“For your travels,” she said.“A little something for everything.”
The man occupying the wall beside the door behind Sybil snorted.He was dressed head to toe in the same stark black as his hair and the scruff ranging across his jaw.
“Sure you didn’t miss something?”he drawled, a hint of a Scottish brogue around the edges of his speech.
“Hm.It’s possible.But I’ve been quite thorough.”
Another snort, but Lady Guinevere did not seem to notice.
Or she chose to ignore it, offering Sybil a bright smile.“Are you ready for your journey?”
Beyond the lady’s shoulder and out the window, a traveling coach lay waiting for Sybil at the corner of the street.It was large yet discreet in the early morning fog.In front of the coach, Temple paced, hands clasped behind him.
“I suppose.”Sybil sighed.“No avoiding it.”
“You can make the best of it, though.”She nodded at the basket on the desk.“There’re potions for travel sickness and sleep.And a few others that might be necessary.”
Sybil took the basket and held it before her.“Thank you.I should have liked to stay here longer.Learn more about the plants.”
“I’d prefer my roof not burn down.”
“We did not intend… Things got a bit out of control.I am terribly sorry.”
“Sometimes it’s like that.There are elements in this world that cannot be near one another.Too explosive together.Plants that when mixed destroy instead of heal.Hm.Why was he here?Visitingyou?”
“He… he’s the one who pulled me from Stone’s dungeon.”
“Apollo Chester?Fascinating.The notorious villain has chosen a new path.”
“Not likely.I’ve no idea why he did it.He’s Stone’s apprentice.If Stone finds out, Chester will lose that position.”
“A selfless act.I didn’t think him capable of it.People are surprising.Always changing, ever… treading new paths of the self, discovering rusty, forgotten valves of the heart.”
“That’s an optimistic view.”
Lady Guinevere laughed, and the bird chortled, hopping down to nudge at her hands folded atop the desk.“Some days are like that.”She stroked the raven’s wing.
The woman was fascinating herself, bold and beautiful and… “Aren’t you scared?Of breaking so many rules?”
Her cheeks hollowed for a moment during which her brilliant blue eyes grew distant before puffing out with a smile.“No.Though since your brother misused a batch of love potion so publicly, I have gained the attention of the local constables and the queen and parliament and—” She sighed.“It has been quite a mess.”
“You were exonerated in the courts.”
“But I have had to double my guards.Transcendent men fear me more than they fear the unavoidable eventuality of their own deaths.I take some pride in that.There have been… How many attempts to kill me, Bran?”She looked past Sybil to the man standing guard at the door.
“Three,” he grumbled.
“He’s more irritated than I am about it all.Frankly, business has never been better.”
Sybil wrapped her hands more tightly about the handle of the basket.“You could run a secret shop.You don’t have to put yourself in harm’s way so publicly.”
“I am not good at hiding.”
Bran snorted.
“Hush, you.”Lady Guinevere shot the man a look, one eyebrow flying high.To Sybil, she said, “Excuse him.He’s become much less respectful in the last several months.Has all sorts of opinions outside of how to keep me safe.”
“How… unfortunate?”
