“I’ll go first,” she said as if she hadn’t heard him. “You follow five minutes behind.”
“What’s that gonna do?”
Terena tilted her head to him. “It’ll look like I’m leaving because I’m done. And then you leave. Did you forget you ordered food?”
“But we’re sitting together. Who would leave their companion behind? That’s suspicious.”
Terena turned her chin slightly toward him, her lips scrunched up, and glared at him. “We cannot stay here. So when you leave, be as natural as possible so we don’t draw any of their attention. Especiallyhis,” she hissed at him.
Rydon glanced back at the man who was now speaking with his men. They looked to be sitting companionably, their limbs loose, conversing in twos or across. He shrugged. “Hate to break it to you, kid, but you’ve already drawn that man’s attention.”
“Thatman,” Terena said, her voice pitched low, “is Daris Antonius. Commander of the Liodari.”
Rydon’s eyebrows shot up. He was saved by the barmaid placing a steaming bowl in front of Terena. She sat back as the woman then placed a plate of bread.
Terena mumbled her thanks and took the spoon in her left hand. Without looking up, she blew on the stew and said to Rydon, “He’s seen me before. And if he sees me now, he’ll remember me and I’d rather not have to outrun four Liodari and their commander.”
“You’ve met Daris Antonius?” he asked, huffing in disbelief. “Where?”
“What’s it matter?” she ground out and shoved a big spoonful of meat into her mouth.
“Well… I mean, what’s he like? I never thought I’d run across him. Gods, the stories don’t do him justice.”
Terena rolled her eyes. “Stop it. We’re fucked.”
“Oh shit,” Rydon said.
“Hmm?” Terena looked up at him while she chewed.
“Absolutely, do not—do not!—turn to look,” he said and then kicked her under the table as she went to do just that. “Don’t!He’s heading right for us.”
Terena froze, then said quickly, “I don’t think I can take him, but I might be able to take two of his men before?—”
“Terena Luca,” the man’s—Daris's—deep voice said. Not a question, either.
Rydon looked up in feigned surprise.
A second passed and Rydon shot Terena a look.
Terena had no choice but to look at the commander now, her expression such a believable mask of polite surprise, Rydon choked on his ale.
“Commander,” she said after a long pause.
The commander smiled. It was polite but genuine. Rydon looked back at Terena and blinked to see the flush in her cheeks.
“It’s a pleasant surprise to see you again. I wanted to stop and say hello,” Daris Antonius said, his eyes never leaving Terena.
“Very kind,” Terena said, her smile not reaching her eyes, but Rydon watched her as he folded his arms at his chest. She wasn’t entirely unaffected.
Daris Antonius inclined his head, then turned to Rydon.
“Oh!” Terena said after an awkward silence, and waved a hand at Rydon. “This is my Rydon—myworker! That is to say, he works with me. In tracking.” She cleared her throat and gestured again at him. “It’s Rydon.”
Rydon could not believe what he was seeing. “I’m Rydon of Decu,” he said and stood, thrusting out his arm to the man. Only a moment’s hesitation before the commander clasped it.
“Decu,” the commander said, his light blue eyes assessing. “You’re far from home.”
“Aye,” Rydon said with a grin. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been there. I make my living in Heylisia. With Terena.”
