Untalented Read Online Free PDF

force you to.”
    Nalini bit her lip in the dim corridor. “If the doyenne catches us …”
    “I’ll say I dragged you after me.” Saroya arrived at the stairs. “So. Are you coming?”
    Nalini hesitated but followed Saroya down the stairs. They exited the dormitory building and crossed the courtyard to a smaller building that housed infrequently used guest quarters. Despite the late hour, lantern light still flickered in several windows. Saroya hoped her quarry was in one of those rooms. She eased open the outer door, and entered the building. A long corridor with a series of identical doors lay before her. Suddenly her plan seemed half-baked, even to her. How would she find him without waking everyone up?
    “Can I help you?” The deep voice sounded right in Saroya’s ear. She stifled a startled squeak, and turned to find one of the guardsmen studying her. He did not look amused to find two girls traipsing about.
    Saroya shored up her courage. “We’re looking for your leader.”
    “Captain Callor? At this hour? What could you possibly—”
    Saroya interrupted him before her nerve failed and she turned tail and ran. “My friend here has a question about the journey to the city.” Nalini’s eyes bugged out.
    “It can’t wait until morning?”
    “No. She needs to send word to her parents before she leaves and won’t have time to write in the morning.”
    It felt like such a slim excuse, but Saroya gave him her best pleading look. Beside her, Nalini fidgeted.
    The guard sighed. “Fine. Follow me.” He led them to the door at the end of the hall, and knocked. “Captain? You have visitors.”
    The door opened. The tall man who stood in the doorframe took them in with single assessing glance that lingered on Saroya before he turned to her roommate. “Nalini Ferlen, if I remember correctly?” His voice was soft but authoritative.
    “Yes, that’s me.”
    “I am Eiden Callor. What can I help you with?” The other guardsman moved back to his post by the entrance. Callor continued. “It’s late and we start a long ride tomorrow.”
    Nalini nodded, with little enthusiasm. Saroya knew Nalini was not the most accomplished rider. “Umm … Well, my friend …” Nalini looked like she wanted to sink into the stone floor.
    Saroya risked a timid “Sir?”
    Callor turned. “And who are you?”
    Saroya swallowed. What must he think of her flight from the dining hall? She looked down at her feet. “Saroya Bardan,” she muttered.
    “Speak up, girl.”
    She looked up, met his eyes—gray, like flint.
    “You have something to say? I have little time to waste.”
    “I would like to go with you to U’Veyle.”
    Nalini gaped at her.
    “You are the same age as your friend?”
    “Yes.”
    “And you will be leaving the Adepts this coming spring?” Saroya nodded. “Then why are you not already on Doyenne Ganarra’s list of students making the journey?”
    Saroya flushed and looked down again. Why must he make her say it? She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.
    “I’m Untalented.” She felt queasy, as she saw all the days ahead of her when she would have to repeat those words to men such as him. All the doors closing.
    “I see.”
    Do you really? He watched her still, and though she most wanted to disappear, she held his gaze. “The doyenne does not believe I will benefit from any higher learning in the capital,” she admitted. “I’ll work for my keep if I have to—cook, take care of the horses, anything. Please … I need to go with you.”
    His eyes narrowed, and she thought he would speak again. Instead, he shook his head slightly. “In the courtyard at dawn,” he said to Nalini. Then he shut the door in their faces.
    Saroya stared at the wood in front of her. She couldn’t look at Nalini. She turned and headed back to the dormitory, felt moisture on her cheeks. Nalini put her arm around Saroya’s shoulders.
    Saroya’s voice quavered. “I guess that’s that, then.”

The gray