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“Like your sorceress’s robes.” Starling was peering at my now-dry dress that I’d tossed on the workbench. “What did you do to it? And whatisthat stuff?”
I peered with her at the dragon blood distillate. The liquid was clear, with a silver sheen that reminded me of mercury. I took a moment to disconnect my distillate flask and seal over the top with a wish—better than any stopper, that. I set the flask on my workbench, carefully back in a corner where it couldn’t be knocked off.
“Dragon’s blood. Or a refined version of it. Kind of cool, huh?”
Starling looked at me dubiously.
“I’ll ask Larch to get the guys to drag the dragon blood equipment outside.” We probably didn’t need it in the tent overnight. I’d clean up the bowls, etc., tomorrow morning.
“I can do that.”
“Aren’t you coming to dinner?”
“Oh, no, Lady Sorceress. That is not my place. I wouldn’t be welcome. Besides, there’s lots to do here.” She wrinkled up her nose.
“Gwynn.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You call me Gwynn or I won’t let you stay.”
Starling opened her mouth to protest but I jumped in.
“I mean it. I can only take so much in one day. Don’t you do it to me, too.”
“Yes…Gwynn. I’ll see that this is all picked up.”
“Thanks, Starling—but don’t let anyone touch the vial or the residue in the basin. I need to make sure they’re not poisonous or anything.”
Maybe I needed a workshop tent of my own, too, if I planned on messing with anything else that would prove an unpleasant sleeping companion. And Starling would probably be living here, too, now.
I sighed for my short-lived privacy.
“My lady sorceress,” Larch said, yet again.
“What? Will he expire from hunger?”
“Lord Falcon…”
“Okay, okay. I’m ready.”
But I paused at the doorway, while Larch huffed with impatience.
“Starling?”
She smiled questioningly at me.
“I’m really glad you’re here.” I waved a hand loftily at Larch. “Proceed, James,” I declared with a posh accent, and grinned when Starling rolled her eyes behind his back.
Chapter 29
My Dinner with Falcon
‡
The short trekacross camp was becoming familiar. Homelike, in an odd way. It felt good, too, to walk on seriously high heels again. A certain confidence came from that, from the gliding hip-swaying steps those heels required. I was glad now, that Starling got me to dress up. Armor came in many forms.
I had a pretty good idea how I wanted to play this meeting. And, no, it did not involve agreeing to him having all the power.
