Lords of Rainbow by Vera Nazarian

Author:Vera Nazarian
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Norilana Books
Published: 2011-10-14T13:00:00+00:00

PART III

Darkness

CHAPTER 13

Yes, I am still here, still with you.

But now it has grown very dark. And you are no longer so sure. And yet you continue to move forward—or is it inward—while behind you and ahead of you is an endless fluctuating sea of darkness and veils. . . .

More than ever, you must now strain to look, and listen.

* * *

It was still dark when a knock sounded on the door of her room. Ranhé awoke from the abyss, disoriented, her lungs drawing in the first deep breath. Nausea tugged at her as she got up, and her head throbbed from lack of proper sleep.

“Ranhé?” came Elasand’s gentle voice from the corridor.

“Yes, I am awake,” she replied hoarsely. “I will be ready in a few moments.”

“Good,” he replied. “Come downstairs when you are done, and we will eat quickly, and be on our way.”

Ranhé was true to her word. In the bathroom, by the gray light of a single candle, she used the facilities, splashed herself with cold water, and then hastily re-braided her long thick hair. Back in the sleeping chamber, she put on her old travel clothes, pulled on her own old warm boots, and arranged daggers in appropriate places about her body. Last, came her longsword, and only then she wrapped her cloak about her, concealing all.

At the foot of the stairs, Elasand met her, also dressed for travel, wearing his plain gray cloak. For a moment his eyes looked at her intently, searching for any trace of her discomposure from last night. And then, seeing her calm expression, he must have been satisfied, and smiled lightly in greeting.

“By the way, the man whom you met yesterday in the Regent’s quarters is here already. He is Elasirr, Guildmaster of the Assassin Guild, and he will travel with us—but you know that already. Do not trust him.”

“Yes,” she said. “I know.”

And with that, Ranhé entered the breakfast chamber, and saw the familiar blond, seated at the table and making himself quite at home, as he was buttering toasted bread, and biting into it with enthusiasm. He too wore very plain dark clothing, and she was almost surprised how easily his appearance had been transformed into that of a simple freeman. Only his hair, long and bright and groomed to satin, gave him away. That, and his strong beautiful hands on which two rings shone.

He saw her enter, and followed her with a stare, and possibly a smile—but she wasn’t sure, because he was busy chewing.

Giving him a curt nod, Ranhé sat down and ate hurriedly, otherwise ignoring him. When she was done, she drank down the hot strong tea, nearly scalding herself, because she wanted to be out of this room and away from him as soon as possible.

“Careful,” said the blond. “Vaeste will not begrudge you these extra minutes.” And he took another big bite of the toast, stuffing the side of his cheek, and grinning insolently at the same time. He then took a leisurely swig of tea.

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