Elyon's Ghost by Alison Naomi Holt

Author:Alison Naomi Holt
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Alison Holt
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

T o keep her mind off of Gweyir, Sábria decided that while Shirin slept, it would be a good time to walk among the Blades to hear their reactions to the afternoon’s events. As she walked through the archway leading from the Sanctum’s garden into the Temple’s inner courtyard, she saw several groups milling about, chatting quietly amongst themselves. That in and of itself was unusual for this time of day, and she guessed they were discussing her visit to see the King Maker.

Ailith was sitting alone at one of the tables outside the dining hall, and as Sábria strode over, she saw the shiv had propped the tip of her sword on a wooden block. The young warrior was slowly and methodically running a whetstone across one edge of the blade to sharpen it.

Sábria sat down next to her, and when Ailith paused, the Priestess ran her thumb over the edge. “That’s an excellent edge Ailith. But then I’d expect a warrior from Dreyutha to know how to keep her weapon sharp.”

Ailith frowned and brought her brows down low. She nodded and then resumed her methodical working of the blade.

That was a strange reaction. Sábria turned sideways, rested her arm on the table, and leaned her head onto her fist. “Why the long face? Something bothering you?”

Ailith lifted a shoulder and kept working. “I guess yer fasched just like Marne was.”

“Marne was angry at you?”

The look Ailith gave her bordered on the suspicious, and she drew out her answer. “Aye.”

“Why?”

“Ya don’t know?” At Sábria’s confused, slow shake of the head, Ailith shrugged. “Well, she said I needed t’ listen to ya when ya give an order, but I were just confused, that’s all. Sometimes people give an order, and then things change, and you don’t know if th’ order still stands or not.” Ailith absently rubbed the side of her head. “Ya gonna rap me like Marne done?”

Sábria chuckled. “No.”

“That Marne’s got one fowkin’ hard hand, that’s for fowkin’ sure.”

“Why did she cuff you?”

“Because ya told us to back off, and when th’ King Slayer started to leave, I stepped in her way because I didn’t know if ya wanted her to stay or no.”

Sábria felt the side of Ailith’s head. “I don’t feel any lumps. I suppose it could’ve been worse. But in this case, Ailith, Marne was wrong. I’m not upset with you. I would have been if you hadn’t backed off when I told you to, but I was very pleased when you reacted immediately and did as I ordered.”

Ailith glanced sideways at her. “Ya aren’t fasched then? Marne said, when ya told us to back off, I should of just backed off.”

“As you said, Ailith, there are some fast-moving situations where a Blade, or a shiv,” she smiled into Ailith’s worried eyes when she said the word, “needs to think for themselves. I’m glad you’re able to do that, and I’m even more pleased that you reacted to my order as quickly as you did.

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