�I�m perfectly fine, thank you but the thing I want to know is how you�re holding up. From what I�ve been hearing, you�ve been busy.� Tavia countered shrewdly.
Minerva sighed and threw herself into the chair where Tavia had first seen Tansis sitting in when she had woken up. The bodyguard took his place standing behind his Lady and flashed the fire-girl a grateful look. He had probably been trying to get her to slow down for a while now.
�There�s so many wounded and I need to organize their care and who should get what and trying to get more help but a lot of the people who are trained in first aid are also patrollers and I need them on the lookout for any retaliation from the humans. It�s sent me running in twenty different directions, sometimes trying to do it at once.� Minerva complained.
�I could help out if you like. I�m a healer, you know.� Tavia offered tentatively.
�No. You will not be anywhere near the infirmary with all those emotions everywhere. You�ll pass out again and then be of no use to us. No, instead I think that you should really be on your way.� Tavia opened her mouth to speak but Minerva held up a hand to cut her off, �It�s not that I don�t love having you here, because I do. And Arianne knows how much I appreciate everything you�ve done for us. If not for you, we wouldn�t be here. But if you stay here any longer, I fear that your health will decline. I know that you want to help, but please, for your own good, just leave now and get to the temple in one piece.�
�I must admit, my Lady, that I was about to suggest the same thing if you refused my offer to help.� Tavia replied with a smile.
�I should have known. But you won�t be going away empty-handed; I have a gift for you.� Tavia began to shake her head, refusing whatever she was preparing to give her but Minerva insisted, commanding her to hold out her hand. Tavia obeyed but reluctantly. These elves had taken her in and helped her get this far, she was only doing what any decent person would do in her situation. So when she saw the thick silver chain that was dropped into her hand, she was pleased that she had an excuse to refuse what she assumed was another concealing necklace.
�I�m sorry, my Lady, I already have a necklace that will hide me from detection by mages. I don�t need another one. But thank you any �� Tavia began but Minerva interrupted her.
�This is not a necklace for you at all, Tavia. This necklace can be used to take a mage hostage. If you put it on one of them, all you have to do is snap your fingers and they will be wracked with such pain that they will not be able to hurt you. Also, if they stray too far from you, they will get a similar pain. The person themselves cannot take the chain off, only you or another can do that. So you can have a mage following you around throughout your journey.� Minerva looked proud as Tavia held the chain up to inspect it closer.
�But why would I want that?�
�We usually use them for prisoners to keep them where they�re put, but you can use it for a different purpose. If you can manage to surprise a mage, you will be able to capture him. No one will question your presence in a human town if you have a mage with you, especially if that mage is of the Order of the Dove. The other mages will be more careful in pursuing you, too, since they wouldn�t want to harm one of their own.�
�Thank you.� Tavia replied slowly, allowing the chain to puddle into her palm again. Inwardly, she was thinking that she would just avoid any contact with mages and be careful around humans themselves but that she couldn�t possibly put up with a mage following her constantly. Besides, that promise she had made to her mother was nagging at the back of her mind and she wasn�t sure if this fell within those parameters or not. Best not to even risk it.
Minerva seemed to read her mind, �You don�t have to use it if you don�t want to, but I just wanted to give you something to show our appreciation. I know that you are uncomfortable about hurting others so I completely understand, but you never know when you could need something like that. Just promise you�ll keep it.�
That was an easy promise to keep, �Of course. Thank you.� This time the thanks was more heartfelt and was accompanied by a smile.
�Good. Now, I�ll just give you your bag,� Minerva reached to the side of her chair and pulled her plain brown bag onto the bed. It was full to brimming and Tavia couldn�t wait to explore the goodies the elves had put in there. If any of it was Salak�s cooking, then she was going to be very happy indeed. �And we�ll leave so you can change into some clothes more suitable for traveling.� The Lady�s eyes raked up and down Tavia�s exposed torso in amusement, clothed as it was in the flimsy nightgown the elves had given her that clung to her body and left little to the imagination. The Lady smiled laughingly when she self-consciously covered herself with the blanket. �Come, Tansis.� She finished standing and walking out of the room, looking every bit the queen she was.
Once the door was firmly shut behind them, Tavia stepped out of bed, her bare feet coming down on the sun-warmed wood. She immediately checked the side pockets of the pack for her parents� ashes and then, after finding them safely tucked away, she moved to the biggest pouch. Digging through it (and seeing some carefully sealed packets of traveler�s bread tucked among the clothes to her utter delight) she pulled out a black shirt and breeches made of soft silk material that was nevertheless very sturdy. Two holes had been cut into the dark fabric, presumably for her wings to fit through.
On this journey, it was customary for fire-mages to wear nothing but black to symbolize the night sky so the elves had made all her clothes in the appropriate color, just in different styles. Her aunt had once told her that among the humans, black was a color of mourning, but black was a sacred color to the fire-mages and Tavia could hardly believe anyone could use it to mean something as sad as death. For the dragon-mages, red had always been used to symbolize the passing of a loved one, even during her parents� funeral.
Tavia tugged the nightgown off over her head and slipped the shirt and pants on. They were cool and silky against her skin and she wondered briefly how the elves had made such things using only what they got from the forest. She made a mental note to ask them once she was dressed. So she tied the star-studded cloak around her neck and latched the pack closed then walked out of the room with it, shoving the elves� gift into a side pocket.
Tansis and Minerva were waiting for her, �I hope the clothes fit. We took the measurements while you were sleeping and the tailor wasn�t quite sure if he�d gotten them accurate.� The Lady said.
�They fit perfectly, Lady, and thank you. I don�t think I would like the clothes that the humans make if I had to buy them on the way.� Tavia smiled, �These are so much more comfortable. How do you make them without using wool or cotton?�
Minerva winked secretively at Tavia, �Now that is a secret that I cannot tell you. You might steal our ideas.� She replied lightly, but Tavia knew that she meant for her not to press the subject.
So the fire-mage just laughed and agreed and then the trio strode off out into the sunshine outside Tirana�s house. It really was secluded. There were no houses surrounding it and only one narrow bridge leading to it from the east and another leading away to the west. Tavia couldn�t even see any other elves or their houses from where she stood. But as soon as she stepped outside, the buzzing in her head grew louder and more persistent.