don’t know where you are? You know it’s far too soon to be resuming your duties.”
The woman turned her golden eyes on him. “Bull,” she said flatly.
Taran frowned; was the word a profanity? No, he realized, it had sounded more like a name.
Whichever it was, it was spoken with profound weariness. The young woman was now leaning against the edge of the table.
The big man ignored this and plowed on, his commanding voice indignant.
“Look at you, for the Void’s sake! You can hardly stand, let alone resume your duties. Be reasonable, Sully, even you must realize you’re not well enough yet. You’re drained and exhausted. Hanan says you should still be resting.”
The woman held up a hand and a glinting stone set within a gold ring on her middle finger spat fire. “Bull,” she repeated, a little louder.
Taran could hear a warning in her tone but the huge man chose to ignore it. Mistake, he thought.
The blustering tirade continued, the man’s military bearing and deep commanding voice used to full effect. Eventually, the woman held up both hands as if to ward him off and her captivating eyes snapped sparks. With an effort they could all see, she pushed herself from the table, drawing her slight body up to full height.
“BULLDOG!”
The word held real power and its echo caught the edges of Taran’s mind, causing him to shift uncomfortably. She gestured toward him and the large man’s head turned sharply, only now, it seemed, registering the presence of strangers.
His florid face went quite pale. He took a step closer to the woman, holding out a hand in apology.
“Sully, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean … ”
She leaned against the desk again and waved a slender hand. “Oh Bulldog. If you want to be forgiven, bring us some fellan. Make it strong. And send Robin along, will you?”
“Yes, yes, of course.” The big man hastily quit the room, casting a shame-faced glance over his shoulder.
The young woman walked unsteadily around the table and sank into the chair behind it, facing her guests. Cal and Rienne glanced at Taran in bemusement but the Journeyman thought he understood. He caught the woman’s gaze.
“That man, Bulldog,” he said, “he called you Sully. You’re Major Sullyan, aren’t you?”
A wry smile came to her lips. “I am. Are you disappointed?”
“I don’t know yet.” He frowned. “You’re certainly not what I expected.”
“No,” she replied, still smiling. “Bulldog was.”
Her perception made Taran blush but he was spared the embarrassment of admitting she was right because Captain Tamsen entered the room. He crossed to the table and perched on the edge, swinging one long leg. He gave Taran a brief glance before bending his head to the Major’s.
“Whatever did you say to Bull?” Taran heard him murmur. “He seems flustered.”
Her lilting voice sounded weary. “He overstepped the mark, Robin, and I will not nursemaid his sensibilities. He ought to know better. He of all people should know to trust my judgment.”
The Captain smiled. “I’m sure he’ll get over it. He’s on his way with the fellan.” He raised his head, looking inquiringly at Taran. “Now then, what was this information you wanted the Major to hear?”
Taran was feeling increasingly unsettled. He’d screwed himself up to admit his mistakes to a scornful senior officer; the last thing he’d expected was to be faced with a woman. He hadn’t known there were any serving in the High King’s forces. This shock only underlined his certainty that he shouldn’t be here. The Captain’s casual manner was one frustration too many and suddenly, Taran didn’t want him to hear what he’d come to say.
Directing his reply to the Major, he said, “I’d rather talk privately, if that’s possible.”
She gave a small sigh. “Robin is the captain of my company and Bull is my aide. Both would be involved if a
The woman turned her golden eyes on him. “Bull,” she said flatly.
Taran frowned; was the word a profanity? No, he realized, it had sounded more like a name.
Whichever it was, it was spoken with profound weariness. The young woman was now leaning against the edge of the table.
The big man ignored this and plowed on, his commanding voice indignant.
“Look at you, for the Void’s sake! You can hardly stand, let alone resume your duties. Be reasonable, Sully, even you must realize you’re not well enough yet. You’re drained and exhausted. Hanan says you should still be resting.”
The woman held up a hand and a glinting stone set within a gold ring on her middle finger spat fire. “Bull,” she repeated, a little louder.
Taran could hear a warning in her tone but the huge man chose to ignore it. Mistake, he thought.
The blustering tirade continued, the man’s military bearing and deep commanding voice used to full effect. Eventually, the woman held up both hands as if to ward him off and her captivating eyes snapped sparks. With an effort they could all see, she pushed herself from the table, drawing her slight body up to full height.
“BULLDOG!”
The word held real power and its echo caught the edges of Taran’s mind, causing him to shift uncomfortably. She gestured toward him and the large man’s head turned sharply, only now, it seemed, registering the presence of strangers.
His florid face went quite pale. He took a step closer to the woman, holding out a hand in apology.
“Sully, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean … ”
She leaned against the desk again and waved a slender hand. “Oh Bulldog. If you want to be forgiven, bring us some fellan. Make it strong. And send Robin along, will you?”
“Yes, yes, of course.” The big man hastily quit the room, casting a shame-faced glance over his shoulder.
The young woman walked unsteadily around the table and sank into the chair behind it, facing her guests. Cal and Rienne glanced at Taran in bemusement but the Journeyman thought he understood. He caught the woman’s gaze.
“That man, Bulldog,” he said, “he called you Sully. You’re Major Sullyan, aren’t you?”
A wry smile came to her lips. “I am. Are you disappointed?”
“I don’t know yet.” He frowned. “You’re certainly not what I expected.”
“No,” she replied, still smiling. “Bulldog was.”
Her perception made Taran blush but he was spared the embarrassment of admitting she was right because Captain Tamsen entered the room. He crossed to the table and perched on the edge, swinging one long leg. He gave Taran a brief glance before bending his head to the Major’s.
“Whatever did you say to Bull?” Taran heard him murmur. “He seems flustered.”
Her lilting voice sounded weary. “He overstepped the mark, Robin, and I will not nursemaid his sensibilities. He ought to know better. He of all people should know to trust my judgment.”
The Captain smiled. “I’m sure he’ll get over it. He’s on his way with the fellan.” He raised his head, looking inquiringly at Taran. “Now then, what was this information you wanted the Major to hear?”
Taran was feeling increasingly unsettled. He’d screwed himself up to admit his mistakes to a scornful senior officer; the last thing he’d expected was to be faced with a woman. He hadn’t known there were any serving in the High King’s forces. This shock only underlined his certainty that he shouldn’t be here. The Captain’s casual manner was one frustration too many and suddenly, Taran didn’t want him to hear what he’d come to say.
Directing his reply to the Major, he said, “I’d rather talk privately, if that’s possible.”
She gave a small sigh. “Robin is the captain of my company and Bull is my aide. Both would be involved if a
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