“Chris took her out for a walk.”
“I’ll see if I can find them,” Marshall said.
Rhianna stood up and stretched. “Think I’ll see if Corin’s around. If Myron wants to know where I am, tell him I went for a ride but I won’t be gone long.”
As Rhianna followed Marshall out the door, Ariel hissed, “Elin, either go get the mail or start on these papers. I don’t care which, but do something.”
Meanwhile, Kevin and Eryn had settled in Kevin’s office. After a few comments about his castle and the grounds, Eryn said, “I’d like to take you up on your offer to stay here for a while. Not long, maybe a week.”
“Would you like to stay at the castle or would you rather stay in town?”
Eryn hesitated. “I don’t want Marshall to feel crowded. Is there someplace else I could stay for a few days?”
Kevin nodded. “There are some rooms over the tavern, but I’d suggest staying at Doreen’s house. I know she has an extra room, and that’s where Rhianna’s staying.”
“If you think she won’t mind,” Eryn said.
“She won’t, but I’ll have Rhianna ask her if you wish. There are a couple of other women living there, too.”
“Are they all related?”
Kevin shook his head. “When Doreen built her house, she put in some extra bedrooms hoping some of the other women we rescued would move in and help her manage it.”
“Rescued?
“Last fall there were several raids orchestrated by one man. We tracked him down and rescued everyone we could find. We’re still looking for the rest of them.”
“And Doreen was one of them?”
“She was in a dungeon when we found her.”
“Marshall said you told him he was no longer a slave as soon as he got here. Is that right?”
Kevin nodded. “Everyone on our staff’s here because they want to be, and they’re free to leave whenever they want to.”
“He seems to like it here, and he’s fond of the man he’s staying with. I think his name’s Neiven.”
“He’s been here a long time. I think he was here while my grandfather was Master Sorcerer, but I could be wrong about that.”
“Neiven speaks highly of you. Marshall does, too. And Marshall was very impressed with your uncle, the one with the dogs. I understand you let him stay with your uncle for a while this winter.”
“Kyle trains dogs and Nikki was one of his. I took Marshall up there so Kyle could teach him how to work with her.”
“And you took him back, along with the pup, before you fought Gwendolyn.”
Kevin nodded.
“Why?”
Kevin hesitated and then shrugged. “I didn’t know how the duel would turn out, and if I lost, the best place for both of them was with Kyle. I knew he’d take care of them.”
Eryn smiled. “You were looking out for his safety. That means a lot, and it’ll make it a lot easier for me to go home if he chooses to stay here.”
“You haven’t asked him what he wants to do yet?”
Eryn shook her head. “Not in so many words, but I got the message when he told me to tell his father he said hello and that he was getting along just fine. I think that was his way of telling me how he feels without coming right out and saying he’s not going home with me.”
“I can’t say I’m sorry.”
Erin grinned and then said, “You were right. He’s grown into a man now, and a man has to find his own place. That’s why my father’s not in North Amden with his parents and why my husband’s not a fisherman with his father. Sons need to go their own way.”
“What was his reaction to finding out he’s part elf?”
Eryn laughed. “He was pleased, said that’s why he’s so good with animals. And he’s planning to ask Rhianna if there’s anything else about being an elf he needs to know.”
“I don’t think Marshall realizes it, but my whole family has elven blood, including Kyle.”
“He didn’t mention it, but I think he already knows. Kyle may have told him. It would explain how he knew elves have a gift with animals. There’s no way he’d have known that unless someone around here mentioned it. I avoided any and all talk about elves while he was growing up, and I didn’t see any while I was in Grayford, so I doubt he ran into any at Judith’s.”
“While we were at Judith’s, you said you were treated well, but I got the impression that wasn’t strictly the truth.”
Eryn paused. “I’m fairly certain Judith’s not aware of some of the things that go on in her castle and I didn’t want to stir anything up.”
Kevin nodded.
