Page 48 of The Poison of the Earth
I nod.
“Come on, let’s bring these out,” she says, again cheerful. I grab two bowls and she grabs the other two and we head into the hall.
Lonan, Kai and Lilac are seated, talking heatedly. It stops as we enter. I place mine and Lilac’s bowl as Cook gets Lonan and Kai. She squeezes my shoulder on the way by.
“There you are, Ollie. I was a little worried,” Lonan says quietly as I sit.
“I can take care of myself, most of the time at least,” I say tartly.
Kai snorts, “You’ll be better able to after a month or so of training with me.”
I freeze, spoon halfway to my mouth. “A month or so?”
He laughs and changes the conversation. “Do we request a new Ordained?”
I answer before I think, “No. They are never to be trusted.”
Lilac looks at me keenly. “We need a couple more alliances. It’s them, Guivre and Larkstead. What makes Monkswick less trustworthy?”
I attempt to take the heat from my tone. “Besides trying to strangle me? Well, the fact that they were probably told to do so by their Mother and Father after they tattled about me being a Stonesthrow.”
The table is quiet a moment and I use the chance to get another bite of warm oatmeal.
“And... why would they care so much about that, Ollie, that they’d order your murder?” Lonan asks gently.
I take a deep breath. “The Ordained at RedWater is a trusted advisor to Alder, though it’s kept quiet.” I pause, “He’s also the one responsible for a large part of my... torment, for many years.”
All three of them react angrily, in their own ways. Kai growls, Lilac slams down her glass and Lonan takes my hand, his energy livid.
“That’s why Rafe stayed,” Lilac grumbles.
My head snaps up. “Yes, Ordained Rafe, that is who...” I trail off. “What do you mean?”
“A new Ordained, one that happens to be a soothsayer arrived last month. But Rafe didn’t return to the Monastery Isles as is standard.”
The door opens and we turn. In strides a somewhat round man, his shaggy hair the color of old straw, skin an odd shade of eggshell, wearing rather shapeless, albeit clean, clothes.
“Korben!” And the three hop up to greet him. He passes out quick hugs and sits next to me as Lilac goes to request another bowl.
He holds out his hand in the human fashion. “Hello. I’m Korben.”
He smells of soil.An earth Fae. I grin. “I’m Oleander.” I shake his hand, warmed at the gesture.
“My consort,” Lonan adds and Korben’s eyes widen a bit.
“Nice to meet you, Korben,” I add.
He nods, smiling and digs into his food.
“Tazi and Cas are preparing for a battle in Squall’s End,” Lilac tosses out carelessly.
“Ugh,” he grunts, “But unsurprising. Word is Alder is increasing his jackassery.”
I snort.
Lonan straightens, “What did you learn in Guivre? We could use any insight. We were just discussing the undeclared houses.”He looks at me, his eyes filled with anguish. “Monkswick is out. We won’t ally with them.” He shakes his head, his anger palpable. “I intend to burn them into thefuckingground.” His words are filled with rage. And devotion.
And suddenly, I want to climb on his cock. Well shit.
