The Adorned by Tristan John

Author:Tristan, John [Tristan, John]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2013-08-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Two

When we rolled into the city, I half expected to be taken directly to the house on Nightwell Street. Lord Loren’s courtesy did not allow it; I was taken to the palace, to his apartments, and would be fed and bathed. It seemed Doiran would be denied the dubious honor of teasing the travel knots from my hair. Istan, bleary-eyed himself, was assigned the task of my care, and he looked none too happy about it. After he restored me to some semblance of civilization, he nodded to me.

“Time to go,” he said.

I bowed. “Lord Loren?”

“Is asleep, after a long journey. I have been instructed to send you home.”

Again, I bowed, ignoring a small pang of regret. “Please convey all my regards to—”

He cut me off with a sharp gesture. “Yes. I know. I must make sure he hears all the niceties.”

I bit my lip and looked away. I had barely spoken to Loren, since he had come to my bed—since he had sent me to the Count, carrying his message.

Istan sighed. “Come now. Or your household will be asleep when we bring you home.” He smiled, a half-moon of bared teeth. “Your chariot awaits.”

He did not see fit to accompany me home. He had his own duties to attend to. I watched the palace recede from the carriage, all its lit windows blurring in the dark. They became pinprick specks then winked out of my view as I was rolled down the cobblestones to Nightwell Street.

The driver was an old man, with a nose like a blighted root. He smiled at me when he opened the door. It was kind enough, though smiles did not sit right on his ancient face. “There y’are,” he said. “To the door of y’r house.”

I bowed. “Thank you, sir.”

He clapped one of his crabbed hands on my shoulder and steered me to the door. “Been told to see y’ in.” He knocked thrice, loudly.

It did not take long for Yana to answer. She looked first at the driver, then at me, and did not quite smile. “Etan,” she said. “Good to see you. Come inside.”

Glad to be out from under the driver’s hand, I slipped inside. She tipped the man, then closed the door. I stood in the entrance hall and breathed, breathed in deep. The house held the same scent as my cloak; I was home.

Yana looked me over, smiling faintly. There was something hollow about her eyes, I thought. “To tell the truth,” she said, “we’d not expected you home so soon. Isadel said she’d seen storms on her tail.”

“Isadel? She is back?” I knew the Count and his retinue would have made better time than we had, but I had not thought she’d be comfortably ensconced before I’d even arrived.

“The Count has good drivers. And good horses, I suppose.” Yana sighed. “You haven’t the best home to return to, Etan. No supper’s made, since Doiran’s taken time to be with family, and I’m the best you have for a cook ’til he returns.

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