Storm Warning - Mercedes Lackey [149]
Once inside the Palace, however, the Guards were a great deal more alert, to his relief. They were left to drip in front of a fire while someone went off to verify that they were who they said they were, and to fetch Herald Elspeth. Hot spiced tea arrived after a while, and towels, both brought by pages, who hung their cloaks over frames in front of the fire to dry them thoroughly. The air filled with the smell of wet wool.
Elspeth was not at all pleased to be fetched; she looked tired and rather frazzled. Her hair had escaped from its utilitarian braids, and her face was slack with exhaustion. But the moment that Master Tam and Master Levy introduced themselves to her and explained what brought them there, she brightened with relief, and actually apologized for her curt welcome.
“I’m dreadfully sorry I was so surly, but we just finished some very difficult work, and we’re about to re peat it to double the effect,” she said, pulling a damp curl off her forehead with an impatient gesture. “I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate this! Yes, we certainly do accept your offer, and I can’t think of anyone better suited to try to apply logic to all of this.” She favored Master Levy with a wry grimace. “Some of the others won’t like it, but I can and will overrule them—and Mother will most certainly be relieved that someone is trying mathematics instead of intuition for a change!”
She continued for a little while longer, as both Masters glowed with satisfaction under the weight of her sincere thanks and praise. There was no doubt that she meant every word she said—and no doubt that both of them had been half-expecting to find opposition from someone who was a mage as well as a Herald. Not surprising; they didn’t know her, after all.
I wonder if she’s stretching all this thanks out a little—he thought, when she began repeating herself. Then he saw her take a surreptitious glance at the cloaks, and knew he was right. She was waiting for the cloaks to dry before sending them away!
Thoughtful, making up for being discourteous earlier? It could be. Elspeth, he had learned by watching, was like that.
“Well,” Master Levy said, when Elspeth finished her speech, “if we’re going to lead a team of unruly students out into the muck at dawn, we need to take our leave. As soon as we have anything of any substance, we will let you know, Herald Elspeth.”
“Send me your measurements and charts, would you please?” Elspeth asked as the two Masters took up their now-dry cloaks. “They might help those of us who aren’t applying strict logic to the problem.”
“Certainly, my lady,” Master Tam assured her, tossing the cloak over muscular shoulders. “Now, by your leave?”
“I’ve sent for a carriage; at least you won’t have to walk back in this mess,” Elspeth told her, and grinned at the gratified expressions they wore. “Masters, I promise you, no matter what you’ve heard, I didn’t turn into a complete barbarian while I was gone!”
They laughed, and Elspeth called for a page to take them to the carriage she’d ordered up. Once they had gone, she turned her attention back to Karal, who was waiting quietly for her to dismiss him.
“Was this your idea, sir secretary?” Elspeth asked, with a stem expression that was entirely spoiled by her glow of amusement and the twitching of her lips.
“Yes, Lady,” he replied. “I don’t know a great deal about magic—but Altra, a friend, told me to trust my own good sense. You all said you needed measurements and facts, and my own good sense said that if you were going to need facts and figures, you ought to have people who specialize in them gather them for you.”
“Well, your friend was right,” Elspeth declared. “And I can’t begin to thank you for going out and acting on your conviction. You do your order proud.” And with that, to his immense confusion and embarrassment,