Page 114 of Elven Throne

“You will have what you paid for once you leave.”

He looked like he was about to say more, but he kept licking his lips as his gaze flickered from the old woman to the wall, then to the ceiling, then back to the woman. “Right, then. I guess we should…go now?”

But Rebecca remained seated in the chair, staring at the Peddler. After what she’d seen, she knew full well how powerful this woman truly was. Even if the woman’s revealed form wasn’t entirelywhatshe was, there was definitely something of the Naruli people inside her.

Thatwas what Rebecca had seen. She was sure of it.

“That means all of us,” Rowan continued, leaning forward toward the chair. “Including you. Time to go—”

“One more thing,” Rebecca added, speaking directly to the Peddler while the woman gazed at her with open curiosity and amusement, despite her returned blindness. Then she leaned forward and asked, “Would the Peddler accept atruegift? One without payment or trade?”

The woman hummed in consideration, always rocking. “That depends on the gift, doesn’t it?”

And maybe Rebecca had had the perfect gift on her all along.

She reached into her jacket pocket, feeling the familiar scratchy fabric at her fingertips, and pulled out the Darkspawn. Then she set it on the table in front of her and leaned back in the chair again, waiting for the Peddler’s response.

Rowan sucked in a sharp, hissing breath. “What are youdoing? Are you crazy? That’s—”

“An exchange is underway,” the Peddler barked, pointing a finger directly at him. “For the one sitting at my tableonly. Do not speak out of turn again.”

The echoing clack of Rowan clamping his mouth shut filled the hall.

Maleine snickered.

Rebecca maintained her focus on the Peddler, watching the woman reach forward to pick up the Darkspawn as if she could see perfectly now.

The woman turned it over in both hands, feeling every aspect of it, humming to herself. With a sudden, shuddering breath sucked into desperate lungs, she paused, holding the burlap-covered doll in front of her like some precious gem. “Why would you gift such a thing?”

That was a tricky one to answer, wasn’t it?

Not entirely sure, Rebecca hesitated, trying to put her gut feeling into words.

“Because I know that whatever path I choose will have no room for it,” she finally replied. “But a Peddler of knowledge is allowed to keep a tangible gift every now and then, don’t you think?”

With another soft chuckle, the woman ran her fingers lovingly over the Darkspawn. “You want to keep it safe and hidden. And you thinkIam better suited for such a thing.”

“I think you understand its worth far better than most.”

“Hmm… Maybe you’re right.” With a nod, the Peddler gingerly replaced the Darkspawn onto the center of the table and shook her head before leaning back in her chair, constantly rocking. Then she picked up her knitting again instead. “But that is not a gift,Laen-Cáir. Just another trade. The cost of it for a Peddler of knowledge is just too steep, I’m afraid. But Idoappreciate you putting in the effort.”

It was a long shot, anyway.

This woman was old enough and powerful enough to understand exactly what the Darkspawn could do and how coveted it was. Rebecca already knew that.

Which meant the Peddler was also perfectly aware of the inherent risk in possessing it, not to mention what might or might not happen to her should anyone come looking for the old-world artifact wrapped in Earthside-doll materials.

“I understand.” Dipping her head, Rebecca took the Darkspawn and tucked it back into her pocket as she stood. “Thanks anyway.”

The woman’s smile widened. “Thankyoufor the company. It’s been too long.”

“And you’re sure we’ll know where to look for the Tha’rossa records once we leave?” Rowan asked.

The Peddler whipped her blind eyes toward him to fix him with a mock frown. “The Blackmoon Scion doubt everything he cannot see with his eyes or hold in his hands. You will know where to look once you leave. You have my word.”

Still, she rocked, back and forth, the gentle, lulling creak of the chair filling the hall.

“But I would hurry if I were you. Once that door closes…”

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