Page 41 of The Sundered Realms

She was looking at Liris, but the question was clearly for Vhannor.

“If you think this is best,” he said frostily.

“I do. However, you’ll wait outside while I show her the room without you.”

Vhannor frowned anew. “Wait?”

“You have a meeting to attend presently, and I’m not telling you where or with whom until I’m sure you won’t go without Liris.”

Vhannor opened his mouth.

“She’s involved or she’s not,” Lady Inealuwor said sharply. “You have to choose.”

Enough.

“With respect,” Liris said, “no. I have to choose, and I have.”

Vhannor turned away abruptly. “I’ll wait in the kitchen.”

Lady Inealuwor cast a measuring look after him as he preceded them out the door but said nothing as she stood and limped over to the desk to select a cane. As soon as it was in her hand, her entire gait shifted, smoothing.

Such a casual use of spellcraft that could change a person’s daily life so materially. Liris knew that existed outside Serenthuar, and knew Lady Inealuwor was hardly an average citizen, but it was still different to see in action an easing Serenthuar would have considered wasteful, except probably for the elders. The new spellcraft that ambassadors brought back was never this, the kind that would improve life for individual people.

Lady Inealuwor, who had considered Liris’ circumstances as an individual, held the door for her and looked at her expectantly.

Serenthuar was wrong about many things.

Shry lived in a cottage just outside the university campus. The outside was the same basic stone that lay underneath all the other Embhullorians’ painted decorations. Shry must not have been interested in sharing her inner self with the public.

Lady Inealuwor pulled out a key, and Vhannor scowled—this was confirmation Shry had, in fact, approved. When the door opened Vhannor strode confidently to the kitchen at the back, but Lady Inealuwor put a hand on Liris’ arm to keep her from following.

“This way,” she said, nodding at the door just inside.

Liris looked longingly after Vhannor, at the rest of the house and the vanishing prospect of learning it uncomplicatedly at his side, then turned to this room that was now the center of so much tension.

Lady Inealuwor waited expressionlessly. Liris opened the door and stepped through.

“I see she wasn’t kidding,” Lady Inealuwor noted, shutting the door behind her. “Vhannor had it outfitted as a standard guest room when he bought Shry the place, and she never changed anything. I’m afraid it really is about the size of a dorm room though.”

Enough space for a wide bed on one side of the room, a desk and chair on the other, a dresser on one wall between them and a window opposite. Beyond that, what “standard” meant for a guest room was elements from all over the Sundered Realms: embroidered curtains from one realm, a rug from another, the colors of the bedspread characteristic of a third, and that desk’s wood didn’t grow in Embhullor. Pieces from all over, so anyone might find something that appealed to them or reminded them of home.

Liris was so unexpectedly overcome her eyes pricked with tears. It was intentionally impersonal but with people in mind—the very opposite of Serenthuar’s isolationist, self-centered attitude.

Liris wouldn’t change anything either. If she stayed.

“Now that we’re alone,” she said, turning to face Lady Inealuwor, “will you tell me why Vhannor actually doesn’t like this choice?”

“Vhannor?” Lady Inealuwor echoed, smiling slightly. “He’s a noble, and not only that, he’s responsible for this whole institution. He’s aware of the power disparity between you. He wants to use his power for good, to help people, but he also doesn’t want them beholden to him.”

“I know all that.”

“Do you understand that his treating you like any other student would decrease your feelings of obligation to him?”

Liris frowned. Would it? Meaningfully?

“I have known that boy a long time,” Lady Inealuwor said, and by her unwavering focus on Liris she could believe it. “He will not want you to feel as though you owe him something special, or that doing the work he wants you to do is your only option.”

“But given Thyrasel—“ Liris broke off. “You didn’t know how rare it was before we met, and you still talked to Shry about this room.”

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