All that Glitters (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 1) by Loren K. Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

she could ask what he was going to do.
    Stavin returned a few moments later with Barvil; he was saying to him, "—so what I want to do is move the desk to the bedroom window."
    Barvil looked at the desk, then shook his head. "I don't think we can, Master Stavin. I tried moving it once before, but when the founders built this house, they built the library as it is."
    "That means that it's mage-bound in place, like the walls of the fortress," Sharindis said sadly. "It's no matter, Stavin. I can write at the archive."
    Stavin regarded his wife and, in spite of her words, he could see her disappointment written clearly in her posture and hear it in her tone of voice. "Barvil," he said, "is there another table in the house that could be used as a desk? Something we can move?"
    Barvil thought for a moment, then smiled. "There is indeed, Master Stavin. And I think Kar will be delighted to give it up." Stavin was puzzled by the barely controlled laughter in Barvil's voice, so he simply nodded and waved for Barvil to lead the way.
    Barvil led Stavin to the boy's bedroom, which Karvik had had to himself since the death of his older brother four years ago. Stavin knew the room well, having spent many winter hours with Karvik making plans, and was puzzled when Barvil led him to the table in the corner. It was covered with an old blanket, and Karvik had once explained that it was just an old table that the cobbler had thrown out. Barvil uncovered it and Stavin could see that the side toward the room was solid almost to the floor. Barvil grasped one end, then glanced meaningfully at Stavin. Stavin took the hint and grasped the other end.
    "Lift gently, Master Stavin. It's somewhat fragile." What they pulled away from the wall had never been cast off by anyone. It was an elegant lady's dressing table. Its legs were slender and ornately carved, and the carving continued up the sides and around the drawers. A top-piece and mirror sat on the floor against the wall.
    "It's beautiful," Stavin breathed.
    "It was a given to my great-grandmother after she'd had her seventh daughter. Girls run in my family. I understand that everyone was quite relieved when my grandfather was finally born. My father and his brothers covered it up, but used the mirror. My brothers and I turned it to the wall and made up the cobbler story. Kar knows what it really looks like, but prefers the cobbler's cast-off story. I believe this will make a fine desk for Mistress Shari. It's a pity about the mirror."
    "Father, what have you done?" Karvik asked from the doorway.
    "Mistress Shari needs a desk by her window for the light, Kar. I didn't think you'd mind giving up the cobbler's table for her," Barvil answered with more than a hint of humor.
    "I'll take this end. Step aside please, Master Stavin. We can't keep the mistress waiting." All three of them laughed as Barvil and Karvik carried the table out of the room. Stavin paused, then picked up the mirror and top-piece and followed them through the house.
    Sharindis was standing by her window with a book in one hand and her crystal in the other when they arrived. "Mistress Shari, please step over to your dressing table," Karvik said as he backed into the bedroom.
    Sharindis did as she was asked, cradling her crystal protectively against her breast. "What do you have there?" she asked, seeing the large dark object between the shadows of the men.
    "A desk for you, Mistress Shari," Karvik said as he and his father set the table down. They spent a few moments clearing the space, then slid the table in. It took some huffing and puffing to do it, but the new desk fit snugly between Sharindis' bedside table and her dressing table, and was almost centered under the window.
    Barvil saw Stavin with the mirror and cocked an inquiring eyebrow. Stavin answered the unasked question. "I thought we might be able to angle it to cast more light on the desk, but it won't work. I'll just put it in the armory."
    Sharindis moved forward