“Don’t worry. I won’t cause any trouble for anyone. The slavers had no idea we were elves. I wouldn’t mind if someone went after them for what they did to everyone in the village, but they can’t be blamed for what they didn’t know. And since the slavers had no idea, neither did the auction house or Judith’s governor. Since I was assigned to the business area of the castle, I did meet Judith shortly after I got there, but she had no idea where we were from or anything else.”
“I’m surprised no one from your village mentioned you were an elf.”
Eryn shook her head. “They knew what would happen. After the slavers killed me and Marshall, they’d have killed everyone else. That’s the last thing I was worried about. But I was afraid something might cause Marshall to translocate.”
“Can he?”
Eryn nodded. “He did before he was five years old. He saw a snake and bounced a good six feet.”
Kevin laughed. “That’s how I found out I could translocate. I was in my twenties when it happened to me though. Mine was a big rattlesnake.” Kevin paused. “You’ve had a long day. I imagine you’re feeling worn out.”
“I am. I wouldn’t mind going somewhere quiet and having a cup of tea.”
“Let’s see if we can find Rhianna.” Kevin got up and opened the door to the main office. Ariel and Chris were there, but that was it. “Where’s Rhianna?”
“She’s gone for a ride,” Ariel answered. “She said she wouldn’t be gone long though.”
Kevin nodded. “Eryn’s tired.” He took off his key and handed it to Chris. “Go ask Doreen if she’d mind having another guest for a few days.”
Chris turned the key and vanished.
Kevin stepped back into his office. “I’ve sent someone to talk to Doreen. In the meantime, I can get you a cup of tea if you’d like one.”
“Thank you.”
Kevin leaned back into the main office. “Where’s Elin?”
“I sent her to check the mail,” Ariel answered.
“Then would you run down to the kitchen and ask Miranda for a fresh cup of tea for Eryn?”
“What kind?”
Kevin leaned back in his office and asked Eryn what type of tea she’d like.
“Some kind of mint would be lovely.”
Kevin glanced back out at Ariel, who nodded and left the office.
By the time Ariel got back with the tea, Chris had returned from Doreen’s.
“Doreen said it’s fine,” Chris said. “Shall I get someone to bring a buggy around? I can take her down if Rhianna’s not back by then.”
Rhianna walked in the door in time to hear Chris’s comment. “I’m back. Who am I taking where?”
“Eryn’s staying with Doreen for a few days and she’s ready to go. She’s had quite a day.”
Rhianna nodded. “I’ll be out front in ten minutes.”
~ ~ ~ ~
After dinner, Kevin walked out to Neiven’s house to see Marshall. “Nikki and I are going down to Doreen’s to go for a walk with Rhianna. I thought you might like to go along and spend the evening with your mother.”
Marshall kicked at the dirt a little. Then he looked up at Kevin. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do I have to go back to Farragon?”
Kevin shook his head. “Not unless you want to. When you came, I said you have a home
here for as long as you want. I meant it. No one’s going to make you leave. On the other hand, you’re a free man, Marshall. No one will make you stay if you want to go. The choice is yours.”
“Are you sure? I mean, apparently my grandfather’s a warrior elf.”
“So’s Rhianna, but you don’t see her telling people where to live or what to do. I doubt he’ll try to do it either, but if he does, all you need to do is let me know.”
“What can you do about it? I’m part elf.”
“So am I,” Kevin said. “And since your father’s human, just like mine was, you’re considered human by our laws. Besides, he won’t try to force you. Elves aren’t like that.” Marshall didn’t look convinced. “You don’t remember your grandfather, do you?”
Marshall shook his head. “All I know is what my mother said tonight. I must have known him when I was younger, but that was a long time ago.”
“Would you feel better if you talked with him here, at the castle?”
“He and my father could come here instead of me going there?”
“I don’t see why not,” Kevin said. “Why don’t you tell your mother you’d like to get to know them, but here? See what she says. She might surprise you.”
