Nathaniel’s mouth dropped open. “You cheeky shit! ’Twas reward for my service to Solon I owe this living. Ain’t nothing to do with your scrawny arse.”
“And yet who whispered in Solon’s ear you deserved the living?”
“Again, naught to do with you,” Nathaniel snorted. “And if she were here with you, I’d thank her as I always do.”
“But she’s not here, so might I suggest you thank her through me?”
“You are a snot, aren’t you?”
“We all serve a purpose.”
“And where’s your better half?”
“Off to Metilai.”
Nathaniel nodded, then ducked beneath the bar to bring up two tankards. He filled each and passed them down to the men waiting on Croak’s right side. He turned back to Croak with a lift of his eyebrow. “And she left you here? You two have a falling out?”
“Hardly,” Croak said and leaned his arms on the bar. “I’m on an important mission.”
“Huh.”
“Reconnaissance.”
Nathaniel resumed wiping down the counter, jabbing his hand against Croak’s elbows, compelling him to step back.
“Important stuff, really,” Croak said. “Which is why I’ve come to you, my good friend.”
“What’s she need?”
Croak waited until Nathaniel put the rag away and turned to filling more drinks. “You see any men ‘round lately, heading north?”
Nathaniel snorted and shot him a glance. “Every man in here is heading north.”
Croak pursed his lips and glanced around. “Right,” he said, his voice low.
After several seconds watching Nathaniel go about his work, he rapped on the bar. “Any asking around about Terena? Was told acouple mercs were waiting on some gear from Benson and looking for her.”
Nathaniel was scrubbing a tankard with a different, equally filthy rag. He paused, considering. “Maybe.”
“Ah!” Croak motioned with his hand for Nathaniel to continue. The big man sighed and put one hand to his hip, the other holding the tankard at his side. “Had a man earlier ask after your sister and mentioned looking for trackers. Not sure if he’s still around.”
“Earlier… today?”
Nathaniel shrugged, wiping the tankard again. “Aye. Morning. One of the first in here. Sat at that back table. Strange, it was. When the soldiers came in midday looking for some poor unfortunate, that man never once moved, though the rest of my patrons cleared out right quick. Saw them have words with him but left empty-handed.”
“He was alone?”
“Aye. Joined a bit ago by another big brute.”
Croak followed Nathaniel’s gaze but a sea of bodies stood between him and where Nathaniel’s chin had pointed.
“Back there?” he asked.
“Wasn’t keeping track of them, mind,” Nathaniel grumbled. “But aye, they were back there and for a while, too. Lost sight of them when the dinner rush came in. I ain’t seen them in a good hour. Might ask Moira. She’s been here all day.”
Croak turned to see the slight barmaid as she weaved her way through the crush of bodies, hands filled with empty tankards, stopping here and there as voices called out with more orders. He watched as she nodded absently, then slowly made her way back to the bar.
Croak made room for her as she dropped off six empty tankards and sagged against the bar with a tremendous sigh.
