Defenders of The Sacred Land: Book One of The Sacred Land Saga Read Online Free Page B

noticed that the elf maiden winced at the word servant, but he tried to pretend he did not see her. “They would like to have a word with you and secure lodgings for the night.” He turned to Lady Shey. “My lady, this is my mother, Inn Mistress Dellah Adair.”
    Dellah’s worried expression became one of excitement. “Well then, I shall have the chambermaids prepare my best rooms for such honored guests.” Dellah bowed gracefully. “The Tiger’s Head Inn is at your every service, my lady.”
    Lady Shey returned the bow. “Thank you, Mistress Dellah. I shall call on you if the need arises. As for the moment, I invoke your hospitality as I require that you meet with me after we have settled. I have a matter to discuss with you.” Lady Shey’s eyes darted to Dorenn as she leaned in to whisper to Dellah. “Bring along the townswomen elders as well. This is a matter for womankind first and men folk later.” Lady Shey winked and Dorenn saw his mother wink back just as quickly.
    “Tatrice, my dear, may I borrow you for a moment?” Dellah asked. Tatrice nodded, pinched Dorenn’s arm, and quickly moved beside Dellah. Dorenn winced and gave Tatrice a menacing stare as she took her place beside his mother.
    “Tatrice dear, go fetch Fettina and tell her to prepare the master suites.”
    “As you wish, Mistress Dellah,” Tatrice answered, bowing slightly before moving off to find Fettina.
    “You must be exhausted and famished, my lady, I will have the servants prepare the private dining hall immediately.” Dellah pointed to a double doorway that led into a long hallway.
    “I would not trouble you, my good inn mistress,” Lady Shey said.
    A young girl with brown hair and wide brown eyes appeared, and Dellah took her by her shoulders, moving to stand in behind her.
    “Nonsense, I shall have Fettina here show you to your lodgings. Assemble back here in an hour and I will serve you a dinner befitting your station, if it pleases you, my lady.” Dellah bowed again.
    Lady Shey returned the bow. “It does, Inn Mistress. You are most gracious.”
    “Grand,” Dellah replied, clasping her hands together as she whirled around back toward the kitchen. She whispered to Dorenn as she passed him. “Oh, this is so exciting, a noble woman here at the Tiger’s Head!”
    Dorenn followed his mother into the kitchen as Fettina led Lady Shey to her accommodations. Dellah began barking orders to the already frantic staff, and they all began bustling around, grabbing down pots and pans and various cooking ingredients.
    Dorenn made his way to the cook his mother had been talking to before. “Elgar, have you seen my father?”
    “Not in a long while, Master Dorenn. I believe he has gone to Master Sanmir’s shop; he was muttering something about a nagging headache,” the cook said.
    “I’d wager that headache is named Dellah Adair,” Dorenn stated, elbowing the cook and smiling. The old cook just smiled back knowingly, trying not to look in Dellah’s general direction. Dorenn loved his mother very much, but her perfectionism was maddening at times. “All right then, Elgar, tell my father I have gone to find Rennon if he asks for my whereabouts.”
    “I will, Master Dorenn,” Elgar said, turning back to his cooking. He stirred his sauce once and then rapidly turned back to Dorenn. “Oh, and Master Dorenn, I almost forgot. Master Vesperin was here searching for you about an hour ago. I heard him tell your father that he would be at the temple should you return.”
    “Good, I will try him there. Thank you, Elgar.”
    “My pleasure, Master Dorenn,” the cook said, continuing to prepare his sauce.
    Dorenn left the kitchen by way of the common room, largely ignoring the patrons in favor of getting out of the inn without spending time speaking to any of them about Lady Shey’s arrival. Only one person tried to flag him down with her handkerchief, but he pretended not to hear or see her as he hurried out the front double door.