The Emperor's Wolves (Wolves of Elantra #1) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,54
nod was politer. She understood the difference between a fief shrug and a polite nod.
“Did you ask him what happened to Darrell?”
“You told me. He died.”
Her eyes narrowed into slightly curved slits. “I’m trying to be helpful here. I’m trying to give you a warning you’re obviously too good to need.” She followed this with street slang before she stalked away from Rosen’s desk, her hands in fists. Severn didn’t watch her leave; he’d turned to Rosen. He did hear a door slam.
“She wasn’t always like this,” Rosen said, when Severn said nothing. Rosen cared for Mellianne.
“Neither were you.”
“No—until recently, I wouldn’t have been at this desk or in this office; I’d’ve been given a mission. But I was never a Shadow Wolf,” she added. “Neither is Mellianne.”
“The difference?”
“We hunt, yes, but we don’t have permission to kill, except in self-defense. Most of us are good enough—or were—that it’s hard to sell self-defense as a cause. We find kidnappers. We find thieves if the theft is of a ‘sensitive nature.’ All of our work,” she added, “is of a sensitive nature. If it’s not, the work goes to the Hawks.
“Mellianne and Darrell came in at around the same time; he was two years older if you believe the age he gave us.”
“Given the Tha’alani, is there any reason not to?”
This pulled a reluctant smile from Rosen, a woman who didn’t look as if she smiled much. “No.” The smile faded. “Darrell was promising—but he was young. Elluvian made his report to Helmat, not to the rest of us. He’s refused to discuss it with Mellianne.”
“You don’t think that was a mistake.”
“No.”
“And me?”
“I understand why you’re his partner. Mellianne doesn’t. She thinks it should have been her. She’s been here longer than you have, she’s fully trained, she understands the ins and outs of Imperial Law. You’ll have to do the same,” she added. “But in this, Elluvian requires a partner by Imperial decree. I would have been that partner if not for my injuries; Jaren would be if he weren’t absent.”
“She’d be happier with Jaren?”
“She’d be happier without Elluvian. Don’t trust him.” Short of feeding him and supervising him to make sure he ate, this was the most serious he’d seen her.
“He’s Barrani,” Severn replied.
* * *
“I cannot decide,” Elluvian said, his voice measured and quiet, “whether to be impressed or appalled.”
Severn looked up from the book he was laboriously reading. “Rosen made clear that I’m to read competently.”
“Yes—but laws?”
“If I don’t know the laws, I won’t know when I’m breaking them.”
“Use common sense.”
“I grew up in the fiefs.”
A black brow rose. The Barrani Wolf’s eyes were blue, but not the indigo that indicated imminent death. Severn picked the book up and walked it back to the librarian’s desk. He also waited while she logged it. Books were of value, and it seemed important not to be considered a thief.
“I am not certain you are ready,” Elluvian said, “but we have an appointment at the High Halls this afternoon. I wish to arrive early.”
Severn nodded. He didn’t ask if Elluvian expected trouble; he understood that Elluvian always expected trouble. The injury he’d taken had never been discussed.
“You don’t ask many questions,” Elluvian said, as they made their way from the Halls of Law.
Severn shrugged.
“Helmat said you met Mellianne.”
He nodded.
“And?”
“She seemed either angry or worried.”
Elluvian chuckled without warmth. “Yes, she would. Did she mention Darrell?”
After a pause, Severn said, “Yes.”
“And you still have no questions?”
“I’m not Mellianne, and I’m not Darrell.”
“No. Tell me, Severn, what do you want from the Wolves?”
“A job?”
“That was a question. You’ve accepted the contract offered you, and you are on probation in a particularly tricky hunt. You are not a complete fool, and you are not completely impulsive—but had you lacked some of that impulsiveness, I would never have found you. Helmat did not ask; I will. What do you want from the Wolves?”
“A job.”
“And what does that mean to you?”
“A roof over my head. Food in my stomach.”
“A place to belong?”
Severn shook his head.
“In that case, you will not find the High Halls intimidating. Your ignorance will intimidate you, yes—but you understand power. You merely need to understand the differences in its trappings. Nothing that occurs in the High Halls will be about you, but your desires may cause a lack of objectivity.”
“Barrani have little use for mortals.”
“Indeed. And you are mortal. Your presence implies much about me, none of it complimentary.”
“If it doesn’t bother you, I don’t see why it should bother me.”