Kero seldom used it, except with Eldan and her Companion, having had to conceal the fact that she had the Gift for most of her life.
She was almost as flattered by Kero's use of it with her as by the Captain's earlier compliments.
Elspeth darted into the Weaponsmaster's office before Skif had a chance to stop her; there was, indeed, a pump and a deep basin in a little room in the back behind a screen, and a stack of thick towels beside it. The basin was deep enough for her to duck her head under water, and she did so. The water, fresh from the pump, was cold enough to make her yip, but it revived her considerably. She was toweling off her hair when the promised set of Whites appeared over the screen.
She scrambled into them, and discovered, as Kero had promised, they were a close fit.
I didn't think Kero had a set of whites-I thought she'd convinced everybody she was never going to wear them. Well, there are times when she plays the uniform game with everyone else. Not often, but I've seen her do it. I suppose if she absolutely has to show up as a formal Herald, this is as good a place to keep her Whites as any.
They were a little loose across the shoulders and tight in the chest, but no one was likely to notice. And she realized, as she wound her wet hair into a knot at the back of her neck, that she did feel a little more confident.
Skif was still waiting for her when she trotted out of the office, and he didn't look too impatient. 'Let's go,' she said; he just nodded, and fell into step beside her. The two left the building side-by-side, setting a brisk pace toward the Palace.
She glanced at him in open inquiry, but he avoided her eyes. Dear gods. What is it I'm supposed to have done? she wondered. Is this over that argument I had with Mother about recruiting mages? She tightened her jaw stubbornly. If it is-I'm not backing down. I'm right, I know I'm right.
Why would they take her to task about that, though? What was the problem? It wasn't as if she was espousing open revolt against the Crown ...On the other hand, she'd been pressuring Selenay to allow her to do the mage-hunting. That might well be the problem. Some of the Councilors considered her to be impetuous, and sometimes hotheaded. Maybe they figure I intend to go riding out of here anyway, with or without permission.
Now that was a stupid idea, if that's what they were thinking. Not that I hadn't considered it... if I could get Gwena to go along with it.
But I didn't think about it for more than a couple of heartbeats. Really, it was a stupid idea. the only way I could get a decent mage to go along with this, would be if I had official blessing-and how would I have gotten that by running off on MY own?
But while she had been thinking about that, would anyone have 'eavesdropped' on her? She didn't think so.
But if they had-She stifled a slow wave of hot anger. No use in getting angry over something that might not have happened.
But if it has-someone is going to pay.
They kept her cooling her heels for some time before finally letting her into the Council Chamber. Skif left her at the door and disappeared, leaving her no one to question, and being kept there did not help her smoldering temper any.
But after she had waited, impatiently, for what seemed like hours, she heard footsteps coming down the hall leading to the Council Chamber.
She turned to see the rest of the Council approaching-and at that point the door to the Council Chamber opened, and they all filed in to take their places. Elspeth no longer felt quite so annoyed at being dragged off to see the Circle, then left in the hall.
Though it would have been nice if someone had bothered to tell her they were waiting for the other Council members to arrive.
She took her seat with the rest, casting covert glances at the faces of those Councilors who were also in the Heraldic Circle: Teren, who had taken Elcarth's place as Dean of the Collegium; the Seneschal's Herald, Kyril; the Lord Marshal's Herald, Griffon; the Queen's Own Herald, Talia; Selenay; and Prince Daren. Their expressions didn't tell her much; their faces were tightly controlled. That, in itself, was something; it meant they were worried. And since there was a White-clad Herald with the silver-arrow insignia of the Special Messenger sitting on the extra chair reserved for guests and petitioners, chances were slim that the Circle and Council were going to take Elspeth to task for her notions.
She relaxed and sat back a little into the familiar bulk of her Council seat. So this is just Council business after all. If the others hadn't looked so serious, she'd have chuckled at herself. See, Elspeth, the world doesn't revolve around you!
Selenay rose when the others had settled themselves. 'This messenger arrived from the Eastern Border earlier this afternoon, from Shallan, one of Herald-Captain Kerowyn's lieutenants. She had ordered this messenger
