Temple Hill - Drew Karpyshyn [27]
For this particular young Harper agent, all the other dangers paled in comparison to the anxiety he felt over the impending meeting with Vaerana Hawklyn, the leader of the Elversult Maces.
Just then the ranger burst into the room, her long legs never even breaking stride as she kicked the doors open and crossed the hardwood floor until she stood right beside the young agent, towering over him. It was almost as if the mere thought of Vaerana's name had conjured her out of thin air.
To call the woman responsible for the security of Elversult, as well as Lady Lord Yanseldara's personal protection intimidating was the grossest of understatements. It wasn't the gleaming armor she always wore, or the savage array of weapons belted on her waist and strapped across her chest. Her wild mane of honey blonde hair and the way her muscles flexed as she moved were imposing to say the least, but even these were not the cause of the sudden trembling in the young man. With Vaerana, the most frightening thing about her was something intangible-her blunt, straightforward, some would say rude, manner. She had a seemingly permanent scowl etched upon her face and hard, unblinking eyes that bore right through you.
"Well," she demanded sharply of the already nervous young man, "what do you want? I'm in a hurry."
Somehow the agent was able to speak without stuttering. He was, after all, a Harper. "I've brought news of the Cult of the Dragon."
"So spit it out already and quit wasting my time."
The young man was smart enough not to further annoy Vaerana by apologizing.
"There is a mage-Azlar is his name-who is rapidly growing in power and importance among the ranks of the dragon worshipers. He has just arrived in Elversult, accompanied by a platoon of elite guards."
The scowl on the ranger's face became even more angry, if that was possible.
"What's he here for?"
Shaking his head, the Harper agent replied, "We don't know. His mission has been shrouded in secrecy. All of our usual contacts in the cult have come up with nothing."
"What's the use in giving me a report if you don't know anything?" she demanded. She didn't wait for an answer before continuing,. "If they're being that close-mouthed about what this wizard is up to, it must be something big. Very big. I don't like not knowing what those scaly Black Caps are up to. It's never good."
"Never," the spy agreed, instantly regretting his decision to open his mouth.
Vaerana fixed him with an angry glare. "Well, don't you think you better find out what's going on, instead of standing here chatting away the day with me?"
"Uh… yes. Of course. Right away."
And with that the ranger spun on the heel of her boot and stormed out of the room. The young man breathed a sigh of relief.
***
A full tenday had passed since Lhasha had formed her strange yet practical partnership with the taciturn soldier. Their relationship had already begun to settle into a familiar pattern. Every other night Lhasha would slip out to perform a burglary, returning after a few hours with a pouch full of coins. The rest of her evenings were spent dancing into the late hours while Corin relentlessly scrutinized the crowded tavern for non-existent enemies.
It didn't take many days for Lhasha to realize that Corin was always on duty. The warrior's vigilance never failed, it never flagged, it never let up. He was constantly on alert, every sense attuned to his surroundings, his thick muscles occasionally twitching in their perpetual readiness. On some level, Lhasha admired such dedication. But for the most part, she simply found it disturbing and unnatural.
Corin needed to relax, or he was going to explode. He had no outlet in his life, no way to ease the pressures of the world. That was probably what had driven him to waste his money and life on alcohol, but he didn't drink anymore. Not since she had hired him. Not even a glass of wine.
He didn't socialize either. Unlike Lhasha, he hadn't made friends with the staff. He barely even spoke to her. All