Sworn to Quell by Terah Edun

Author:Terah Edun [Edun, Terah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Terah Edun Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

20

Embittered silence settled over the group.

Finally Sebastian spoke. “It seems I can’t change either of your minds. We can either argue this to our deaths or let it go. I vote for the latter, plus one more thing.”

Maybe it was a peace offering, or maybe Sebastian was just weary of arguing.

Whatever it was, Ciardis was grateful for the change of direction which seemed to ease at least a little of the harsh vibes in the room. So she nodded and said in a semi-relieved voice, “What is it? Whatever it is, make it fast.”

Sebastian’s lips twitched. “Fine with me. It shouldn’t take long. Who’s up for a drink?”

“You know what? Anything to get through another meeting like the one we just had today,” Ciardis said.

“You’d think the one yesterday would be the one you’d most want to forget,” Thanar said saucily.

“There’s that too,” Ciardis replied with just as much sarcasm. “I need enough vineyard wine to drown in if I’m going to forget that.”

It was Thanar’s turn to look surprised.

“What?” cried Ciardis. “I can drink.”

Both males pinned her with acerbic looks. “Since when?” Sebastian had the gall to ask.

She put her hands on her hips and served him a cross look. “Since now. Since my mother disappeared and my friends all died and I’m facing imminent annihilation by a god and a cross-country trek to revive ley lines that have been dormant for centuries.”

Thanar snorted. “Well, I guess if those are your reasons…”

“They are,” snapped Ciardis.

“Then we can’t stop you,” said Sebastian solemnly.

Ciardis paused and looked them both swiftly in the eye. She even swiped through their minds for emotions and thoughts. But they were both careful to keep their minds as blank as they could as they knew they couldn’t block her out as effectively anymore with the seeleverbindung.

Their eyes told a different story.

Mirth danced in one person’s eyes.

Quiet consternation in another’s.

But neither said a word, and she couldn’t castigate them for the sense of laughter in the air.

So she moved away to the only other piece of furniture in the room besides the table and chairs. It was a rolling cart with wine, water, strong liquor, and glasses for the conclave members.

She filled three glasses with a bit more liquor than even she thought was proper, then made her way back to the table.

“I think this is exactly what we need. While ordinarily I wouldn’t do this, I think imminent destruction calls for something stronger than tea. To that end, I’ve filled these up high enough to make sure we take a bit of the stress off.” She set the drinks down carefully.

Sebastian didn’t look shocked. He looked grateful.

Thanar looked mildly amused.

“Well,” said the daemoni prince with a smooth sip from his glass, “it seems I’ve managed to convert you more than I thought.”

Ciardis didn’t bother looking at him as she took her drink and muttered, “Apparently so.”

“So now that we’ve settled this tit-for-tat conversation,” Thanar said cheerfully, “let’s get on with it, shall we?”

Sebastian huffed but said nothing else, while Ciardis rolled her drink around in her mouth.

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