Arrow’s Flight by Mercedes Lackey Read Free Book Online

you’ll look like you’ve been beaten.” She gathered her things. “We’d better be moving if we don’t want to get caught in the mob.”
    “And you’d better take care of the important part of your costume, childing,” Keren warned as they started down the stairs.
    Talia had not needed the reminder. The rest of her accessories were already laid out and waiting. A long dagger in a sheath strapped around her waist and along her right thigh that she could reach—as she carefully determined—through a slit in her dress was the first weapon she donned. Then came paired throwing knives in quick-release sheaths for both arms—gifts from Skif, which he had shown her how to use long ago. Even Alberich admitted that Skif had no peer when it came to his chosen weapons. Lastly, were two delicate stilettos furnished with winking, jeweled ornaments that she inserted carefully into Jeri’s handiwork.
    No Herald was ever without a weapon, especially not the Queen’s Own, as Keren had reminded her. The life of more than one Monarch had been saved by just such precautions.
    Just as Talia was about to depart, there was a knock at her door. She opened it to find Dean Elcarth standing on her threshold. Towering over him, fair and raven heads side by side, lit by the lantern that cast its light beside her door and looking like living representatives of Day and Night, were Dirk and Kris. Talia had not heard that either of them had returned from the field, and surprise stilled her voice as she stared at the unexpected visitors.
    “Neither of these gallants seems to have a lady,” the Dean said with mischief in his eyes. “And since you have no escort, I thought of you immediately,”
    “How thoughtful,” Talia said dryly, Finally regaining the use of her wits, and knowing there was more to it than that. “I don’t suppose you had any other motives, did you?”
    “Well, since you are interning under Kris, I thought you might like to get acquainted under calmer circumstances than the last time you met.”
    So Kris was to be her counselor, Sheri had been right.
    “Calmer?” Talia squeaked. “You call this calmer?”
    “Relatively speaking.”
    “Elcarth!” Dirk exclaimed impatiently. “Herald Talia, he’s teasing you. He asked us to help you because we know most of the people here on sight, so we can prompt you if you get lost.”
    “We also know who the possible troublemakers are—not that we expect any problems,” Kris continued, a smile warming his sky-blue eyes. “But there’s less likely to be any trouble with two great hulking brutes like us standing behind the Queen.”
    “Oh, bless you!” Talia exclaimed with relief. “I’ve been worried half to death that I’ll say something wrong or announce the wrong person and mortally offend someone.” She carefully avoided mentioning assassination attempts, though she knew all four of them were thinking about how useful the pair would be in that event.
    Kris smiled broadly, and Dirk executed a courtly bow that was saved from absurdity by the twinkle in his eyes as he glanced up at her.
    “We are your servants, O fairest of Heralds,” he intoned, sounding a great deal like an over-acting player in some truly awful romantic drama.
    “Oh, don’t be ridiculous.” Talia flushed, feeling oddly flattered and yet uncomfortable, “You know very well that Nessa and Sheri make me look like a squirrel, and the last time you saw me, I was passing out at your feet like a silly child and probably looked like leftover porridge. Among friends my name is Talia. Just Talia.”
    The Dean pivoted and trotted down the staircases, seemingly very pleased with himself. Kris chuckled and Dirk grinned; both of them offered her their arms. She accepted both, feeling dwarfed between the two of them. There was barely enough room for all three of them on the stairs.
    “Well, you devil, you’ve done it again,” Dirk said to his partner over her head, blinking as they emerged from the