‘Who do you bring with you?' she asks, eyes surveying the others.
I turn, drawing our female forward. 'This is Bryn. Bryn, Vivienne, the First Scholar at the Great Library of Kitore. This is Morgan, a good friend of mine.' I don't look at Locke. 'And that’s Locke.'
'Call me Vie, please. A pleasure,' she says, grinning widely at us. 'Fae as well, I see.' Her eyes move over a surprised Morgan. 'And half orc?'
She grimaces. 'If you don't mind… I'm sure you've heard the wards of Kitore are temperamental on a good day, and I can sense your medallions, but they’re attuned to fae blood. I'd hate for the city to turn on you simply because of your orc side. Wouldyou mind dreadfully if I worked a tiny conjure on you, just so that the wards see you as friend, not foe?'
I nod. 'Let her, Morgan. She knows the wards better than any living human. Vie is a powerful conjurer.'
She rolls her eyes. 'A witch is what I'm called in the Light Realm, but if I was from the Dark Realms, I'd be something fancy, like a mage. Well, I suppose, technically, I'd be a slave as a human, but that's by the by.'
'Of course,' Morgan says, glancing at Bryn who doesn’t seem at all perturbed by the other woman’s words.
All it takes is a small flick of her fingers. 'There. Much safer.'
She tilts her head at Locke. 'And a mage. Did you by chance study at Dead City?'
She sounds intrigued.
Locke nods. 'I did.'
'Gods, you're so lucky! I was hoping to come by one of those trinkets you fae carry around, just to have a flying visit, but now,' she gestures helplessly to her belly. 'One day, perhaps.'
She finally turns her attention to Bryn.
'And a human,' she says.
But then she frowns, and her face alights in a tremulous smile, and she crosses the room, as quickly as she’s able, to Bryn.
'Oh, Jak,' she breathes, glancing over her shoulder at me. 'It can't be so. You've brought a Fate Touched.'
She reaches out, folding her hand into Bryn's and urging her forward. Bryn lets her with wide eyes. She looks awestruck as Vie brings her to the large table and pulls out a chair for her.
'May I get you some refreshment?' she asks. 'Some wine or tea, some food? We have chefs here. Anything you like.'
'No…no, thank you,' Bryn says, glancing at us.
We all look as surprised by this development as she is.
'But, thank you.'
Vie sits at the table with Bryn, her eyes bright, her lips turned up into an excited grin.
'I don't understand,' Bryn says.
'I'm sorry. Gods, you must think me some addled fool!’ Vie finally tears her eyes away from Bryn and shakes her head a little as if to clear it.
'It's just…a Kismet. A human Kismet.Here. It's an omen that foretells good fortune as well as Fate’s favor.'
I quirk a brow. She must not have had the bird from Lia yet, or she wouldn’t be saying we were here to predict anything good, that’s for certain.
'The Kismet isn't the only thing I've brought,' I say with a chuckle, deciding to get the pleasantries out of the way before we ruin my friend’s good mood. 'Though perhaps I should have given you this first.'
I pull out the book I’ve brought and Vie gasps loudly.
'No!'
'I found it in the Tenth Circle in a tiny market. I told you I'd find you a copy.'
