Страница 103 из 105
Leesil held her eyes with his. "I swear."
Domin Tilswith removed the ribbon and took up the incense. Blowing its tip to a coal, he lit the two outside candles, their wicks lightly dipped in clear oil.
Magiere picked up one candle and Leesil the other, and together they lit the center candle. They blew out the candles they held and set them aside.
"Two lights are now one," Domin Tilswith proclaimed. He held up the single candle. "Leesil and Magiere are one."
The warehouse filled with cheers.
Wy
The celebration in the Sea Lion Tavern had broken into… well, a celebration. She had never taken part in anything like this.
Bieja had outdone herself with the feast, and now poured wine straight from a cask into large mugs and tankards, passing them around like water. Domin Tilswith had finished two already, and even Osha held a mug.
Wy
The common room had been half-cleared of tables and chairs, and Bieja had abandoned the bar to dance with Karlin. The pair dominated the floor with their girth and energy, until Leesil pulled Magiere out to join them. After that, Wy
The Sea Lion was packed with people, who all seemed affectionate with Leesil and Magiere, but Wy
"Magiere said his name is Loni," Wy
"He is not an'Croan," Osha answered.
Loni's hair was light brown, and his eyes were amber brown. He was not as tall as Osha, but his facial structure, slanted eyes, and oblong pointed ears clearly marked him as fully elven. He seemed just as determined to ignore Osha. But his differences from the an'Croan left Wy
She had heard Leesil and Magiere speak of Loni once or twice, but in seeing him for the first time, Wy
"At least people here are so accustomed to him that they do not find you strange," she said to Osha.
Or she thought she had said it. Some of the words did not sound right, but that was because of all the noise. Before she could repeat herself, she noticed the room's awful tilt and felt as though the chair beneath her might fall over.
It was too hot in here.
Wy
Today was about them, their day of joy, and she would not spoil it for anything.
"Let us go outside," Osha said. "It is too warm."
Thank goodness someone else noticed, thought Wy
The night outside was better-cooler. Rather than stand about before the tavern windows, they walked as far as the nearby stables. Osha half-crouched, leaning back against the stable's outer door, and Wy
"I am… dizzy," he said and wiped his brow.
He had fallen back into Elvish. Obviously Osha could not hold his wine. Wy
"I fear the Anmaglahk would not approve of a single thing you did today."
His slanted eyes grew serious. "No, they would not, and that thought is sad."
Wy
"Today was good," Osha went on, "and humans are nothing like I was taught. Even Sgailsheilleache, who spent so much time in these lands, knew little of them… Then you came." He glanced away. "Sgailsheilleache should have stood with Leshil today-not me."
"No, Osha," Wy
He looked at her, his face intense-lonely-and hungry in moonlight.
Wy
She wanted to feel what Magiere and Leesil had, to know that closeness with someone she cared for. Wy
She shoved off the stable door, growing too warm again.
With all they had been through together, she loved Osha-but was she in love with him? Their paths would soon diverge, and perhaps that was best. She took another step back.
Osha studied her until she could not bear it anymore.
"We should go back inside," she said. "Magiere will wonder what became of us."
His mouth tightened in puzzlement, or was it disappointment?
He stood up. "Yes, we go back now."
Chap lay by the hearth watching everyone around him drink, dance, and laugh. More than once he had quickly scooted aside before someone stepped on his tail.
Wy
When she spotted him, she wove among the crowd and dropped a bit too hard beside him. She buried fingers in his fur, rubbing his back, and it felt good. He wondered why she was no longer joining in the festivities.
Osha came through the front door.
He sca
That young elf will never be Anmaglahk, Chap projected.
"I hope not," Wy
She sounded so sad-and drunk-that Chap raised his head. What is wrong?
"You, Magiere, and Leesil… ca
He sighed through his nose, settling his head on his paws once more.
Tonight is for them, but tomorrow… no, we ca
Wy
"Domin Tilswith was… overwhelmed by the texts we brought back. Translation at our barracks in Bela is not possible. We do not have the reference materials needed-and he ca
Her silence was too long and too easy to read on her sad face.
You are going home… taking your find to Malourne, and the guild's founding branch.
Wy
Chap shifted closer to her. In truth, he had known this day would come. And now he worried again for Wy
You are part of this now-and no safer than any of us. It is best that you leave this land as well.
"What am I to do without you?" she whispered.
Tears formed in her bleary brown eyes. But Chap knew she would be safest in one of her guild's communities, though not safe enough.
Once you arrive, stay where many are around you. My kin do not want to be known by mortals. They will shy from manifesting where they might be noticed.