She worries she will not be presentable.
That’s not a question, Zul.
Zul huffed silently, the puff of air ruffling his mate’s hair. Gil knew what he meant. He waited rather than bicker. Gil did not disappoint him.
The manor at Fangrys was attacked. The castrati managed to secure the building, but it’s damaged.
Is it structurally sound?
I believe so. The castrati were able to remove some of our belongings?—
Zul cut him off.I don’t care about my stuff—or yours, for that matter. But our mate…
Some of her garments were confiscated or destroyed, but the castrati were able to remove most of her clothing and jewelry to a safe location.
Where?
They will not disclose that location. The sheriff informed me that mercenaries hired by the Council Supreme still lurk in the village. It’s safe to say that some will be keeping their eyes on the manor, too.
Our garb here is… worn,Zul admitted and dared not dwell on what might have happened to Ursula and Crow had he not gotten them to safety.
Of course,Gil replied, his tone prosaic.I should have considered that. I will have appropriate garments for all of us shipped to the capital right away.
Thank you. How are you getting word to the castrati?
The sheriff and mayor allow them access to their communication devices. The council’s thugs destroyed ours.
Annoyance rippled through Zul’s body and mind.The Council Supreme has much to answer for.
Aye,Gil replied and ended the conversation.
Before Zul slipped away from the triad bond, he lingered in Bran’s mind and said,Ursula, Crow, and I are coming. Remain strong. We need you.
Exhausted by the effort of establishing and holding the connection over such a vast distance, he wasn’t sure whether the small eddy of sensation he felt was Bran’s wordless acknowledgment or just an insect crawling over his skin.
Chapter 34
Transportation sent by Gil waited for them just beyond the narrow entrance to the box canyon. They climbed into the conveyance, carrying their much-depleted packs with them. Zul entered first, ensuring the interior was clear of threats just in case an enemy had sent the transport in lieu of or before Gil’s order.
“Wow, pretty luxurious,” Ursula commented as she looked around, holding tightly to Crow’s hand.
Zul noticed the crest emblazoned in a repeated pattern on the cornice and said nothing. Suvesh cast him a questioning glance, but made no mention of what they both realized: the transport belonged to the Council Supreme. Zul hoped they hadn’t just walked into a trap. He was sure the loyal, resourceful castratus was already formulating plans for a quick escape, likely taking Crow with him.
When the door closed, the carriage rose smoothly and silently. After hovering a moment while the passengers secured themselves in their seats, the transport shot high into the air and streaked through the sky toward the nearest tunnel which happened to be even further away from the capital than the box canyon.
But Ursula didn’t know that.
Whoever sent the luxuriously appointed carriage had supplied it well.
“Gil works quickly,” Zul commented as he opened a chest stashed in one corner. He pulled out clean, new garments. “Suvesh, these looks like they will fit you.”
He tossed the clothing to Suvesh who caught them. The castratus looked surprised to have been remembered by his master.
Ursula met the castratus’ gaze and said gently, “Gil thinks of everything, doesn’t he?”
Suvesh nodded, in awe of the warrior’s kindness. In his experience, few masters would remember the welfare of their servants with such thoughtfulness. He closed his eyes in brief, thankful recollection of the memorial service Gil had swiftly organized and conducted for the castrati who had been killed by the rosvoi in defense of their Prima and her son. It had been more impressive than the one the Fangrys servants had organized at their Prima’s request.
“And these are Crow’s.” Zul pulled out a small kilt, a shirt, socks, and shoes.
