“It is a gift I am cursed with,” Croak said with a sigh. “MaybeI’ma god.” He dipped a washcloth into the cool water and wrung it out, then placed it on Orry’s head. “Do not be fooled by the long, gangly body and lack of muscles, good sir. I am a madman in the bedroom. And the ladies know it,” he said, turning to Sonah with a wink.
Sonah choked, and Gabriol grinned across at Rydon.
Croak looked up when Terena pushed away from the doorframe. She was still weak herself; the bruises on her face still visible, but she stood as straight as ever.
“I am to bed as well,” she said. “Come, Sonah. You must be exhausted, too.” The young woman sighed and mumbled her agreement as she slumped out of the room. Terena nodded at the men and left without waiting to hear their responses. Croak looked over at Rydon.
“Come!” Croak said with forced joviality and stood. “Let’s leave the weakling to his rest and we will find food, ale, and women. Not necessarily in that order, eh, Gabriol?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Rydon looked out over the small town as he sat crouched on the thatched rooftop of the stables. It was the quietest part of the night, and the darkest. The torches along the pathways were dim and cast so little a glow, they almost made it harder to see.
A bird call made him glance across. He spotted Gabriol on the ground near the gates to the village. He used the bird call to signal back and saw Gabriol’s shadow move away and melt into the night.
They had been in Nosam two days already, and the cleric was no better. He had argued with Terena earlier about leaving him there. No surprise she had refused to listen, and had walked away childishly. He was not used to having his word challenged. He’d been told this was a simple assignment. Find and escort.
Now they were stalled in a country of their enemies, being hunted like game.
And if what the cleric had told him that first day was to be believed, they needed to get to the north and behind the protection of the king as quickly as possible.
The bird call sounded once more, except this time Gabriol added two short whistles. Their signal for danger.
Rydon crouched as he padded across the rooftop. Dropping to theground, he scurried to a doorway opposite. He saw nothing and heard nothing, so he slid out, hugging the wall of the building at his back, remaining low when he came to the street.
He heard it then.
To his right, the bushes rustled and he strained his eyes to see three or four shadowy forms glide through the streets, weaving past a row of buildings in front of him where Rydon lost sight of them. Blood pounded in his ears as he moved after them, staying far enough back he went unnoticed.
When they entered the inn, his blood dropped to his feet.
He broke into a run, using the bird call. He unsheathed his sword, hearing the shouts and screams as he entered the doorway. Rydon flew up the stairs, taking the first man out with a slash to his knees, stabbing him through the chest as he fell backwards.
Another soldier on the landing turned and rushed him with his sword raised high. Rydon dropped to his knee and stabbed up with his sword, catching the man in the gut.
Rydon looked up into the hallway to see Gabriol fighting another soldier. He heard two others inside the room where they’d put the cleric. He shoved the dead man off his blade and staggered to his feet.
As soon as he reached the doorway, a piercing cry cut through his head, and he lurched back against the wall. Rydon slid to the ground. The shrieking noise in his head nearly deafened him and he brought his hands up to his ears. He looked to his right and saw Gabriol huddled on the ground. Rydon saw his lips open and move, but he couldn’t hear what he was saying.
Like a man under water, Rydon turned his head back toward the cleric’s room. He lifted his body like a man much older than Rydon’s years. He ached everywhere.
Rydon made it to his knees. Crawling to the doorway, he stopped and leaned against the doorframe. The cleric was on the bed, hands to his ears and gasping. Terena stood at the end of the bed, looking down at something. Rydon leaned in, trying to get a better view. Someone lay dead at Terena’s feet.
Something shook him. Rydon looked over his shoulder and saw ahand. Looking up, he saw Terena silently screaming at him. She grabbed his shoulders and screamed. Spittle landed on his nose.
“—thing?”
He swallowed. In a whoosh, sound returned. His ears popped, and Rydon’s eyes went wild as they took in his surroundings.
“—r anything? Rydon!”
He turned toward the sound, toward Terena. She shook him again. He focused on her mouth.
“Can you hear me? Can you hear anything?”
“I can hear you,” he whispered.
She sighed and hung her head for a second. “Get up when you’re ready. I’m going to get Croak. Where’s your man?”
