A Legacy of Dragons(9)

Adrina frowned, looked up from where was kneeling. "Nothing, I cut myself on the glass. That's all."

Xith glanced down at her hand and the blood dripping from her fingers onto the floor. "That won't do. Won't do at all."

He waved a hand in the air, spoke words she couldn't quite hear and then touched his hand to hers. A moment later when he pulled his hand away, the cuts were gone and the blood had dried.

Adrina smiled. Other than the battle the night before, it'd been some time since she'd seen him work magic openly. "It would've healed."

Xith turned his attention to the mirror. He said a few words, held out a hand with fingers outstretched. The broken pieces of the mirror rose off the floor and began reassembling themselves. It took but a moment and then the mirror was whole once more.

Finished, Xith studied her face. "Now don't tell me that would have mended itself too."

Adrina wrapped her arms around him, kissed his cheek. "Thank you. Oh, thank you. It was my mother's and I've so little left to remember her by as it is."

Xith stepped back. "Well at least I was right about the rest. You look renewed today."

She gripped the mirror in her hands. Looking at her reflection, she realized she did look renewed, even if that was thanks to the potions and lotions. "I feel renewed."

"Good, good," he said, retreating from her room and moving to check the food and the fire. "I've hastened the cook time on this. Nearly done. Would you mind setting the table?"

She put the looking glass on the bedside table and stepped into the living area. "But so much magic today?"

He turned the hoar hound shank on the spit over the fire. "Considering the magic unleashed yesterday, I think it's safe to say every hunter and foul creature across this endless ice is headed for the canyons."

"But Vilmos and Ærühn?"

He poked the tubors with a stick, from his pleased expression she guessed that they were done or nearly so. "If those two did as told, they should arrive soon. May even be in time to join our meal."

She took four plates and four cups from a cupboard and carried them to the table. "And if they didn't?"

"They were close to the door, an hour's ride at most. They'll be fine. Don't worry."

The water bucket was still in her room, so she retrieved it and then filled the cups. "Ansh and Delinna--"

"--are capable of taking care of themselves."

Adrina took the long orange tubors and thick dark roots from the embers, taking care not to burn her fingers. Afterward, Xith carved slices off the shank and put them on a plate.

As the two sat down and began eating, she looked to the door expectantly. "Must be a little late."

He reached out, touched her hand. "A little late. Nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about," she repeated to herself. To him, she said, "Look at me, a princess of the realm and I've no table manners whatsoever."

He shook his head. "You've set a fine table and the need for formalness between us is long since past."

"It is, isn't it?" she said, her voice reflecting some of the Watcher's emotion.

The two ate in silence for a time. Finally, he said, "I saw Graeden. He asked about you."

Her eyes lit up, but she made no reply.

He continued, "He's rather fond of you."

She drank deeply, emptying her cup. "I feel so useless just sitting here. When we should be out helping those we can."

He took another portion of meat and a few slices of dark root. "Sometimes, Adrina, you need to live a little."

She pushed food around on her plate for a time, and then put the plate aside. "So full," she said, though in reality she had eaten little.

Before she could get up from the table, he stopped her. "No, really. I mean it, Adrina. Sometimes you need to live, to breathe. What good will it do anyone if we become so exhausted that we can't carry on? You needed a rest today. We've been pushing too hard, too long. It's a wonder we're both not ill."

She feigned a smile and hoped her eyes did not give away her distress. "A short rest is just what I needed, but surely there's time yet for a few runs today."

"You're not listening. Today's your day. I know you need this because I know I need this. So why not live a little?"

"Noman was your friend and mentor through dark times. He was my friend too. It's fitting that we take time to mourn him."

"This isn't about mourning Noman. He wouldn't have wanted that. He was an immortal and knew what he was doing when he set his will against the sickness. He saved a countless many, whole villages, but the task was simply too great. He extinguished his magic trying to save the peoples of the Ice from the darkness and with his magic gone he himself was lost."