The Intrigues Of Arcadia by C. E. Clayton

Author:C. E. Clayton [Clayton, C. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DevilDog Press
Published: 2018-11-19T23:00:00+00:00

As the adrenaline of battle subsided, it gave way to an unrelenting, pounding pain. Tallis discovered just how useless her injured arm was as she tied and gagged the men that would be taken back to Lord Michal. She was fairly certain it wasn’t broken, but until an artisan healer looked to it, she wouldn’t know what the damage was.

Aside from her shoulder, she knew some of her stitches had ripped free. The wound was nearly healed, but that would not stop Tomas from chastising her for it later. For now, she was content knowing that pushing herself had saved people’s lives. She would be sure to remind him of that fact if he scowled at her over any healer’s shoulder.

“You fought well,” Konrad told her grudgingly as he inspected the knots on the ropes she was tying.

“My cousin was a knight. He taught me everything he knew,” Tallis gave a satisfied smile at the memory of Donovan instead of the melancholy that usually accompanied any thoughts of him.

“That’s not the only training you had,” Konrad beckoned Tallis to follow him as he headed back through the line of warriors.

Tallis glanced at Konrad, trying not to wince as she jogged to keep up with the other warriors who were draping the prisoners over their horses to take back to the castle.

“It is the only formal training I had. You’ve heard about what happened in Selkirk? I fought feral elves. It’s a different kind of fighting altogether.” Tallis could not tell if that was the answer Konrad wanted. Uneasiness was starting to grip her, tightening her chest with each breath she took, and she felt compelled to say something.

Konrad gave her an appraising look and Tallis did her best not to squirm under his gaze. “I’ve fought casteless dag’ears before. Your technique is different. Unconventional, strange, even. Effective, but it’s like how Chandrelle fights: calculating yet chaotic, graceful and deadly. As if you were touched by Wodan Himself.”

Tallis did not know what Konrad wanted her to say, and was uncomfortable with where this conversation was going. Seneschal Isabetta had promised she would not tell anyone that she and Colben were half-elves, though that had never stopped pure elves from instinctively knowing what they were. But much like Rodrigo, it seemed as though Konrad was edging closer to understanding. Tallis was not sure what the devout warrior would do if he found out what she was, either from Chandrelle or by simply guessing. Either way, she predicted his reaction would be less than pleasant.

Despite having to occasionally kill people, Konrad was a staunch believer in Wodan’s teachings. His tattoo—a gold circle with a line cut through it, denoting Wodan’s holy symbol—was evidence enough of his devotion. Even if Konrad hadn’t had his tattoo, he was still one of the few—if not the only warrior that always prayed before and after a patrol, and frequented the chapel within Michal’s castle. Considering elandilis were banned in every holy text Tallis had ever come across, Konrad could kill her and Colben on the spot if their secret was discovered.

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