All that Glitters (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 1) by Loren K. Jones Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Loren K. Jones
Sharindis rounded on him. Her posture almost screamed her anger, but her voice was low and intense. "Just because I can hardly see doesn't mean I'm useless!"
Stavin held his hands up instinctively to ward off her anger. "I didn't mean it that way. She won't let you help, Mistress Sharindis, because it wouldn't be proper for her to."
Sharindis froze with her blouse half on. Her stunned whisper was barely audible as she asked, "I'm not even allowed to help make breakfast for my husband on our first morning?"
Stavin's voice was as sour as his expression. "If I know Sahrena, and you know her better than I do, I doubt you're going to be able to do much of anything around the house unless you make a fuss about it, and you know how she'll react to that."
Sharindis reached out with both hands, feeling the air in front of her for the bed. Once she found it again, she sat on the edge and stared blindly into the room. "I can't even help in the kitchen," she whispered. "You're right about Sahrena. Her honor demands that she be a dutiful servant, no matter what I might wish."
Her tone made Stavin let loose a bark of humorless laughter. " Hah! And did you ever think having servants would be so objectionable? Kar started on me yesterday. He wouldn't let me help pick up my clothes after Zahri tripped." He gave a sardonic smile. "I'm used to being put in my place, but not the place I'm being put now ."
Sharindis chuckled. "I have to write that down for Master Kel'Zorgan. He loves little quips like that."
"Now that is something you can do. Let's get dressed and explore our library." He swung his legs out of bed and dressed quickly, then came around the bed and helped Sharindis with her shoes.
The two went to the library and Stavin brought a burning splinter to light the lamps. Sharindis said, "I know this library, Stavin. Sahrena let me come over and read a few of her books. She likes histories."
Stavin looked around. "There are a lot of empty slots, Shari. I figured they were books that were special to Barvil and Sahrena. It looks like she took about twenty books when she cleared out their personal things. I didn't say anything about it. They are entitled to keep their personal belongings."
"Thank you," Sharindis said softly as she trailed her fingers across the spines of the books. "You're really a very nice man, Stavin."
Stavin was saved from having to answer that comment by a knock at the door. Before he could answer, the door opened and Zahrinis stuck her head in. "Mom says to tell you that breakfast is ready, Master and Mistress."
She stepped aside as Sharindis and Stavin walked toward her. Once they had passed, she blew out the lamps and closed the door, then hurried after them.
Breakfast was traditionally the largest meal of the day, but this late in the year even this meal was small. There was a thin slice of salted venison, two pickled eggs, and a large bowl of barley boiled in meat stock for each of them. Stavin led the blessing, and Sharindis led the traditional response, smiling at the thrill she felt to be responding to her husband on their first morning.
Chapter 9
A FTER BREAKFAST, S TAVIN AND S HARINDIS RETURNED to the library. "I want to write down what you said this morning, as well as the story of your encounter with the dragon."
Stavin led her over to the desk and had her sit down. "Where is your crystal?"
"In my pack, on the bedside table."
Stavin hurried into their bedroom and brought her the whole pack. "Here you are," he said as he placed it on the desk beside her.
Sharindis pulled a piece of thin parchment from the desk and located the ink well and quill by feel. She brought out her crystal and tried, but she couldn't make out the one glyph that she wrote. "I still can't see. It's too dim. I need my sunlit desk at the archive."
Stavin considered the matter for a moment, then said, "Maybe so, but maybe not. Put your crystal away for a little while. I'll be right back." He was out of the room before
Stavin held his hands up instinctively to ward off her anger. "I didn't mean it that way. She won't let you help, Mistress Sharindis, because it wouldn't be proper for her to."
Sharindis froze with her blouse half on. Her stunned whisper was barely audible as she asked, "I'm not even allowed to help make breakfast for my husband on our first morning?"
Stavin's voice was as sour as his expression. "If I know Sahrena, and you know her better than I do, I doubt you're going to be able to do much of anything around the house unless you make a fuss about it, and you know how she'll react to that."
Sharindis reached out with both hands, feeling the air in front of her for the bed. Once she found it again, she sat on the edge and stared blindly into the room. "I can't even help in the kitchen," she whispered. "You're right about Sahrena. Her honor demands that she be a dutiful servant, no matter what I might wish."
Her tone made Stavin let loose a bark of humorless laughter. " Hah! And did you ever think having servants would be so objectionable? Kar started on me yesterday. He wouldn't let me help pick up my clothes after Zahri tripped." He gave a sardonic smile. "I'm used to being put in my place, but not the place I'm being put now ."
Sharindis chuckled. "I have to write that down for Master Kel'Zorgan. He loves little quips like that."
"Now that is something you can do. Let's get dressed and explore our library." He swung his legs out of bed and dressed quickly, then came around the bed and helped Sharindis with her shoes.
The two went to the library and Stavin brought a burning splinter to light the lamps. Sharindis said, "I know this library, Stavin. Sahrena let me come over and read a few of her books. She likes histories."
Stavin looked around. "There are a lot of empty slots, Shari. I figured they were books that were special to Barvil and Sahrena. It looks like she took about twenty books when she cleared out their personal things. I didn't say anything about it. They are entitled to keep their personal belongings."
"Thank you," Sharindis said softly as she trailed her fingers across the spines of the books. "You're really a very nice man, Stavin."
Stavin was saved from having to answer that comment by a knock at the door. Before he could answer, the door opened and Zahrinis stuck her head in. "Mom says to tell you that breakfast is ready, Master and Mistress."
She stepped aside as Sharindis and Stavin walked toward her. Once they had passed, she blew out the lamps and closed the door, then hurried after them.
Breakfast was traditionally the largest meal of the day, but this late in the year even this meal was small. There was a thin slice of salted venison, two pickled eggs, and a large bowl of barley boiled in meat stock for each of them. Stavin led the blessing, and Sharindis led the traditional response, smiling at the thrill she felt to be responding to her husband on their first morning.
Chapter 9
A FTER BREAKFAST, S TAVIN AND S HARINDIS RETURNED to the library. "I want to write down what you said this morning, as well as the story of your encounter with the dragon."
Stavin led her over to the desk and had her sit down. "Where is your crystal?"
"In my pack, on the bedside table."
Stavin hurried into their bedroom and brought her the whole pack. "Here you are," he said as he placed it on the desk beside her.
Sharindis pulled a piece of thin parchment from the desk and located the ink well and quill by feel. She brought out her crystal and tried, but she couldn't make out the one glyph that she wrote. "I still can't see. It's too dim. I need my sunlit desk at the archive."
Stavin considered the matter for a moment, then said, "Maybe so, but maybe not. Put your crystal away for a little while. I'll be right back." He was out of the room before
Similar Books
Revenge
David Pilling
Her Officer and Gentleman
Karen Hawkins
A Tyranny of Petticoats
Jessica Spotswood
Shield's Lady
Jayne Ann Krentz
Brush Back
Sara Paretsky
Nam Sense
Jr. Arthur Wiknik
In the Eye of a Storm
Mary Mageau
Shelter
Jung Yun
1st (Love For Sale)
Michelle Hughes