Rebellion (Chronicles of Charanthe) by Cotterill Rachel

Author:Cotterill, Rachel [Cotterill, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Rachel Cotterill
Published: 2010-10-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Eleanor woke the next morning to the sound of birdsong, and a quick glance through the window told her that it was barely dawn. She dressed quickly and hid her pendant under the mattress – there would be few chances to wear jewellery here – before heading down to the dining hall to see about breakfast.

She'd hoped she'd be the earliest riser, as she'd always been at school, but to her annoyance she found Daniel at the breakfast table, munching at a sandwich while apparently absorbed in a book which lay open beside his plate.

“Morning,” she said quietly as she took a seat opposite him, and helped herself to a roll from the platter in the middle of the table. The bread was still warm, and filled generously with crisp slices of bacon and gooey melted cheese.

Daniel glanced up at her, then turned the page of his book and continued reading without a word. She was a little irritated by his rudeness, though they hadn't had the best start.

“I'm sorry I was jumpy yesterday,” she began. “I'm still adjusting to everything.”

He closed the book with a heavy thud; the cover said it was Finer Details of Apothecary.

“I was not ignoring you,” he said. “I was studying.”

She blushed a little. “I just wanted to explain.”

“It is new for all of us.”

She tried again to pin down the details of his accent as he spoke; it was nothing like any of the voices she'd heard in Taraska or among the Magra, let alone in the Empire, and he appeared unable to use normal speech contractions.

“But we will learn – of each other, and this place, and our needed skills. You must be patient.”

“Sorry for interrupting you,” Eleanor apologised again, indicating the book. “I don't mind you reading.”

He took another mouthful of his breakfast and flipped the book open again in silence, staring intently at the page.

Eleanor wondered how – or indeed whether – he'd managed to find the right place on his first attempt. Maybe looking at a random page was still preferable to talking to her. She didn't really care; she hadn't wanted to see anyone either. For a moment she'd been willing to tell him a little about Raf and her experiences over the last year, hoping to give some explanation for her behaviour, but that moment had passed. She got up and left the room quietly so as not to disturb him further, taking her roll with her to eat as she walked.

She was just chewing on her last crust when she reached the common room again, and was relieved to see no sign that Sebastien or Mikhail had stirred.

She let herself back into her room and went to look out of the window. It was a perfectly still, overcast day; perfect for a little outdoor practice. She pulled out the knife Laban had given her, which was still her favourite despite the way her Tarasanka interrogator had sliced open her face with it. As she turned it over in her fingers, she wondered why Laban had failed to stand up for her in the council yesterday.

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