Page 117 of Knight's End
He says he's been displaced by the war. He's looking for work. He was born mute, but when he saw our big army, he thought he might be able to find something here.
You believe him?
His mental pictures are pretty clear. A couple djinn attacking a cottage. Nothing too elaborate. Looks like maybe his farm was in Agatha’s province.
"Where is he from?"
A picture of a small cottage, of a woman and her husbands, projected from Blue's mind to my own. Cross-stitched above the mantel place was a little cloth embroidered with the burning rose of Evaness.
My suspicion turned to pity. It was my fault this man was without a home. It was my fault he was out of work, without a farm, with winter coming on. I gave him a single nod. "I could use someone to carry messages for me."
Blue responded eagerly.He's fast. He has speed powers similar to mine. That would be perfect.
I thought no one had speed powers like you.
Blue shrugged.
I reached into a tiny pouch that Lizza had given me. I cringed as I pulled out one of her headless lizards. They were awful, but restorative. They nearly made Donaloo’s old tablets seem like a dream. I handed it to the black-haired man. "I don't have food right now, but this will give you energy, restore any injuries you might have."
The man nodded and took it, swallowing it immediately.
He’s very trusting,I told Blue.
He’s incredibly eager. Hopeful.
I gave the man a tight smile, which he returned with tears in his eyes. I jerked my head. "You can walk at the back. I'll summon you when I need you."
The black-haired man put his hand over his heart and bowed deeply.
Blue projected his thoughts.
Gratitude and sadness filled the man’s mind as he thought,Thank you, Dove—Your Majesty.
How odd, he called me Dove.
Blue squinted after him.That was a bit off.
The man slowly walked to the back, looking over his shoulder several times at me. For some reason, I watched him the entire way.
Declan's tone snapped me out of my reverie. "I don't trust him. You should've felt the way he was longing for you."
Ryan leaned over and scooped me off the ground. He settled me onto his gargoyle in front of him and held me tight. "He'd have to go through me first," my giant threatened.
“He could potentially just be longing for his family, and that feeling just happened to manifest when he saw our family intact," Connor—always the peacemaker—tried to rationalize the stranger's emotions.
"Whatever he feels doesn't matter. I already have five—four husbands," I said.
My knights laughed at my slip of the tongue.
"Are you getting greedy, Little Dearling?" Ryan asked. "The five—four of us aren't enough for you?"
Declan smacked his knee and laughed. "You did it too!"
Ryan shook his head. "Maybe we’re all still a bit tired."
We all nodded. It was true.
Blue was quiet. That was unusual. He usually jumped at a chance to join into the banter. When he finally did speak, he said, "This seems absolutely ridiculous. I've never felt this way in my entire life. You know how I grew up. But I feel like we should trust that man.” He glanced back at the undead soldiers behind us. The black-haired man had disappeared among their ranks.
