Helen Bell

“Will you be bringing that outspoken maid of yours?’‘Tela? Yes. If I come.’‘She makes me nervous. I can’t read her.’‘Nor can I.’‘Well of course not, if I can’t.’‘But I trust her.’Cedas' turn to misstep. He had heels on, to make him as tall as her, and she was in dance slippers. It hurt.‘Not that far,’ she reassured him.”

“To be different is a lonely thing, and she has been lonely for such a long time. What she does frightens people, and she thinks, “Why shouldn't they be frightened? It's not normal: no one else does what I can do.”

“Renia, tell me: does the thought of dying scare you?’He asked softly, and with such concern in his voice, that it all welled up in her at once and caught her by surprise.‘Yes.’ Her voice broke, and the tears came. She could not stop them. ‘Is that what I must do, to save them?”

“Vel took both of her hands and stepped backwards on to the gangplank. ‘No!’ she squealed, pulling him back on to the quay.‘What?’‘You might fall in, going backwards.’ His grip on her hands tightened enough to hurt. ‘Ow!’‘I’m going up.’ He glowered at her. ‘I’m going backwards. I’m going now. Are you coming, or shall I tell the others to come and wave you goodbye?’That earned him a glower in return. ‘You're a brute. I hate you and I’m only coming to keep Ren safe from you.”

“I'm sorry,’ she told him finally, because there was nothing else to say. His dazed expression slowly turned to a frown, but not of anger; it was a look nearer to disappointment.‘No, ye're not.’ Penor spoke without anger or venom, in a voice of pure reason. ‘Ye're glad it weren't Kerin. Better any of us, just so long as it’s not Kerin.”

“Darona’s face bore the pinched, taut look and shadowed eyes of someone constantly in pain, but the lack of lines suggested she was younger than Jesral had first thought; middle-aged, fifty at the very most.‘You make an uncommonly fine looking noblewoman, for a Mhrydaineg commoner.’‘Thank you.’ Jesral was careful to keep all tone out of her voice. Darona gave her a shrewd stare, then a slight smile.‘Self-control. Good. You must ignore me when I offend you unintentionally. They say that pain can make one waspish, but my brothers and son tell me there’s been no change in my manner. I was acid-tongued long before this set in,’ she held up a knotted hand, ‘and taking devil’s claw root has no effect on that. Rest assured, young woman, when I intend offence people are in no doubt about it.”