“Oh?” Her eyes darted to Rune’s face. Markl? And why was Rune avoiding her eyes?
Sylvie glanced at Rune as well before she dropped her voice to a confidential tone. “Siobhan. Rune can’t read.”
WHAT?! Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. No, wait, calm down. She should have expected this. He was from a dark guild, after all; people were rarely educated in those circles. Wolf had been one of the few exceptions, but it was his hometown that had educated him, not the guild who’d bought him. She took in a breath to steady her voice before speaking. “So, Rune, has Markl offered to teach you?”
Rune searched her eyes, as if trying to see any pity or disgust she might feel, but he steadied out when she just looked at him levelly. “No. He demanded ta teach me.”
That made her chuckle. “Now, why is it easy for me to picture him doing that? Lucky for you, then. I can’t imagine a better teacher than him. What did he say you needed?”
“A primer book, a practice book, quill and ink, and some scratch paper,” Sylvie listed, ticking things off on her fingers. “Any book is pricier here than in Robarge, so it’s going to be a bit steep.”
Siobhan waved this off. “It’s worth it. We can’t have Rune wandering around the world without being able to read. It’ll put him at too much of a disadvantage.”
Rune made a wordless protest. “This wasn’t part of the deal.”
She put a hand on his shoulder and snared his eyes with hers. “You are guild, Rune. Until the day you decide to leave, you are guild, and I will treat you as such. Now, do you want to learn how to read?”
He nodded once, firmly, eyes locked with hers.
“Then learn.” Giving his shoulder a final squeeze, she let go before focusing on Sylvie. “Try not to bankrupt me. We have quite a bit of traveling to do before we get home after all.”
Sylvie gave a mocking bow. “I’ll do my best. I need to teach him a few things too while we’re out.”
Both Rune and Siobhan gave her a blank look.
“Like?” Rune asked in puzzlement.
“Like how to shop and properly bargain with people,” Sylvie answered promptly, giving him a pointed look. “Rune, my dear, you have no survival skills to speak of.”
Siobhan bit her tongue and tried not to laugh at the poleaxed expression on Rune’s face. So, assassination didn’t count as a survival skill, eh? Well, it likely wouldn’t in Sylvie’s opinion.
“Have fun, then.” She waved them away. Actually, she blessed Sylvie’s idea in taking him out of Iron Dragain. It not only gave Rune the things he needed, but removed him from this tense atmosphere, which they all needed. She took all of one step before a thought struck. Turning about, she called to their retreating backs, “Rune?”
Rune stopped mid-step and looked back over his shoulder. “Yes?”
“Protect Sylvie.” Siobhan’s mouth quirked in a wry manner. “She tends to attract the wrong sort of attention from men.”
Rune glanced at Sylvie, who couldn’t do anything more than shrug in resigned agreement, before he assured her, “Geta.”
“Good man.” Siobhan waved him on again, feeling a little like a mother that had just sent two siblings out for a day of shopping. Well, in a way, that’s exactly what she had done. She couldn’t put Rune in any better hands, though. Sylvie could make a kor stretch until it squirmed and begged for mercy.
Now, what had she been doing before being interrupted? Oh right, talk to Lirah.
Late that evening, after most of Iron Dragain had settled in for the night, she had everyone in Deepwoods meet again in the common room. During the whole course of the day, she’d been running from pillar to post, and because of that, she hadn’t been able to meet with her people to check in.
Once again they found places either on the couches or chairs to sit, although this time Denney didn’t choose the floor next to the dogs, but instead stuck close to Conli. The older man had an arm around her shoulders in silent support. Siobhan noted this position with a slight frown. Denney normally chose to be close to Conli, but for her to openly cling like this was unusual. Had something happened?
Making a note to ask later, she cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. “The ship leaves the day after tomorrow on the morning tide, so I expect people to be on