Page 19 of The Elven Spymaster's Thief

Shadow wisps of darkness began gathering around Casimir. His voice grew dangerous. “You didn’t bond with her,” he demanded. “Tell me you didn’t.”

I blinked up at him in confusion. “Of course not.” Bonding was more like marriage. A binding was simply a contract, that was all.

“Just a binding spell.”

“Balanced and breakable.”

“Good.”

I rolled onto my side, propping myself up with one arm. “Why the dramatics?”

He snorted. “You are attached to her.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Memories of my panic came to mind, but I brushed them away. I hated seeing any creature in pain, not just her. “We are still far from what you fear. She still hurls things at me regularly.”

“Just remember what bonding with a human means. No life-lengthening serum will keep them alive as long as you have left. You would be condemning yourself to a half-life after hers is done.” He glanced away. “I am not sure I could stand watching that.”

“I have no plans to. Now leave me be. I need rest.” I rolled back onto my stomach and pressed my face into my pillow to further emphasize I was done talking.

Casimir left in a silent breeze of air.

I mulled over who, if anyone, might want to target my new companion.

∞∞∞

Avril

Exhaustion greeted me the following day. Forcing myself from bed, I dressed and appeared in the kitchen for breakfast at the usual time. A brownie with exceptional culinary skills, the cook set a plate of meat, eggs, fruit, and bread on the counter. He had earlier introduced himself as Waldorf.

“That is the same clothing you wore yesterday,” Waldorf observed.

“I have nothing else to wear. It isn’t as though I had a chance to pack before moving in.” Reaching for the fork, I jabbed the first egg. But before I could pop it into my mouth, Ergon entered the room.

“Lady Avril!” he exclaimed.

“What?” I dropped the fork on the edge of the plate with a clatter.

“Why are you wearing that? There is blood down the front.” He surveyed my shirt with horror.

“And across the back as well,” Waldorf pointed out.

“As I was saying, this is all I have to wear.” I sighed. I was very aware of the mingled rust and green blood stains. The quantity of rust-colored stains on the back of the shirt alone made me suspect blood loss was the cause of my unusual exhaustion.

Ergon nodded. “Makes sense. But that must be rectified, immediately.” He waved to indicate I should resume eating. “I will have something for you by the time you finish that.”

He disappeared in the direction of the front hall.

I turned back to my food. The first bite was delicious. “If this keeps up, I am going to become a flabby slug,” I commented before taking another mouthful.

“What do you mean?” Waldorf asked as he worked a mound of dough.

“I am not sure how elven metabolism works, but humans have to exercise regularly, or we lose our shape. Fat appears around our middles, and we grow weak.”

“The same happens to elves.” He eyed me. “Perhaps not as quickly.”

“Really? I have never heard of a fat elf.”

Waldorf chuckled. “Then you haven’t met many elves.”

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