After Melanos and the others dispatched the rest of Duke Ovenno’s men, Bethana had helped Sonah to her feet, although she recalled little after the nymph dragged her away from the duke’s body. Sonah didn’t know how long they’d ridden before she’d vomited on her cloak and tunic, her body shaking and her hands unable to hold the reins.
It wasn’t until much later at the inn while she was in the bath with Bethana stroking a washcloth across her back that she broke down and cried.
The air outside the tavern felt wonderful after the stifling heat within. Sighing, Sonah went to the railing, placing herhands on the worn wood and tilted her head up. Closing her eyes, she savored the bite of the winter air.
The building had been built at the edge of a cliff with the back of the tavern overlooking the valley below. She imagined the view during the day must be magnificent. The night, however, cloaked everything in black with only the stars and the full moon breaking up the void.
After several deep breaths, she opened her eyes and stared at the star-studded sky, idly picking out constellations, her mind blessedly blank despite the day’s events.
The smell of smoke reached her, the aroma of bossena leaves tantalizing, and she turned, scanning her surroundings. Stiffening when she spied the dark figure of someone over her right shoulder, Sonah turned back as if she cared not a wit she was not alone. Whoever it was also decided not to break the silence.
Long moments stretched before Sonah turned back to the shadowed figure.
“May I have one?” she asked, motioning with her hand.
The figure did not respond.
Frowning, Sonah asked again, this time in Greek, her words stilted. She knew the language—albeit poorly, and only so much as to appease her matron. Lady Maranou loved to wax on about how a lady should know all the languages of the continent, even though Sonah reminded the woman the lessons were useless for someone who never ventured outside of Metilai.
The stranger remained silent.
“I can pay you,” Sonah said, reverting back to the common tongue. Fumbling through her pockets until she found some coins, Sonah held them out to the person hidden in the shadows.
When that failed to get a response as well, she sighed and stuffed the coins back in her pocket as she turned away.
Not very friendly in these parts, she decided as she closed her eyes.
Rustling behind her made Sonah snap her eyes open. She turned to see the figure lean forward before a long, lean arm reached out through the folds of a cloak, slender fingers holding a cheroot. Sonah’s eyes widened, and she lifted her gaze from the smoke to the man whose dark gaze was steadily watching her.
A moment passed before Sonah reached out, her fingers brushing his as she took the offering and nodded in thanks.
The man stood and took a step forward. Sonah tensed. A scratch sounded, and the smell of sulfur hit her nostrils as he held out a small flame, the fire highlighting his sharp features. Dropping her gaze, Sonah leaned forward, unsure of how to light the cheroot as she’d never had one before.
“Put it between your lips and breathe in as I light it,” his rough voice commanded softly, the sound like the soft scrape of fingernails across her nape.
Sonah shivered, her hand shaking slightly as she lifted the cheroot to her lips. He brought the firelight closer, and she closed her eyes as she breathed the smoke deep into her lungs.
The man stepped back into the shadows. A second later, Sonah coughed, her throat spasming against the harsh smoke, tightening and making her eyes water. She coughed more, heat rising to her cheeks at the man’s soft chuckle.
A long time passed before Sonah’s breathing returned to normal, and she calmed enough to take a long, steadying breath as she wiped at the tears trailing down her face.
“First time?”
Sonah flicked a glance at him before dropping her gaze to the cheroot.
“Aye.”
Silence stretched, filling the space between them and Sonah was about to turn away when he spoke again.
“Are you all right?”
Heat rose once more beneath her skin at the sound of his velvety voice. Nodding, she whispered, “Aye.”
Turning back to the railing, Sonah looked out over the valley, hidden beneath night’s embrace. The quiet settled around them, the occasional chirp of an adderton bird in the distance the only interruption.
After a while, Sonah sighed and hung her head. In a low voice she said, “I killed someone today.”
He did not respond, and she wondered if she’d even spoken her thoughts aloud. Glancing over her shoulder, she caught his regard as he brought his cheroot to his lips and the small ember at the tip dispelled the shadows over his glittering eyes.
