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"Wy
"She stays with me," Wy
"And how will you explain a wolf's sudden company amid curfew?" he asked. "Do you want your outing to be discovered?"
Yes, that was another matter, as well as how il'Sänke had managed to conceal it.
She stepped off down the passage with the female close behind, not giving the domin further opportunity to argue. Chap and Lily had sent their daughter. Much as Wy
Il'Sänke remained silent as he followed.
Wy
Wy
Chane had been there, too. She longed to ask il'Sänke about him, but she held her tongue. As she opened the door to the courtyard, she glanced over her shoulder.
"How did you get us back?" she asked, and her gaze dropped to the majay-hì as they approached the main keep's double doors. "How did you get her to come?"
"She was persistent," he answered. "And I was too burdened carrying you to get rid of her. My first thought was to bring you to the hospice, but you didn't seem in serious danger. Taking you both to your room was best, before anyone learned you were gone."
Yes, but how did he get past the guards? He hadn't offered that, so she suspected he wouldn't answer.
Wy
"You and your dramatics!" il'Sänke grumbled.
Wy
"Perhaps I should introduce you to Regina Melliny and her pack of gossips," she whispered.
The female rumbled, and a quiver ran through the dog's back under Wy
Wy
Wy
"Wy
She leaned between a pair of initiates and grabbed two bowls of vegetable stew and a doughy wheat roll.
"What do you think you're doing?" someone hissed.
"You lunatic!" another growled. "Get that thing out of here!"
Before Wy
The boy nearly threw himself into the lap of a willowy apprentice in pale blue next in line on the bench. He stared off behind Wy
"Haven't you caused enough trouble?" the apprentice demanded.
Suddenly the boy's breathing turned to rapid whimpers as others around the table lunged away in all directions. A rumble rose directly behind Wy
"Wy
She glanced back.
The majay-hì crept in with a soft snarl, but the dog was shaking almost as much as the boy. Who feared whom more?
"She won't hurt you," Wy
She reached for his small hand, and the apprentice holding him slapped her hand away.
Chap's daughter snarled as Wy
Her brethren saw only an overly tall and ominously dark wolf—not a majay-hì.
The very term meant "hound of the elementals" or "Fay dog," something she'd learned in scant writings and the mentions of Domin Tilswith. It was a quaint fable for a young girl not even an initiate at the time. Even others who might've heard of these beings in the deep forests of Lhoin'na to the south probably never saw one. No one had, not even Wy
But Chap's daughter looked nothing like him, and she wasn't like him. She'd been born wild, for all her sentience, in a far-off land, where humans were an enemy to be guarded against. How many ways could Wy
"Get going!" il'Sänke growled, his voice directly behind her.
Wy
Although Wy
"Ah, young Hygeorht," the old archivist began, his tone chill.
He scowled over the bowls and bread clutched in her hands. Food wasn't allowed in the archives. Then his gaze shifted to the female with a harsh squint.
"What… is… that?" he sputtered. "I was asked to prepare space for reviewing the codex, and assist you as needed. What is that beast doing in my archive?"
Assist indeed—more likely keep an eye on her. High-Tower or Sykion must've gotten to him, and she'd lost another friendly acquaintance.
"She must remain with me," Wy
"Not in here!" Tärpodious croaked, and heaved himself up with wrinkled hands.
Domin il'Sänke slipped around Wy
"That is nonsense!" he hissed. "I've never heard of anyone even seeing one… let alone the notion of it outside Lhoin'na lands!"
Wy
"Fine, if she's that far gone," Tärpodious grumbled. "But you're responsible, Ghassan, if that animal causes damage."
Wy
"But no food inside!" he warned. "You may finish it here or leave it behind."
Domin il'Sänke ushered Wy
"What did you just tell him?" she demanded in a whisper.
"If you are thought a madwoman—or act like one—at least take advantage of it… and anything that seemingly soothes your addled mind."
She glanced down at Chap's daughter.
"I'm not mad!" Wy
"Not by that nonsense in the common hall," il'Sänke returned. "Keep your new companion away from the populace. Now finish your meal, and Tärpodious will show you to your place."