Voice of Command by Melanie Cellier

Author:Melanie Cellier [Cellier, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2019-01-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“Are you following me?”

Lucas fell into step beside me, quirking an eyebrow. “What if I am?”

“Strange behavior for someone who couldn’t run away fast enough earlier in the evening.”

“You had that look on your face.”

“Excuse me?” I turned more fully toward him. “What look?”

“The look that said you had something you wanted to talk about. And I thought it was probably better if you had your say—whatever it might be—without an audience. So here I am.”

“Oh.” A whisper of shame crept through me.

I had been approaching him to thank him, but that didn’t seem to have occurred to him as an option. He might be arrogant at all times, and obnoxious at least some of the time, but he had helped me train back at the Academy, and now he had helped the people of Abalene. Was I really so harsh toward him?

Yes, came the whisper in my mind. Yes, you are.

“I wanted to thank you,” I said. “That was all. I only just heard about what you did.”

“Should I be alarmed?” He smiled down at me. “What did I apparently do?”

“No cause for alarm,” I said stiffly. “I just said thank you, didn’t I?”

“That’s half the alarm.” He chuckled, seemingly in a good mood.

“Well, no cause for alarm. I meant about writing to your father. Getting him to put out a call for more healing compositions. I’m sure it’s saved a lot of lives.”

“Oh, that.” He glanced down at me again. “You weren’t supposed to find out about that.”

I stared up at him. “Why ever not? Do you want me to always think the worst of you?”

He sighed. “That has certainly never been my intention.” He paused. “I didn’t think you’d be very impressed, to be honest. He only sent out a request, not a command, and not very many have chosen to respond. I didn’t think it would do much to improve your impression of us.”

I shook my head. “But some responded. And for every mage that did, more people are being saved. It’s made a difference. You must have seen the empty beds.”

“And all the full ones,” he said quietly.

Another silence fell between us as I considered all those who had nothing to celebrate this Midwinter. And here we were dancing and partying. I ran my hands self-consciously down my dress. Had I become one of the people I railed against?

Lucas eyed my gown. “You look lovely tonight, by the way.”

I looked up at him in surprise, my thoughts diverted, but I could see nothing but sincerity in his eyes. I flushed and looked away.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said.” His stride didn’t falter, but he looked uncomfortable.

My eyes flew back up to him. “Which thing?”

The ghost of a smile flitted across his face. “Yes, there are so many to choose from, aren’t there? In this case I mean what you said when I found you at the healing tent. About how you just wanted to be consulted like an equal.”

“Oh, right. That.” Somehow here,

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