The Raven Ring by Patricia C. Wrede Page A

?” Eleret stopped short in the middle of sheathing her dagger to stare at Prill.
    “I told Climeral that would be your reaction,” Prill said with some satisfaction. “But honestly, Daner’s not so bad. And he does know just about every road east of Ciaron; he’s been traveling to Kith Alunel or Brydden or Mindaria or somewhere every year since he was fifteen.”
    “Maybe, but is he any good in a fight?”
    “Don’t let his mannerisms fool you,” Prill replied seriously. “The last generation of Vallaniris lost a couple of sons in duels and stupid brawls, and ever since they’ve been determined to see that it wouldn’t happen again. They’re among the best swordsmen in the city, and Lord Daner is the best in the family. And don’t forget that he’s a magician, too; that could come in handy.”
    “For what?” Eleret turned away and began stripping off her leggings. She could hear the murmur of voices outside the door, and she wondered just what Daner and Jonystra were saying to each other. It was not a comforting idea.
    “How should I know?” Prill said. “It depends on what you run into. Starting fires, maybe. And even if he’s not an Adept, he can tell whether anyone is using magic to look for you. If you’re worried about being followed…”
    “You’re right,” Eleret said, frowning. “I hadn’t thought of that.” And Climeral had chosen Daner; presumably the Shee Adept had good reasons for regarding him as suitable. “I suppose I ought to give him a chance.”
    Prill giggled. “I’m beginning to see why Climeral said this would be a good idea. And Daner thinks Nijole is bad! I wish I could come with you, just to watch.”
    “Watch what?” Eleret asked absently as she strapped on her knife. She glanced longingly at the second dagger-and-sheath, but left them lying where they were. Slitting the other skirt pocket would take too much time to do right, and there was no sense in wearing a weapon she could not get at. She pulled on the skirt, which was now only a little damp, and quickly bundled the litter on the bed into her mother’s kit bag. “Let’s go.”

SIX
    W HEN E LERET OPENED THE door, she found Daner alone in the hall, gazing toward the stairs with a thoughtful expression. The first thing he said was, “Freelady Salven, how well do you know the woman who was here just now?”
    “Better than I’d like,” Eleret replied. “Which is to say, not very well. Come in; we can’t discuss it in the hall.”
    “Watch out for her,” Daner said, throwing a last glance at the stairs before he turned to enter Eleret’s room. “You and your plans were the only things she cared about, the whole time she was talking to me. She didn’t want to chat about anything else at all.” He sounded faintly indignant, and Eleret could not keep from smiling.
    “I’m not surprised,” she said as she closed the door behind Daner. “I think Jonystra was the one who searched my room this morning, while I was out.”
    “Searched your room?” Prill said. “How did you know? Did she take anything? What was she looking for?”
    “I’m not sure what she was looking for,” Eleret replied. “I’m not even sure that she went through my things, but someone did. I don’t think it was the innkeeper or his wife, and she’s the only other person outside the school who knew where I was staying.”
    “A very unsettling experience, I’m sure,” Daner said sympathetically.
    “No, it’s annoying, that’s all. What sort of information was she hunting for?”
    Daner blinked, evidently startled by her matter-of-fact reaction to Jonystra’s prying, but he made a quick recovery. “Where had I met you, how long were you planning to stay in Ciaron, where were we going for dinner, how long would we be gone. That sort of thing.”
    So Jonystra hadn’t entirely believed Eleret’s comments about her stay in Ciaron. “What did you tell her?”
    “Nothing, of course. I’m not a fool, and Climeral said it