Red Rope of Fate Read Online Free Page B

slipping out the door. She nearly ran into three armed guards.
    A ll there were gangly young men with wide eyes that almost popped out of their heads as they rammed into each other and stared at Tari.
    “My mistake, my apologies,” Tari signed, twisting her long fingers into the correct gesture. She repeated the signs when the soldiers did nothing but gawk at her.
    “ Lady Tari?” Evlawyn, her attendant, called from further up the hallway. The strapping young soldiers had probably forced the shy elf into a retreat.
    “There you are. If you don’t mind, Evlawyn, I would like to return to my room to change and practice some of my magic and exercise routines in the gardens,” Tari said, starting down the hallway. Evlawyn trailed after her.
    The soldiers stare d at them until they turned a corner, stepping out of sight.
     

     
    Chapter 3
    Miscommunication
    “Evlawyn might be a timid guide and bashful of humans, but she is a fantastic handmaiden,” Tari pronounced, twisting in front of a full length mirror.
    The younger elf had outdone herself. She piled Tari’s silken hair on top of her head and wove a string of pearls through it, reflecting more human fashion than elf style. Tari’s dress—which was midnight blue and silver—was long and sweeping with billowing sleeves and full skirts. It was a nightmare to get into, but Evlawyn had managed it.
    Tari glanced out the windows of the waiting room—dusk settled on the horizon like a heavy cloak—and sighed. She had waited outside the banquet hall for perhaps half an hour and Arion had yet to arrive.
    They were not late yet, but all of the captain’s siblings and Tari’s relatives arrived some time ago.
    Tari smiled at a pair of guests who glanced curiously at her before they entered the banquet hall.
    She lingered behind them in the doorway, sighing in exasperation when she caught sight of a spot of black nestled among the brilliant court colors. Captain Arion had somehow evaded Tari’s notice and snuck inside. He was already seated, although there was an empty chair beside him for Tari.
    Tari slipped in with a group of elf guests, walking with them until they were greeted by an official who moved to seat them. Tari slipp ed past and continued up the aisle, stopping only when she reached Arion’s table.
    “Good evening, Captain Arion,” Tari greeted.
    Arion stood and gravely bowed. “Good evening. You look splendid this evening, Lady Tari.”
    “It’s just Tari, C aptain,” Tari said as she shook her head in amusement. She felt beyond awkward approaching and speaking to the captain, but he was able to freely fire off niceties as if a bond like theirs was common.“And thank you, you look very fine as well,” Tari added, looking up and down the table.
    Although the cel ebration was for Arion’s sister he and his siblings were seated at a table that was considerably far from the Princess. Their table mates were mostly Arion’s family members and their bonded elves. Tari fleetingly recalled Talon’s prediction of snubbing Princess Claire, and she pressed her lips together.
    Making up her mind, Tari turned to Arion, who hadn’t reseated himself but did not give off the appearance of being socially inclined. Ignoring that, Tari rather impertinently asked, “If you would not mind, Captain Arion, would you introduce me to your family? I believe we missed the introductions yesterday when we were whisked away.”
    “Of course,” Arion said, stepping around his chair before pushing it in. He dutifully trekked around the table to stand at Tari’s side. “Eric,” Arion called.
    A young man speaking to Talon through a translator looked up. Arion wriggled his fingers at him, and the young man came trotting, Talon trailing in his wake. “Lady Tari, allow me the dubious honor of introducing you to my younger brother, Eric Herycian. Eric runs our family manor with my father. Eric, this is Lady Tari of Lessa.”
    Tari made the signing gesture for “well