Page 63 of The King’s Commander

Chapter Twenty-Three

Aedre

Vanni makes toward the entrance just as I see Father Beald entering the hall. I’d hoped the noxious man had left Murwood End, never to be seen again. Unfortunately, Lord Bailor ushers him inside just as Vanni makes his way through the crowd.

I see him wait until the Elderman leaves our host, and then he descends. I cannot hear their words, but Vanni looks furious.

I rush forward to join them, wishing to avoid a scene.

“Shall I swim to Hempswood, then?”

Vanni’s eyes blaze. He is not at all the man I just spoke with. This Vanni raises the hairs on my neck. He’s angry, every bit as much as he was that day at Sailor’s Inn.

“I care not if you commission a ship or find a mount to cross the damn Loigh Mountains.”

Father Beald glances at me. And though their voices are low, half the occupants of the hall, Lord Bailor included, are watching us.

“I agreed not to return, not to leave Murwood immediately.” His voice carries the confidence of a man with few enemies.

“You agreed to never find yourself within reach of her ever again.”

The sharp edge of Vanni’s tone is not lost on those around us.

“Either make yourself scarce or consider hard the consequences we discussed.”

A new voice adds, “Can you not discern you’re unwanted here?”

Kipp.

If Father Beald holds Vanni and I in disregard, he has even less respect for Kipp. The two have fought many times before, the Elderman’s threats hanging over us both. I have often wondered what he would think of Kipp’s true parentage.

“Ah, the great Voyager has returned. How many men did you kill on this journey, Master Aldwine?”

“And how many of Murwood’s people have you converted to your cause, Father Beald?”

Vanni doesn’t give him a chance to answer.

“Why are you here?” he presses.

Father Beald looks at me and then glances between Vanni and Kipp.

“It seems you have acquired not one but two protectors, Mistress Aedre. Learning from Edrys how to use your Garra skills to entrap a man?”

My hand rises before I can reconsider. The sound of my palm connecting with his cheek echoes in the hall, cutting through the sound of talking and laughter.

The Elderman’s eyes widen as Lord Bailor steps in.

“I invited you out of courtesy, Father Beald. But I believe your welcome here has run its course.”

My hand still stings, but I feel no remorse. Not even when his cheek turns pink where I struck it.

And then I see Vanni’s face.

Knowing real terror for the first time in my life, I grab his hand and pull him away. The crowd parts for us, and we move to the far end of the hall near the kitchens.

“You cannot kill an Elderman,” I say, knowing full well he may have done just that had we lingered. The look of pure fury on his face is only now lifting. Slightly. “He’s gone,” I say, watching Father Beald leave the hall.

His shoulders rising and falling, Vanni looks at me for the first time since I pulled him back here.