The Pursuit of Winter by Talia Beckett

Author:Talia Beckett [Beckett, Talia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Feather Writing
Published: 2024-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 41

The rest of the wedding passed without more incident, but no one else’s gifts caused as much of a stir as Tanwen’s had. Lots more of the guests stared at her throughout the rest of the entire wedding but the looks they gave her were different now. They carried respect and were softer. If Tanwen caught an eye, people smiled and she was waited on right after the Khaadina for every possible need.

In much the same way as the previous evening, they were fed and ate together while an array of entertainers danced, performed tricks and told stories to the crowds. As faithfully as he had promised, Draigh translated everything, encouraged Tanwen to speak to those near her, and made himself invaluable.

Tanwen ate until she was stuffed and couldn’t eat another bite for the second day in a row, and soon relaxed. The Khaadina beamed at everything and everyone, her Khaad also growing more merry as the day wore on. The day ended with the Khaad’s guards bringing two horses to the happy couple for them to ride away.

Everyone got to their feet to cheer them away and then the party was over.

“What now?” Tanwen asked Draigh when guests began drifting off.

“The Khaadina's tent is yours for tonight. She will not be needing it again for some time and the Khaada has agreed to let you use it until it is gifted to her next eldest daughter.”

Once again, Tanwen got the impression that she was being paid an honour she wouldn’t normally be given. The tribe were taking care of her and had not once asked her to pay for anything. A water skin with water that had meant very little to her and everything to the Khaadina had been a small price to pay.

“Draigh, is this how a diplomat or someone from another race would normally be treated?” she asked, wanting to understand.

“No. Not always. It would depend on the respect already given to that race and the tribe. While the Khaadina of this tribe has spoken for you, another tribe might kill you on sight for your magic.”

“For magic?” Tanwen stopped walking, so shocked that her natural abilities might cause others to fear and harm her.

Draigh inclined his head, almost as if apologising. “The tribes can fear what they don’t understand and consider it better to deal with a threat before it becomes worse. It is not a personal attack, by any means. Today will at least have allowed word of your deeds and your magic being supportive of the tribes to spread. It is likely to aid another in your place in the future.”

It was something positive but it reminded Tanwen to be wary of what she showed of herself to people she came across in the future. Her abilities were growing with use and she knew that the necklace Cathal gave her seemed to boost certain elements of her magical nature, but she still had a lot to learn and it wasn’t enough magic to defend her against a tribe of people like this if they turned on her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.