Warlords Rising by Honor Raconteur Page B

time, they
were more amiable, and the Rikkana indicated Asha could go back first. Then she
planted herself and made it absolutely clear that she was not leaving Becca’s
side.
    That was fine as Becca wasn’t sure
she could find the house again in the dark anyway. To the boys, she said,
“They’ve apparently moved you two into the house next to the one we were in.”
    They weren’t surprised by this
change—after all, they had just crashed it someone’s house; with the owners
back, of course they would have to move—and Trev’nor gave a flick of the hand
in acknowledgement before finishing up what he was doing.
    Nolan and Trev’nor left, likely to
find dinner and bed, leaving Becca to work. She focused on the sky and
patiently called in the right wind currents, the right moisture, all
culminating in a storm that would give them steady rainfall through most of the
night. She wanted that reservoir as full as she could get it before leaving.
Having moisture on the ground for Trev’nor to work with in the morning wouldn’t
hurt either.
    With her work done, she finally consented to go to bed,
which relieved the Rikkana. The woman must be dead tired running all over the
city all day. They barely got within sight of the door when Asha latched onto
her upper arm and pulled her inside. “Raya Becca, it is late,” she said in
reproving tones.
    Becca bit back a sigh, or a groan, and went along. That was
another rule: a woman should not be out after sunset. “Asha, this place has too
many rules.”
    “Good rules,” the older woman told her, still with that
frown on her face. “Protect you.”
    “From what, exactly? You do remember that I can level this
city if I want to?”
    “Protect your heart.”
    And what in the world did that mean? Becca had no chance to
follow it up with another question as she was dragged into the house and
bombarded from both sides. “Whoa! Chanda, Bala, what?”
    Both girls had visible hearts in their eyes as they looked
at her. The words nearly tripped out of Chanda’s mouth, she spoke so quickly. “We
heard. Raja Nolan is prince?”
    “Trev’nor called him so,” Bala added, nearly vibrating in
place.
    “Ah, yes. Nolan is Prince of Chahir.”
    The girls let out high pitched squeals and bounced in a
tight circle, gripping each other’s hands and talking so quickly that Becca
barely caught one word in five.
    Asha’s eyes were crossed. “Truly? A prince?”
    “Only prince of Chahir,” Becca confirmed. Well, technically
his father was too. It was too much trouble to explain that and she let it go
with a shrug.
    “Does not act like prince…” Asha trailed off uncertainly.
    “No, he’s nice. Not arrogant.” Becca had to wonder what
their impression of princes were but if the government and warlord here had
been any indication, then they were not nice men. Certainly not the type to go
around healing people and talking with them. Seeing that Asha was worried about
this, she ducked her head enough to give the matron a smile. “Nolan came as
Life Mage. Not as prince. Treat him as mage. Yes?”
    “But is a prince,” Asha responded, her sense of
propriety flaring to life.
    Oh dear. Maybe Becca shouldn’t have said anything. “Is also
mage. He came to work as mage. Respect that.”
    Asha visibly struggled but finally nodded reluctantly.
    Seeing that she had a chance to break for freedom, Becca
took it and headed for the kitchen, finding that a plate had been made up for
her. After not eating most of the day, she was starving and ate it quickly up.
She had every intention of washing up afterwards until Asha elbowed her aside
and shooed her up the stairs. This was likely another etiquette thing but Becca
was too tired to ask and figure it out. Instead, she went up the stairs to her
second story bedroom.
    The room was as she had left it. It barely had space for a
single bed, washstand, and a chest to put clothes into. She closed the door
behind her with a nudge of the hip before