Darkness: A Guardians of Orana Novel by Nancy E Dunne

Author:Nancy E Dunne [Dunne, Nancy E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-29T22:00:00+00:00

Twenty-One

In the Ikedrian Embassy

Ellie. Ellie? Elspethe, WAKE UP! It had been like this every morning for weeks now. Once Ellie discovered Taeben squatting in the back of her mind, he took advantage of her awareness to wake her up at sunrise as often as he could. This particular morning she tried to ignore him and stay in bed. She had been up very late the night before working on the research he dictated to her. At first, she was so happy that he was there at all—even if he was only a quiet voice in the very back recesses of her mind. He had not taken over her body anymore since that last time in her workroom, but he kept her busy night and day, finishing the mass control spell that he had worked on with the dragon in Bellesea Keep.

“Don’t you have anyone else to bother?” she said aloud as she dragged herself out of bed and toward the kitchen in her apartment. A single tendril of flame from her finger set the kitchen fire alight, and she rubbed her eyes as she pulled a box of tea from the cupboard along with a mug. Once the fire was hot enough, Ellie picked up the kettle from the hearthside, filled it at the pump in the sink, and then stumbled over to hang it over the fire. The hand holding the bottom of the kettle got a bit too close, and she jumped as the flames licked around her hand—causing her to drop it.

What are you doing? Who has hurt you?

I am fine, A’chrya, just a bit clumsy this morning.

You must be more careful, my dark flower. I need you intact—body, soul, and mind.

Ellie couldn’t decide if his concern was for her as an equal or as a piece of property. She hung the kettle—carefully this time—and then filled the mug with tea leaves as she waited for the water to boil.

I don’t know why you don’t just conjure your tea as I showed you how to do, Elspethe.

There is no need to do so when I can still make it with my own two hands, A’chrya.

If you are not careful, you will not have two hands, my dear.

Ellie scowled. After a few moments, the kettle whistled, and she removed it carefully from the hearth and poured the boiling water into the mug. She took a deep breath as the aroma of the tea swirled up in the steam and surrounded her like a warm hug from her family. Tea was an essential part of Ikedrian life, and the specific blend that Ellie had with her was handed down in her family for centuries. She sipped the warm liquid and closed her eyes for a moment.

You’re stalling.

Oh, A’chrya, if you could taste this tea you would understand, it must be savored.

Ginny used to make me tea. She was never very good at it.

Surely she had other...talents. Ellie bristled angrily.

Oh, dark flower, you must move past this anger and—jealousy you feel for Ginny.

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