Page 25 of The Elven Spymaster's Thief

“I wish you to collect intel on warlords Batair and Cathral.”

“That is Lynan’s assignment.”

I motioned for him to keep his voice down. “It is.”

“And you don’t want him to know I am there.”

“I want no one to know, understood?”

“If I could be so bold—”

I cut him off. “I won’t disclose my reasons, but I will remind you that you are in my companion’s debt. This will be a first step in repaying that debt.”

Odon nodded very slowly. “Understood.” He glanced into the room where Avril was stirring. Both of our ears easily picked up the sounds of her movement. “I will return within a week with all I can gather.” Then he stepped into the shadows next to the door and was gone.

I stepped back into my study, leaving the door open. Ergon approached from the direction of the kitchen, and my senses told me that the shadow elves were rotating positions.

Avril pushed the fleece back from her face and blinked up at the ceiling as I approached the table again.

“Rest well?” I asked. Sorting the reports into piles, I flicked them back into storage with methodical precision.

She blinked at the sunlight outside the windows. “How long did I sleep?”

“All morning.”

On cue, Ergon came through the door into the study with a waft of rich smells. Various meats, cheeses, eggs, and a bean salad, all of it was filled with the nutrients she needed to rebuild her blood supply.

“Here comes lunch,” I observed as I tossed my last batch of reports into the filing system.

“On the table, Master Whispier?” Ergon inquired in his perfect house manager manner.

I resisted rolling my eyes. “Yes. Please send Casimir my way after he rises and refreshes himself.”

He nodded his understanding while efficiently setting out the food and place settings.

“You worked.” Avril frowned at me.

“I did.”

“I thought you were supposed to rest.”

“Elves heal faster than humans.”

She freed her legs from the fleece. “But you healed me. Your healing took far longer than mine.” Setting her feet on the floor, she began rising far too quickly.

I slipped my arm around the back of her shoulders as she wobbled. “Steady. You shouldn’t be making any sudden movements for a bit.”

She closed her eyes and muttered, “Elven speed.”

I suspected I wasn’t supposed to have heard her, so I ignored it. “Do you have a preference as to seat?”

“Facing the door.” She tried to shrug off my arm. “I can walk. I am not an invalid.”

“I don’t want you losing more blood when you split your head open falling against the table.”

If looks could inflict harm, I would have been eviscerated right there.

“Very well.” I released her shoulders and retreated.

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