“Maybe tomorrow,” Marshall said.
“Want to go see her for a bit tonight?”
Marshall paused. “I guess I should.”
Kevin turned to Nikki and said, “Down.” When Nikki plopped down on the ground, Kevin quickly formed an energy sphere around her, touched Marshall’s arm, and turned his key.
Ten minutes later, Marshall was seated with his mother at the kitchen table eating a slice of cake and gossiping about the people back at Judith’s castle.
Meanwhile, Kevin and Rhianna wandered along the road with Nikki. “How’s Eryn fitting in at Doreen’s?” Kevin asked.
“Like she’s been here for years. She helped Blair make dinner tonight and then helped Nan cut out a new dress. And since she came from a fishing village, she and Doreen have loads to talk about.”
“They don’t mind that she’s an elf?”
Rhianna stopped walking and stared at Kevin. “And what am I?”
“You look like an elf. She doesn’t. Sometimes that makes a difference.”
“You mean are they calling her a half-breed?”
Kevin nodded.
“No,” Rhianna said. “These women have too much decency for that.”
“Good. It’s uncomfortable when you know other people think you are less than they are because of who you are.”
“I know,” Rhianna said quietly.
“Dara.”
Rhianna nodded. “But it hasn’t happened around here, and it won’t with Eryn either.” After a few minutes, Rhianna asked, “Has Marshall decided what he wants to do?”
“I think he wants to stay here. He asked me if he had to go back to Farragon. I told him no and that he had a home here for as long as he liked. Then he asked if his grandfather could make him leave. I told him elves didn’t do things like that.”
“Hope you’re right.”
“Would he try to make him leave?”
Rhianna shrugged. “Most elves wouldn’t, but we’re not all the same. He might try, but I don’t see how he could force the issue. He doesn’t have a key.”
“So Marshall’s right in wanting to meet them here instead of there.”
“I’d say so. At least the first few times, until he feels safe.”
Kevin nodded and took her hand. “Thanks for helping out today.”
“I didn’t do anything. Judith was happy to let her leave when she found out she was an elf.”
“I’m not sure Preea was.”
“She didn’t want to find her to start with. I had to insist rather strongly that we weren’t going back without her before she bothered to look. And from the reactions of the women we met along the way, I’d say she’s not particularly nice to the people who work there.”
“I can’t do anything about what happens in someone else’s castle, Rhianna.”
“I know. Just thought you ought to know.”
A few minutes later they got back to Doreen’s. “If you go inside, you’ll be here for at least an hour. Doreen’s working on the plans for her barn and stable, and she wants to go over them with everyone who walks in. I’ll send Marshall out if you want to wait out here.”
Kevin laughed. “Thanks. I’m in no mood to discuss barn dimensions.”
Five minutes later, Marshall came through the front door with a big grin on his face.
“Have a good time?” Kevin asked.
Marshall nodded. “Does Blair cook like that all the time?”
“I don’t know. What did you have?”
“She gave me a big piece of cake when I got here. Don’t tell anyone I said so, but it was better than Miranda’s. And right before you got back, she pulled some cookies out of the oven. I had half a dozen with a big glass of milk. They had big chunks of chocolate in them and nuts.”
“And you didn’t bring me one?” Kevin teased.
Marshall’s mouth dropped open. “I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I should have thought...”
Before Marshall could finish, Kevin started laughing. “I’m teasing, Marshall.”
“Well, I should have thought about it.” Then he perked up. “Are you coming down here again tomorrow evening?”
“As far as I know.”
“Good. I’ll come with you, and if Blair has fresh cookies tomorrow night, I’ll sneak one out for you.”
Chapter 29
Requests
Monday morning Eryn accompanied Rhianna and Freida to the castle. Since Nan and Blair were working, Doreen was left on her own. She sorted, cleaned, and organized the tools in her tool shed, and then marked off the corners for the barn and stable. When lunchtime came, she felt she’d earned a trip to Fenway’s.
