"Delian." A gentle hand shook Delian awake. He rolled over with a groan, raising a hand to scrub at his face.
Callen sat next to him, fully dressed and looking nothing like he'd just been in a fight.
"How long have I been asleep?" His bones creaked as he sat up. He stretched, muscles aching despite their lack of use.
"All night. There's breakfast downstairs if you'd like some."
Delian's stomach answered for him, growling loudly. Callen smiled and stood, watching Delian rise from the bed. A strong hand on his arm steadied him when he stumbled and he nodded his thanks. Yawning, he propped himself up on the small table by the bed before waving Callen on.
"I'll be down in a minute."
"Are you sure you're alright?" The genuine concern in Callen's voice made Delian smile.
"I'm just tired."
Callen left with a nod. Delian splashed cold water over his face, wiping off the moisture with a cloth set on the table. Not bothering to change clothes, Delian shut the door behind him as he stumbled towards the common room for breakfast. Two large tables had been pushed together to make room for Lord Ketter's party. The nobles looked up with mixed expressions as Delian entered the room. The only other patrons were too harmless looking merchants, sitting on opposite sides of the common room.
Delian took the only open seat next to Callen who greeted him with a smile.
"Thanks for last night," Kendrick commented quietly.
Delian nodded as he grabbed a roll and a thin slice of ham. He kept his eyes down, not inviting conversation.
"Water or wine?" Callen asked.
"Water."
"Feeling better?" Lord Ketter asked from the head of the table to Delian's left.
"Somewhat," Delian answered curtly, taking a bite of the roll. The food tasted stale but his stomach welcomed it. He couldn't remember the last time he'd called on so much of Adena's power in one night and he was feeling somewhat drained because of it.
"That was some rather impressive magic you used last night," Blair commented quietly from the opposite side of the table.
Delian set his cup down with more force than he intended, glaring at the redhead. "There is no magic," he bit out.
"Our eyes disagree," Faolan answered.
Suddenly Delian's hunger seemed to die away. Wiping his hands he stared Allesan in the eyes. "If any priest in the church were to have power, the Arch-Bishop Tremare would be the first to hold it," he said by way of warning.
"But you do." Allesan remarked softly.
"And not even Adena's grace could save me if he found out." Delian remarked with a frown. He started to rise but Callen caught him by the arm, staring up with apologetic eyes.
"Stay."
Delian glanced around at the faces of the nobles before dropping back into his seat with a sigh. He picked at the meat on his plate, eating more out of something to do than any real hunger.
"Arch-Bishop Tremare doesn't like you, I take it?" Faolan asked.
Delian snorted, biting hard into his roll. "Only slightly more than a beggar on the street."
"Why's that?" Lord Ketter regarded him with open curiosity.
"Because I have a brain." Delian tapped the side of his head. He gestured around the room with his fork. "What happened to the rest of the men last night?"
"They were taken care of," Blair answered with a dark smile.
Delian nodded, finishing off his roll without a comment.
Lord Rory of Clay raised an eyebrow. "For a priest, you're awfully casual about murder."
"She's not very forgiving." Delian gestured towards the ceiling absently with his fork.
The noblemen turned towards Delian with puzzled looks. "She?" Faolan frowned.
"Adena."
Blair snorted, shooting Delian a disgusted look. "God's male."
A smug grin spread across Delian's face as he turned towards the redhead. "Why do you think she likes me better?"
Silence reigned across the table for several moments. Lord Ketter broke the silence, chuckling softly, his laughter rising in volume. A few of the other nobles joined in after a second. Callen clapped him on the back with a wide grin.
Delian's smile faded as he turned to more serious matters. "Well, you know my deadly secret. Care to tell me where we're headed or who is after you?"
Allesan's face smoothed. He stared at Delian for a long moment before nodding. "As soon as we're on the road," he promised. With a gesture from the lord, the nobles started to rise from the table.
...To Be Continued