Shield and Scepter by K. M. Warfield

Author:K. M. Warfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Creative James Media

Chapter

Sixteen

“Is this seat taken?”

Looking up, Thia saw Kasmin standing across from her. “No,” she said.

Pulling out the chair, he smiled at her. “I didn’t get your invitation until this morning. My landlord put it underneath some papers and forgot about it. Given that your assistant said you weren’t taking appointments, I feared you were avoiding me. I hope I didn’t say something inappropriate when we were watching the ocean.”

She shook her head. “I’ve been busy.” Busy waiting for you to come here.

“I can understand,” he said. “While my primary mission was to meet with you, there were some other matters I was entrusted with. When does your friend usually start playing?” His tone was light, conversational.

“It varies. She comes down when the urge strikes, plays what she feels like.”

He shifted in his seat, signaling for a bar maid. “Have you eaten yet?” he asked as he faced her again.

“I’m not hungry. Most of the time, we eat in our rooms.” Let him get his order in, then go upstairs and let Caelynn know he’s here. I won’t have to make a lot of small talk that way.

The door to the inn opened and she turned her head at the sound, hoping it was Jinaari and Adam. The two paladins in the corner shifted their posture, then relaxed as a uniformed man crossed the threshold. The messenger walked right to her without hesitation. “Daughter,” he said, bowing and holding out a sealed envelope.

“Thank you,” she said, taking it. The man straightened and folded his gloved hands in front of him but didn’t leave. “Is there something else?”

“His Grace respectfully requests a reply,” he said.

Sighing, she broke the seal. Opening it in front of Kasmin wasn’t ideal, but she couldn’t think of a polite way to get rid of him. Or the messenger. Inside the envelope was a small, handwritten note:

The delegation’s here. Formal reception at court is tomorrow morning. Please come. T.

Sliding the note back into the envelope, she handed it back to the servant. “Please let His Grace know I will do as he requests.”

The man nodded once, tucking the letter into a breast pocket, and left without another word.

“Everything okay?” Kasmin asked.

“It’s nothing to concern you,” she said. If he didn’t know yet the delegation had arrived, he would soon enough.

He sighed and looked at her. “I thought we were friends, you and I. Yet I sense that there’s a chasm between us. Is it because I waited a week to answer your invitation?”

“We both have duties that must be put above others. I didn’t anticipate you’d jump simply because I said something.”

She drew back from the intensity in his eyes. “Good. I was worried.”

“About what?”

“I saw who you really are, that night in the shelter. You show the world the strength, but I saw a glimpse of the woman you hide. I would like to know that Thia more.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I believe that vulnerability isn’t a weakness, that we all need others to lift us up.

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