“Fried him?” Elli’s eyes widened. “You mean he’s a flamer?” She’d never been privileged to work with a flaming zorel before and she wondered uneasily if she would have the same connection with such an animal as she had with the steamers.
“Purebred.” The Crown Prince nodded and gave her a cruel little smile. “I hope you foreigners are more fireproof than we Tenebrians are, my dear. Otherwise tomorrow is apt to get a bit toasty for you and you’ll not get the right to earn a bit of our Lattice after all.”
Before Elli could answer him, he waved a hand at the Duke.
“Enough—take them away.”
Then the Duke was herding Elli and Roke away from the ThRoke Room, leaving Elli to wonder if she had just made a bargain to meet her own death.
Seventeen
“I don’t like it!” Roke was pacing up and down the carpeted expanse of their assigned bedchamber, which was located at the end of a very short hallway. There was only one other room in the “guest wing” of the palace—apparently the Tenebrians didn’t have very many visitors.
The room was luxurious enough, with thick purple carpet and gold and purple drapes over the floor-to ceiling windows. But the sleeping arrangements were rather odd, Elli thought. The bed was located in a little cubbyhole in the side of the wall and the middle of the large room, which would normally be where a bed would stand, was covered in an assortment of large, furry pillows in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
“I don’t like it,” Roke said again, kicking a lime green pillow out of the way as he paced.
“Don’t like what?” Elli frowned at him.
“What do you think?” he demanded. “I don’t like the idea of you dealing with a beast that has already killed three grooms! That’s what I don’t like!”
“I’m sure Demon is just a zorel like any other,” Elli said, hoping she was right. “They probably just don’t know how to treat him—that’s all.”
“It’s one thing for an animal to be dangerous and difficult to handle—it’s another thing entirely for it to be deadly,” Roke growled. “I think we ought to give this up and get out of here while we still can, Ellilah. I didn’t bring you in here to get burned or trampled to death!”
“This is the only way I can earn a piece of the Healing Lattice!” Elli exclaimed, glaring at him. “And there is no way I’m going until I get it!” She put her hands on her hips and walked over to him. Looking up into his face, she declared, “Listen to me, Roke. I will do anything I have to in order to save the life of the Priestess Superior—anything! That is my vow and I’m not breaking it.”
As she spoke the vow, a sudden ripple of energy seemed to leave her body and flow outward. Elli gasped—it was like a current of electricity had washed over her skin, making every hair stand on end with its power.
Clearly, Roke had felt the wave of energy as well, because he looked shaken.
“That was a strong vow you made, little priestess,” he murmured. “I believe the Goddess herself has witnessed it.”
“Well…good,” Elli said somewhat breathlessly. “Because I mean it! I—”
Just at that moment there was a knock at the bedchamber door. Roke gave her a last searching look and then strode over to open it, admitting a Tenebrian girl with an armful of fabric.
“Pardon me, my Lord,” she said to Roke. “But I was sent by the Duke to outfit your Lady for Supper tonight.”
“Outfit me?” Elli said uncertainly, coming forward. “But I already have a dress.” She nodded down at the crimson gown she was wearing.
“Oh yes—and a lovely dress it is for a Formal event in the ThRoke Room.” The girl bobbed her head eagerly. “But I’m afraid it won’t do at all for Supper. And what about the Bathing Days? You must have something to wear for them as well.”
“Bathing Days?” Elli asked, frowning. She had noticed that the opulent bedchamber didn’t have any bathing facilities, but had assumed that there must be someplace to shower or have a bath close by.
“Yes indeed, my Lady—when the Court all bathes together,” the girl said. “In the Underground Grottos, don’t you know? You’ll need an outfit for that as well, since the Duke says you’ll be staying in the palace with us for some time.”
“Oh, er, all right,” Elli said reluctantly. She didn’t like the idea of taking a bath with the entire Tenebrian Court at all—but at least she would have on a bathing costume while she did it.
“Here we are then.” The Tenebrian seamstress found a rectangular pink pillow which seemed to be much firmer than the rest. She beckoned for Elli to come step up on it so she could take some measurements.