Page 23 of The Elven Spymaster's Thief

“Yours.”

To my surprise, this didn’t faze him. “Because of your brother?”

“Yes, and?” I narrowed my gaze as I debated how much to share. “You had a hand in my parents’ deaths.”

His hands stilled for a moment. “The hunt in the barren lands. Your brother made the same accusation.”

“You deny it?”

He lifted a remarkably calm gaze to meet my glare. “I do not deny providing the intel for that operation. However, I did not kill your parents.”

“They were picked out by your intel as possibly being under the influence of the Magus Maillean. Because of this, they were dragged from our home, tortured, and then put to death.” Unbidden tears blurred my eyes, but I refused to drop my fixed attention on his face. “They were innocent.”

“They were.” He calmly set his partially peeled orange on the countertop. “I did not mention their names in any of my reports. Neither did I mention the potential of sympathizers among the populace. That was a figment of a paranoid mind—rather Warlord Axian’s mind, to be exact.” He rubbed his hands on the front of his shirt. “When your brother came to me five years ago with those accusations, I investigated his claim. We hunted down Axian and confronted him with the evidence. His own people executed him.”

“So, you enslaved my brother?”

He flinched. “No. Your brother needed a way to support you. He said you were old enough to be left in the care of your uncle and aunt, but they demanded that he provide for your support. I offered him a contractual exchange, service for pay.”

“My uncle and aunt never received pay. They threw me out on my own when I turned eighteen, and I have been supporting myself ever since.”

His head snapped up. Eyes narrowed and intensely silver, he shook his head. “No. That isn’t right. The last payment was sent on time and collected as arranged. Either your uncle and aunt lied, or someone stole it along the way.” He crossed to me, catching my hands in his. “I will see this righted.” Then before I could respond, he strode out of the room yelling for someone.

“Elves and their contracts,” Waldorf commented. “Come eat, Lady Avril. Master Whispier will see all is made right.”

“I will believe it when I see it.” I hoped he would, but still, it was hard to go against the distrust I had built up against his species for years.

∞∞∞

Chapter Six

Illeron

Despite the healer’s recommendations, Avril refused to rest. I had tuned my monitoring spell so it included her. The result was that I was even more acutely aware of her whereabouts. As soon as she finished her breakfast, she climbed the stairs to my study and appeared in the doorway as I was chewing out one of the sentries, Odon, who didn’t raise the alarm fast enough. As I uttered my final warning, she sagged against the door frame, far too pale for my ease.

My expression must’ve betrayed my concern. Odon turned to look behind himself and spotted her. I moved first, speeding around him to catch Avril before she slid farther down the door frame. Swinging her up into my arms, I glared at Odon.

“That will be all. See that the others know what is at stake.”

“Understood.” He eyed Avril as she struggled not to lean against my shoulder and failed. “Is she well?”

“She is still suffering the consequences of your ineptitude.” I glared at him.

He knew what I meant, and my message was clear.

“He didn’t do the attacking.” Avril’s soft protest was barely loud enough for me to hear, but Odon’s sharper hearing also caught it.

“He is in the right, my lady. I am in your debt. You were injured by my incompetence.” He offered her a salute before stepping into my shadow and disappearing.

She gave up on keeping her head from resting against my chest. “I am so tired.”

“You are supposed to be resting,” I pointed out as I carried her out through the doorway onto the landing above the entrance hall. I hesitated as I realized I only knew the general direction of her room. After I instructed Ergon to give her a place to sleep, I had left it to him to choose the location.

“But you aren’t.”

“Hmm?” Distracted by my thoughts, I had lost track of the conversation.

“You aren’t resting.” She nuzzled into my shoulder and adjusted as though seeking a more comfortable position. She must’ve found it. She parted her lips and let out a breathy sigh. Just like that, I was holding a sleeping human.

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