Free The Sorcerer's Concubine (The Telepath and the Sorcerer Book 1) by Jaclyn Dolamore Page B

covers. She didn’t want him to think she’d been sleeping.
    “I apologize,” he said. “I had to explain to my father that you are more of a real girl than he anticipated.”
    Her nerves clenched. His father had truly been the one to suggest purchasing her. He must have certain expectations for her.
    “I suppose it went as well as could be expected,” Grau continued. “I told them I want you to be treated like any other guest. Let me find you something dry to wear for dinner.”
    He brought her a long tunic that belonged to his mother. She was swimming in it, but at least the cut was meant to be loose. She folded some of the excess fabric under the sash to keep the hem off the floor.
    Grau had also changed, into a calf-length tunic of dark blue, with the skirts slit into four panels beneath the black sash belt. She had always found this to be a rather dashing style. Once, she had seen sword dancers on the street wearing them, the four panels twirling as they moved through the forms.
    A few candles lit the long table, with a spread of rice with smoked fish, stewed vegetables and dark green salad. Now another young man was here, bearing a strong resemblance to Grau—one of the brothers, obviously. A young woman was rushing to the table as well. She was nearly as tall as Grau, and wore a shirt and trousers, which didn’t quite seem to meet with parental approval judging by the frowns of Grau’s father and mother. Her hair was in a coiled braid like a crown around her head, but strands had broken free. 
    “You’re late,” the brother said. “So time consuming to put on clean trousers for dinner.”
    “Oh, hush.” She plopped into a chair and reached for the wine.
    “Velsa, this is my little sister Preya,” Grau said. “And my older brother Agrin. He’s the only one still at home, but not for long.”
    “You got the latest circulations in town, didn’t you, Grau?” asked Grau’s father.
    “Yes—they’re still in my bag. Should I fetch them?”
    “Velsa could get them,” Grau’s father said.
    “No, I want her to just relax,” Grau said. “And I’m the one who knows where I put them.”
    “I spent two hundred and twenty ilan on her, so I hope you’re planning on having her do something!”
    “I’ll be right back,” Grau said irritably. He rushed up the stairs.
    His mother gave Velsa a gentle look and then said, “Garen, I know the whole thing was your idea, but I think you’d better stay out of it.”
    “It’s a lot of money,” he muttered, spooning sauce onto his rice. He glanced at Velsa when he put the bowl of vegetables aside, and then craned his neck closer. “What’s around your neck? That isn’t a golden band, is it?”
    The rest of Grau’s family also looked at her now.
    She drew her hands into her lap. This was the first time in days her clothing had even put the band on display. “It is, sir, but—I don’t have any telepathy. I’ve always had this and it blocks my abilities.” Of course, if she really had calmed Fern, this was no longer entirely true.
    “What in the seven curses… Grau !”
    Grau came back with an arm full of bound pamphlets. This had been one of his last stops in town.
    “She’s telepathic?” his father cried.
    “No. I mean, not really, it’s under control. She has a golden band.”
    “But of all the concubines to choose…”
    Agrin seemed amused. He said, “Pa, she has a golden band and papers. What else is Grau supposed to say? Maybe she was the best looking girl they had.”
    “Don’t they all look the same?” Grau’s father said. “I worry that the time may come when Grau could get in trouble just for having a telepath with him, bands and papers aside. If we go to war, and everyone’s on edge…”
    “She isn’t a Miralem,” Grau said. “She’s a Fanarlem. She might become valuable . And the Halnari are Miralem too, but they’re our allies. No one seems to mind that they have telepathy.”
    “I think Grau’s right,” his