Page 86 of Wolf's Bane
Alek’s lips pulled back into a smile that was a touch more menacing than charming. “No, that’s unheard of. The day before the equinox is splendid.”
Solenne swore the thread connecting them whispered that it wasn’t too late to abscond to the magistrate.
Tempting.
“I told Lionel not to worry about the fuss of a big church wedding,” Mrs. Parkell said, wandering over with an empty glass in hand. Her cheeks were flushed a rosy red from alcohol. “Weddings are all the same, and he’s done it once before, but I suppose he wants to indulge you, Charlotte.” She gestured with the empty glass until Chambers took it to be refilled.
“You were married before?” Charlotte asked.
“Oh, he hasn’t told you? Years ago, when he was in the military. Margaret. Maggie. The drabbest creature I ever saw.”
“Maggie died of a fever,” Chambers said smoothly, his voice calm despite the irritation on his face. “As you said, it was a long time ago.” The dinner gong sounded, and a look of relief flashed over him. “Come, I’m famished. Let’s eat.”
Aleksandar
Boxon
The Blacksmithy
The heatof the forge hit him like a wall. Not looking up from the workbench, Miles gestured for Alek to wait. He stayed in the doorway to avoid the sweltering heat, but still removed his coat. The blacksmith wore long sleeves, protective gear, and a helmet, and Alek did not understand how the man avoided melting into a puddle.
Miles turned off the propane torch, set down his tools, and stripped off his gloves and helmet. “Making a few improvements in the armor. The devil is in the details. Come on back,” he said, waving to the storeroom in the back.
As Alek passed the workbench, he admired the skillfully wrought armor. “Another new set?” That would be the third set Miles made since the solstice.
“I’m not happy with the seams. They’re the weak point. The material can resist a near infinite amount of damage, but it doesn’t stay together after six or seven events.”
“An event would be a bite?” Alek asked, not remembering to whom he spoke.
Miles paled. “Any sudden impact, but yes, a bite.”
Heavy curtains kept the back room dim. The thick stone walls kept it several degrees cooler than the workshop. Miles pulled the curtains open, and light slanted through. He retrieved a small box from a shelf and held it to the light, and then revealed the contents.
Two silver rings gleamed in the afternoon light, iridescent and unnaturally bright, like forged moonlight.
Alek examined the smaller ring. A plain band, the design let the material shine. Literally. Colors shifted from blue to purple to pink and to gold, depending on how he turned it.
“Odreylium,” Miles said. “Found only at nexus points. Difficult to find and tricky to work with, but I think I managed. It has some really interesting properties, such as its rigid to the touch. Give it a squeeze.”
Alek gently squeezed the band, finding it firm and just like every other piece of jewelry.
“Right? But when hit with sudden force, it’s pliable.” Miles took the other ring and smashed it into the wall and then looked at Alek with something like triumph. When Alek failed to give appropriate noises of appreciation, he frowned. “Oh, um, well, it’s hard to see. You must try it yourself. Flexible under stress. I thought it was a suitable metaphor for marriage.”
“It is.” Alek clenched his fist around the ring, attempting to crush it, and found it had give and bounce. Solenne would especially like the metaphor. “Impressive. Thank you. How much?” As he had never heard of odreylium, he expected a hefty price tag.
“It’s a gift.”
“Difficult to find and tricky to work with,” Alek said, using Miles’ own words against him.
“Yes, well, I consider Solenne a friend. I wanted to do this for her.”
Alek accepted the ring box with thanks and tucked it into his coat pocket.
“Actually, there is something you can do for me,” Miles said, nervousness creeping into his voice. He looked out the door to make sure the workshop remained empty. “Is it true that your kind, people with your affliction, can sense others?”
Alek’s first response was to deny, but Miles saw his partial shift on the solstice. Even if the blacksmith had been too consumed with his own injuries to notice, Luis would have told him. He asked, “How is your bite healing?”
“Dr. Webb tells me to be patient, but he is not concerned. Now is it true?”
