The Alleluia Files by Sharon Shinn

Author:Sharon Shinn [Sharon, Shinn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101554845
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 1999-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Well, Jared, it doesn’t sound so awful to me,” Mercy said mildly three weeks later. “You had two boring dinners and half a dozen conversations with people you didn’t like. No worse than your average Gloria.”

Christian was laughing. The three of them had come together, unexpectedly, in Semorrah, and the merchant had insisted on taking the two angels out to dinner. So now they were seated in the well-appointed dining room of a quiet little inn called the Berman House, sharing one of the best meals it had been Jared’s privilege to eat in a long time. And the company was better than he had had since he left the Eyrie, too.

Jared had only been back in Monteverde for a couple of weeks before he had felt compelled to leave again. He had wanted to apprise Christian of the results of his quest so far. And Monteverde had been so peaceful that he did not feel he needed to stay—and so chilly that he did not want to. Mercy’s presence in Semorrah had been a delightful, unplanned bonus.

“Well, I commiserate with him on the Annalee Stephalo question,” Christian said. “I don’t know what it is about her that is so off-putting, for she’s a pretty enough girl, and her manners are for the most part acceptable.”

“She’s stupid, but she’s harmless,” Mercy said briskly. “And I wouldn’t want to see Jared entangled with her, but he’s a grown man, after all! He ought to be able to have a civil conversation with someone he doesn’t much care for, and not let it ruin his life. I hate to say it, Jared, but it’s time you grew up and acted like an adult.”

“And this is the reason I was so happy to see you when I arrived in Semorrah,” Jared said, smiling at her lazily. “Because you always make me feel so good about myself.”

“Nothing like Mercy’s tender love,” Christian agreed. “She spent the morning telling me I was a wicked father, and that if I didn’t intend to raise my own sons, I should marry a woman who’d do it for me.”

“Matrimony seems to be the theme on everyone’s mind,” Jared murmured. “I know the nicest Bethel girl. She’s currently staying at the Eyrie as the guest of the Archangel—”

“I didn’t say you were wicked,” Mercy informed Christian. “But you are neglectful. And your boys are adorable creatures whom you should enjoy spending time with.”

“I do enjoy them,” Christian said mildly. “But by all means come to Semorrah as often as you like and we can parent them together. They like you. They’d be overjoyed to have you around more.”

“It’s not me they need more time with, Christian, but you.”

“I give them as much time as I have. And I think I’d prefer to discuss Jared’s failings, if you please.”

“I’d prefer to discuss Bael’s,” Jared said. He nodded over at the merchant. “I don’t know how much Christian has told you of what he discussed with me last time I was here,” he said to Mercy.

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