As soon as she sat down, Ainsley brought her a mug of scog and told her Callie wanted to talk to her and would be out with some soup and bread as soon as she could get away from the stove.
Ten minutes later, Callie walked out of the kitchen with Doreen’s lunch and two mugs of scog on a tray. She set the tray down on the table and asked, “Mind if I join you?”
Doreen tilted her head towards the vacant chair across from her as she unloaded the tray. “Hope this tastes as good as it smells.”
Callie smiled as she picked up one of the mugs of scog and took a long drink. Her face was flushed and her hair was damp from the steaming pots on the stove. She sipped her scog while Doreen ate half the bowl of soup.
Then Doreen leaned back and sighed. “Ainsley said you wanted to talk to me.”
Callie nodded. “I went to see Jana yesterday. She showed me the herb garden you made.”
Doreen nodded and spooned up another bite of soup.
“How much would you charge Fenway to make one for our kitchen?”
Doreen shrugged. “I don’t know. I made Jana’s as a gift. I hadn’t thought about making any to sell.”
“Maybe we could make a trade,” Callie insisted.
Doreen sighed. “Do you know how large you want it?”
Callie handed Doreen a slip of paper. “I measured the spot where I want to put it. I imagine it’ll need to be a little smaller so it can move in and out easily. And you won’t need to get any potting soil or herbs for me. I’ll take care of that.”
Doreen glanced at the measurements. Callie’s would be almost a foot longer than the one she made for Jana. “I’m out of lumber so I’ll have to order it. Let me see how much the lumber, hooks, and drip tray will cost and then I’ll get back to you with a price.”
Callie looked a little sheepish. “I talked to Fenway this morning, and he said if I could work out a trade, he’d go along with it, but he doesn’t have any extra money. Would you be willing to work out a trade?”
“I might. What did you have in mind?”
“How about food and scog in exchange for the planter?”
>
Doreen thought for a moment and gave a slight nod. “We might be able to do something along that line. I end up on my own for lunch a lot, so I might be willing to trade you a planter for some free lunches. How many are you thinking about?”
“One free lunch everyday with all the scog you want for a month?”
Doreen frowned. She needed to look at the cost of the lumber, but that sounded like more than the planter was worth. She couldn’t believe Fenway would go that high.
Callie misinterpreted Doreen’s frown. “I told him it wasn’t enough. Let’s make it two months.”
Doreen held up her hand for Callie to stop and shook her head. “That’s too much. Are you sure Fenway will be all right with a month of free lunches and scog?”
“That’s what he told me to offer you when we talked about it this morning.”
“I’ve got a couple of orders ahead of yours, and like I said, the lumber’s not here yet. Are you willing to wait a while?”
Callie nodded as she stood up.
“Well, then, I’d say we have a deal.” Doreen held her hand out to Callie.
A big smile spread across Callie’s face as they shook hands. “Thank you, and today’s lunch is on me.”
~ ~ ~ ~
Shortly after lunch, Ariel knocked on Kevin’s door. “Excuse me, but Joan asked if you could join them for a few minutes.”
“Join who?”
“Joan, Karl, Cpt. Lawrence, and three men I don’t know.”
Kevin nodded. “Is Chris out there?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good,” Kevin said as he got up. “He needs to come with me.”
When Kevin and Chris got to Joan’s office, Cpt. Lawrence introduced the three men. “I told them that their wives have been located and will be here next week.”
Kevin nodded and looked at the men. “I know you haven’t had much time to think about it, but do you know what you want to do when your wives get here? Where you want to go?”
The men looked at each other and then one of them said, “Before we make any decisions, we need to go home, see who’s still living there, and what shape our houses are in.”
Kevin raised his eyebrows and looked at the other two men. “You, too?”
The Warrior Elf Page 40