No Quarter by Tanya Huff

new people lost in her need to find out just what he meant. He didn't seem to be mocking her. "I'm not afraid."
    "I beg your pardon." Four years learning to be a father to Olexa as much as many more years of bardic training made the apology believable. If the captain, by her own admittance, had not been welcoming, it was time to remedy that. "The bards and the healers are both very glad that you're here, Vree. You and Gyhard. By allowing us to study your unique kigh, you're doing us a tremendous favor and we'll do everything we can to take care of your problem in return."
    "Uh…" To her horror, she started to shake and could feel tears burning behind her lids. *Gyhard, why is he being so nice to me? I haven't done anything for him.*
    *You're doing him a favor—he said so himself— besides, he's a bard. They're supposed to be nice.* Gyhard struggled to keep his own emotions under control lest his anger push Vree over the edge. The mere fact that she couldn't deal with someone being unexpectedly nice to her told him more than he wanted to know about her life before he became a part of it. He wanted to grab Kovar by the shirt and shake him until he was sure the bard understood. Do you see what they've done to her ?
    Behind his gentle smile, Kovar gritted his teeth, certain he saw another intelligence flash for a heartbeat in Vree's eyes; pure animal rage one moment, gone the next. Gyhard. All at once, he thought he understood what Vree was afraid of. She's carrying a high that's been over a hundred years outside the Circle .
    Before he could say anything—before he had any idea of what to say that wouldn't make her situation even worse—the sound of a gong struck twice filled the building.
    "Dinner gong," he explained, amazed at how still Vree had gone. "I'd be pleased to have your company this evening."
    Heart pounding, Vree struggled through her confusion and finally nodded.
    Anything would be better than facing a roomful of strangers alone.
    *Not quite alone.*
    *No,* she allowed. *Not quite.*
    "So what will it be? Do we arrive late to get the reactions over all at once, or do we arrive early so that you only have to go through it one bard at a time?"
    "Reactions?"

    "To the pair of kigh." Kovar spread his hands and smiled encouragingly. "I'm afraid there's no way around it, you're going to be the center of attention for a while. Unless you'd rather I had something sent up? You could eat in your room."
    "No." Her chin rose. "I don't hide from confrontation."
    "Well, with any luck, it won't go any further than acknowledgment."
    Considering that Vree's reaction to confrontation usually involved knives, Gyhard sincerely hoped the bard was right.
    Three or four heads turned when Vree and Kovar entered the dining hall, reactions turned three or four more and, in a moment, every one of the dozen bards in the room stared openmouthed in their direction.
    During the heartbeat of absolute silence, before the babble could begin, Kovar took a step forward. Using enough Voice to hold their attention, he said, "This is Vree, a citizen of the Havakeen Empire who has graciously consented to assist us in our studies of the fifth kigh. Yes, she is carrying two kigh and if you must know the whole story, Karlene has sent us a copy of her recall which will be in the library by tomorrow morning. If you have any questions, bring them to either the captain or myself. Do not pester Vree with them. Is that clear?"
    Heads nodded.
    "That said, I expect you to make her feel welcome. She speaks Shkoden fluently…"
    *He has a loose definition of fluently,* Gyhard observed.
    "… but it wouldn't hurt for some of you to use this opportunity to practice Imperial." His voice lost its overtone of command and picked up a distinct note of amusement as he added, "That's all; enjoy your meal."
    Her expression carefully neutral, Vree followed Kovar across the dining hall, skin crawling under the heated focus of a dozen intensely curious pairs of eyes.
    Assassins