Sharon Shinn - Reader And Raelynx

Kirra sat beside her at the table. Donnal settled in his customary place on the floor before the hearth, even though he was shaped like a man tonight. Tayse dropped to the window seat so he could monitor any activity occurring outside.

“Everyone in Danan Hall sends you gratitude and adoration,” Kirra informed her, sneaking a slice of potato off Senneth’s plate. “And your brothers have been struck almost speechless by your display of power. You have done what you always hoped to do-earned their respect.”

“And it only cost the lives of several hundred men,” Senneth said between bites. “Hardly a steep price at all.”

“Still, it was most impressive, even for you,” Kirra said. “Though you look dreadful, I must say. How’s your head?”

“Better. But I’m sick at heart. Tell me the extent of the damage and what your father plans to do next.”

“The Hall itself is mostly unharmed. Except the lawns are completely destroyed, but who cares about that? We lost a little over eighty men, and my father and Casserah are devastated by that. They are also both furious-that a man of Danalustrous would betray the land. I think they care less that they were attacked. They would give their own lives for the House.”

“Are they prepared to defend themselves if a bigger army convenes?”

“They are. The reserve troops will be here tomorrow. But my father doesn’t seem to believe there will be another assault. He is busy collecting renewed oaths of fealty from the vassals who did not participate in the uprising. It seems that only three lesser lords were responsible for the mutiny.”

“Your sister mentioned Chalfrey Mallon? I think I met a Mallon or two many years ago when I lived here.”

Kirra looked deeply depressed. “It is my fault he hates the Hall. He despises mystics, and Casserah made it clear to him that she would choose me over him. He has been nursing a grudge for months, I suppose.”

Donnal stirred on the hearth. “Or found that incident a convenient excuse to turn against your father now.”

Tayse spoke from the bench at the window. “Does this change your father’s attitude about joining the battle on behalf of the king?”

Kirra’s laugh was bitter. “No! Indeed, it makes him more adamant that he will not send soldiers away from Danalustrous when it is clear Danalustrous needs defense. I cannot entirely blame him-except I do blame him. If Gillengaria is torn apart, Danalustrous will be trampled in turn. I don’t understand how he can fail to see that. It is so shortsighted, so blind , to care only about your own small patch of land. If we do not stand together, we will all fall. Gillengaria must supersede Danalustrous.”

Senneth smiled at her. “And this, I believe, is the reason your sister will be marlady, and not you.”

“It is indeed.”

Senneth finished the last of the bread and wished there were more. “We leave for Ghosenhall in the morning,” she said. “Will you stay here or come with us?”

“My father wants me to stay, but I can’t,” Kirra said. “There is obviously a great deal to do here-but-I have to put myself in the king’s service. I have to.”

Senneth glanced at Donnal, and he nodded. “Even if Kirra wanted to stay, I would go,” he said quietly. “All of us are needed. All of us who have some ability to defend the throne.”

Senneth tapped an impatient hand against the table. “Still, it will take so long to get to the city! And this is news that should go fast. Perhaps you two should fly on ahead and tell Baryn what happened.”

Kirra locked eyes with Donnal and he grinned. “As to that,” Kirra said. “There might be a way. To get you to Ghosenhall faster.”

Senneth sat up straighter in the chair. “Why am I filled suddenly with apprehension?”

Kirra smiled, but only briefly. “I could change you, you know. Both of you. To something small and furry, perhaps mice. Donnal and I could take hawk shape and carry the two of you across Gillengaria. Not comfortable, and not fun, but we could do it.”

Senneth just stared at her. Tayse had slewed around at her first words, losing all interest in whatever might be unfolding on the grounds. “I’m not sure I have the heart for that,” Senneth said faintly.

“No. I thought you might not. And I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t exactly relish being set on fire by you, even if it was ultimately something that would aid me.”

Donnal’s voice was casual. “Justin would do it. He’s not afraid.”

“Justin’s recklessness is legendary,” Senneth shot back.

“And I’m not entirely certain I can change you,” Kirra said. “Last fall, I altered all those people on Dorrin Isle who were sick, but none of them was a mystic. Maybe the magic in your veins will keep my magic out.” She shrugged. “It’s the reason I didn’t try to change Ellynor last year when she had to be rescued. The situation was too dire for me to try something that might go seriously awry.”

“You realize such a confession makes me even less eager to subject myself to your spells!” Senneth exclaimed.

“Yes, but I really think I can do it,” Kirra said. She managed another smile. “And I should have no problem changing Tayse.”

“Could you change my sword? And my knives?” Tayse asked.

Kirra’s face brightened even more. “Yes, my valiant Rider, I could change your weaponry right along with your body. And change them back the minute we touched down in Ghosenhall.”

Now Senneth was staring at him. “You can’t seriously be considering-”

He grinned at her. “Justin would do it. Justin has done it.”

“Justin has never been my guide for behavior.”

“And there’s more you might not like,” Kirra added. Her expression was impish, but Senneth could tell she was utterly serious. About the offer, anyway. “The trip will still take us about two days-we cannot fly all that way, carrying you, without stopping to sleep. It would be easiest for me to not change you back to human form overnight, then change you again in the morning. But you might find it too disconcerting to stay altered for so long.”

Senneth just opened her mouth and didn’t answer.

Kirra went off into gales of laughter. “Oh, look at you! You’re trying to decide if I’m joking! I’m not, truly I’m not. Senneth, I believe I can do this, and it would cut the trip easily in half. But it would be strange and probably unsettling. And if we had flown half a day and you were too petrified to continue, we’d be in the middle of the country with no horses and no gear, and it would take you even longer to get back to the royal city.”

Donnal shrugged. “We’d change ourselves into horses for the rest of the trip,” he said. “We’d still have gained a day or two.”

“And you want to turn me into a mouse ?” Senneth demanded, finding her voice.

Kirra nodded. “A very small one. Easy to carry.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t forget and accidentally eat me?”

Kirra bubbled with laughter again. “Of course I wouldn’t forget! Do you ever accidentally set something on fire?”

“I think we should do it,” Tayse said.

She looked at him helplessly. “How can you not be afraid? How can you not be repulsed ? I don’t want to be a mouse flying above the earth in the talons of a predator!”

“I never thought to see you unnerved by magic,” he said, amused.

She shuddered. “It’s not the magic that frightens me so much as the loss of control,” she said. “I would think the same thing would weigh with you.”

“I’m practical, and this is a practical solution,” he said. “But we will not do it if you cannot endure it. We will send Donnal and Kirra ahead, and make our way with all speed by more conventional means.”