, one hand still clasping the spoon.
She closed her eyes and felt sleep claim her, still seeing that brief, fleeting glimpse of…joy.
Chapter Twenty-Two
In the Palace of Xy
Riven woke in his new feather bed and stared at the velvet canopy.He blinked away the last vestige of sleep and took a breath, expecting a wave of anguish and self-loathing and found…determination.
He wasn’t going to cast that damnable spell.Wasn’t going to do it.Six lives, one obliterated, five enslaved, to add to his count?
No.
He threw back the covers and sat up, his toes hitting the thick carpet.Yawning, he stretched and shuffled to the privy.
No.There was no way he was going to do it.
And there was no way he was going to let anyone know that, since he would be dead in a heartbeat.He wasn’t going to get killed, and he wasn’t going to cast the spell.
“Master,” Witless called from outside the door.“Breakfast, Master?”
“Yes, please.”Riven called, heading to the clothes press.He could hear Witless chuckling as he walked away from the door, repeating the word ‘please’.
Riven dressed in the simple tunic and trous they’d provided.Nothing fancy, just solid cloth in muted colors.He had everything he needed.
Everything except any real idea of how to achieve his goals.
His stomach rumbled, reminding him of more immediate needs.Riven went into the main room, where sunlight danced through the bubbled glass of the windows, warming the wood floors.At one point this space had probably been a receiving room for a great lord, but now it was empty of fancy furnishings and thick rugs.There was a roughness to the wood under his feet.
Empty shelves lined the far wall, with large work tables set between.A few stools were scattered about.All were worn with age and showed signs of hard use.
The main doors opened as a guard let Witless back into the room.Witless’s face lit up as he shuffled across the chamber.“Breakfast, Master,” he said proudly, setting the tray down with a rattle on the nearest table.The baby doll was tucked carefully in the crook of his arm.
Riven pulled over one of the stools and sat, unsurprised when it rocked slightly beneath him.Breakfast was bread and cheese and cold chicken.At least the kavage was warm.
“Good morning,” Avice stepped into the room, carrying the scroll box.“How do you fare this morning?”The guard closed the door behind her.
Riven hurried to swallow.“Better.”He brushed crumbs from his tunic, starting to rise, but Avice waved him back down.
“Finish your food,” she said, settling onto one of the other stools.
