Page 18 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

“I won’t have a lady sleeping in a freezing room. We’re not barbarians here.” He was already walking down the hallway toward her room. Crow cursed silently. She had no choice but to follow.

“The accommodations here must be more primitive than what you’re accustomed to, being from the city,” Alexei said. “I apologize if it seems bare-bones. I hope you’ll be able to make yourself comfortable, anyway.”

“On the contrary, it’s been a refreshing change. The company at my home in the city was… less than ideal.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe the company here will be more to your liking.”

He still thought they were flirting. Crow smiled, wondering how she would possibly manage to get rid of him. Empathy was a last resort. If she tried it and it didn’t work, she was as good as dead.

“It is good to have someone like you here with us,” Alexei said as they walked. “There is something of a lack of civility in a place like this. Spending this much time around the dregs of society wears on one after a while. And the staff, while hardworking and obedient, don’t always make the best conversation partners.”

“Do they not?”

“They are hired for their ability to follow orders, not for their thoughtfulness,” he said. “I’m pleased to have a fellow educated person around.”

She struggled not to roll her eyes. “Was Felion not educated?”

He looked down at her conspiratorially. “He was. But I suspect I’ll enjoy talking with you more than I did him.”

“You’re a flatterer, Alexei.”

The corner of his mouth tipped up at her as he opened the door to her room.

He went straight to the fireplace and took a mage torch from his pocket. It illuminated the hearth with a soft blue glow. He held it out as he peered up into the chimney.

“I see it. Looks like a bird’s nest.”

She’d already known it was there, of course, because she’d put it there to give herself an alibi in exactly this situation. “Really? I hope the poor thing isn’t hurt.”

“I’m sure the birds are long gone.”

She stood at the edge of the hearth as he grabbed a poker from the rack beside the fireplace. She made a show of yawning sleepily when he looked in her direction. He stuck the poker up the chimney and scraped it around until a bundle of twigs and dry grass fell out.

She had to admit, she was surprised by his willingness to get his hands dirty. He’d seemed like the type to consider himself too good for this sort of thing.

“You’re too kind,” she said as he dusted soot off his hands.

“No. Only as kind as I should be,” he replied with faux modesty.

She resisted an even more powerful urge to roll her eyes, and yawned again. “Well! I suppose I should be getting…”She stopped when he crossed the space between them and was suddenly standing a little too close to her.

“Were you a student at the Conclave recently?” he asked. “You seem young to be a full-fledged mage already.”

She forced a laugh. “I’m flattered, but I’m not so young, lord. Alexei.” She was inching back every so often, but he continued to pursue her until she was backed against the edge of her bed.

“I had an acquaintance who studied at the Conclave several years ago,” he said. “Harios. Did you happen to know him?”

“The name sounds familiar. I’m not sure. There were many students.”

“Of course. What field of magic did you study? Perhaps you shared classes.” His eyes bored into hers, calm and oddly unblinking.

A lump formed in her throat above her pounding heart. Patros had given her information about the Conclave before she’d come, to build the character she was playing. Maps. Syllabi. Names. But there was no way she could know the sorts of small details Alexei might have in mind. The chance of her guessing and getting something wrong was high.

“I was a bit of a generalist,” she said. “Though, I admit, I was always partial to healing. I believe that’s why they sent me here. I understand it’s a large portion of your mage’s duties here.” And now she could see why.

“You enjoy healing?”

She had a vision of the lacerations on Vaara’s back slowly closing. “Oh, yes. I… like to help people.”

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