Read The Endonshan Chronicles Book 1: DragonBond Page 8

  Part of me was tempted to tell her my idea, to get her on my side, but that would be improper. It was neither my place nor my business to share with her something that was her husband’s place to talk to her about. If he wanted her to know my suggestion, he would have told her after I first brought it up. Sometimes the manners of Elf society worked to my favor, like the requirement to address problems with a woman’s guardian. Other times, not so much.

  I exhaled. “No. Thank you for the meal.” Time to retreat to the forest, now that I didn’t have Rik hovering at my side. Time to find Axen.

  The door banged open as I stood, and Erret stormed in.

  Tarvia immediately straightened, her posture formal but stiff. “Thone already returned to the fields, tabe. Unless you had something to address with me?”

  “I have business to address, but not with you, raisa-ro.” He glared at me. “I will have words with you, and you will not run away this time. You have much to answer for.”

  Tarvia bristled and seemed to suddenly occupy the entire room. “I will beg your pardon, tabe, but this is my home, and Alita is my guest. I will not tolerate harsh words spoken here.” Her tone was like a mace wrapped in silk, elegant but hard and unquestionably dangerous.

  Erret blinked, some of his bluster fading. But it returned quickly, barely concealed behind gritted teeth. “Then I will speak with her outside.”

  My fingers curled involuntarily. The last thing I wanted was to sit down and chat with this man. If I tried to escape to the forest now, it was pretty clear he would follow and harangue me until he got his way. But I wasn’t interested in spending the day hiding in the inn, either. I already felt confined enough having been unable to escape the village yet.

  What’s happening, small meat one? You’ve gone all fizzy inside.

  “If she desires,” Tarvia said to Erret, her voice gaining more of an edge.