The Warrior Elf by Mackenzie Morgan Read Free Book Online

six women who don’t have anywhere to go and who need to make arrangements for their future. Five of them are going to be fairly easy, I hope. At least I’ve got a starting point. It’s the sixth who’s going to be a problem.”
    “Why?”
    “She’s rather abrasive and has an entitled attitude. At home we’d call her a diva. She has plans for her future, but I don’t think they’re going to work out. Unfortunately she wants you to make sure they do.”
    Kevin frowned. “What kind of plans?”
    Before Joan could say, her door swung open and Doreen walked in.
    Joan glared at her. “I told you I’d send for you when Myron had time to see you.”
    “And I decided to save you the trouble,” Doreen said. “It looks like my timing’s perfect. Myron’s here and he’s obviously not busy since he has time to chat.”
    Joan clenched her teeth. “Myron, this is Doreen, the woman I was telling you about. And Doreen, this is Myron, the man who rescued you from the dungeon.”
    “And the one who let me get captured in the first place.” Doreen held her hand out to Myron. “No hard feelings though, since you did manage to rescue us. Now, if you’ll just make sure I get my life back, all will be forgiven.”
    “See what I mean?” Joan asked Kevin.
    Kevin gave a slight nod. “Shall we go to my office?”
    “Yes, I think that would be best.” Doreen turned towards the open door. Right before she stepped into the hall, she glanced back at Joan. “I’ll see you later about the arrangements for my bridal chest.”
    Joan looked at Kevin. “What’s a bridal chest?” she mouthed.
    Kevin shrugged and followed Doreen through the door.
    ~ ~ ~ ~
    Chris was in the reception area when Kevin and Doreen walked in. He tilted his head towards the coffee carafe when he caught Kevin’s eye. At Kevin’s nod, he fixed a tray with the carafe and three cups and followed Kevin into the office. After he set the tray on the back table, Doreen stepped over and said, “I’ll take care of this. You may go.”
    Chris raised his eyebrows and glanced at Kevin.
    “Doreen,” Kevin said, “this is Chris, my assistant. We both like our coffee black, thank you.”
    Chris sat down at the desk he used in Kevin’s office and took out some paper and a pen.
    Doreen looked at the paper as she handed him a cup of coffee. “What’s that for?”
    “I always take notes during Kevin’s interviews,” Chris said. “Helps keep things straight.”
    “Be sure you get it right the first time. I do not like having to repeat myself.”
    “Doreen, have a seat so we can get started,” Kevin said. “I have another meeting in fifteen minutes.”
    Doreen set Kevin’s coffee on the side of his desk and sat down with hers. “I was hoping you could spare one of your citizens a little more time than that, but since that’s all the time we have, I’ll get straight to the point.” She straightened her shoulders, shook her head to get her hair to settle just right, smiled, and began. “Before the raid, I was betrothed to Jared, a businessman in Bushwell. After I was finally rescued, I wrote to Jared to tell him of my whereabouts, but his business manager intercepted my letter. I haven’t heard one word from Jared, but his manager wrote that since my father had been killed during the raid, Jared was pursuing other interests.”
    Doreen wrinkled her nose. “I don’t care for Jared’s business manager and I feel sure he’s figured out that once I’m married to Jared, he’s gone. I’m also sure he’s the one who encouraged Jared to look elsewhere for a wife. I want you to go to Bushwell, find Jared, and tell him I’m here and he needs to honor the promises he made to both me and my father. If you hadn’t allowed slavers to capture me and murder my father, I would be getting married in May. You need to make sure that still happens.” Doreen leaned back in her seat and smiled. “It’s going to take me a little time to get my bridal chest