“Let go of me, you lecher.”
He patted her back, then released her from his embrace. “Just trying to keep you warm.”
Her teeth were chattering. That might have come from fear, which he doubted, or the bitter cold, which seemed more likely. He rubbed her arms briskly, wishing he’d had the luxury of conjuring up a hot fire by which they could take their ease. Unfortunately, things were as they were and he had made do with much less in the past. He imagined Léirsinn had as well.
“Where to now?” she whispered. “I’m assuming we’re not going back to our chamber.”
“I’m actually planning a quick visit to my tailor, if you don’t mind.”
She looked at him as if she couldn’t decide between complimenting him or stabbing him. He wasn’t unaccustomed to that sort of look, though, so he carried on with getting them out of the garden by way of a gate disguising itself as part of a shrubbery. He pulled it shut behind them, then looked at her.
“Stay right with me,” he advised.
“And miss out on more of this glorious adventure if I don’t?” she said, looking as if she might rather be doing exactly that. “You must be mad.”
He smiled briefly, because she was spectacular and full of good cheer even under adverse conditions. She was also shivering so badly, he was half tempted to strip off his cloak and put it on her. Because he knew that would leave any stray females walking the streets so late swooning at the sight, he decided they would simply have to resort to a hasty trot along back alleyways. He took Léirsinn’s icy hand in his and concentrated on not getting them captured.
Running was, he supposed after a half-hours’ worth of the same through places he might have hesitated to go alone but necessity left him with no choice but to pass through with an innocent horse miss in tow, at least a decent way to warm up. Hefound an empty doorway and pulled Léirsinn into it. He wrapped his arms around her—an altruistic and definitely not self-serving gesture—and waited until a burly night watchman had passed them by before he allowed himself to breathe easily.
“Was that a palace guard?” she whispered.
He shook his head. “Just a regular lad making the rounds of his neighborhood, doubtless keeping his eyes peeled for black mages and their fire-breathing companions.”
She might have huffed a bit of a laugh or she might have simply been wheezing from the cold. The weather was typical for that time of year and location but not terribly pleasant when one was enjoying it not from a choice spot in front of a roaring fire.
“Why did they send guards after us—after you, rather—or do I need to ask?”
He shifted so he could keep his eyes peeled for miscreants while still keeping Léirsinn shielded from as much of the icy breath of wind as possible.
“’Tis possible that my activities earlier this evening included liberating a collection of kingly scribblings and stuffing them into the waistband of my trousers,” he whispered. “I refuse to admit to anything else which may or may not have happened as an intended insult to someone I might or might not have, as my mother is wont to say, done dirty in the past.”
She sighed deeply. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Your confidence in my ability to stir up trouble is gratifying,” he said. “There is more to the tale, of course, but I’m not sure now is the proper place to relate the particulars. Let’s just say that Simeon and I made a bargain last year and there were a few loose ends remaining.”
“And those loose ends were to be found in his solar?”
“One of them, aye.” He patted her back. “I’m as surprised asyou are to find he doesn’t hide his treasures in a more secure location, but not my worry.”
She snorted. “I would think he would be coming after you then, not Mansourah.”
Acair shrugged lightly. “’Tis possible I left Simeon a note telling him that his spells needed more protection than a lock that even Mansourah of Neroche could pick.”
“You didn’t,” she breathed.
“I hadn’t intended that he find it right off, which is why I placed it inside the book that I substituted for the one I now have.”
“Did you lock the case back up?”
He patted her. “Of course, and your appreciation for my altruism does you credit. I will admit that Simeon is no fool,” he continued. “He likely put the proverbial two and two together and realized that perhaps Mansourah might be keeping company with those far above his station in a magical sense. I had hoped it would take him longer to come to that conclusion, but there you have it. Mansourah has the chance to act indignant and you and I have the glorious opportunity to make a run for it.” He smiled. “I promised you danger and peril, didn’t I?”
“I should have taken you more at your word.” She looked at him seriously. “Someday you’re going to poke at the wrong hornet’s nest.”
He didn’t want to mention that he suspected he already had, mostly because she knew he already had. He hadn’t been entirely forthcoming about his desire to see what a visit to Diarmailt stirred up, but he supposed she knew that already as well.
There were strange things afoot in his life.
He stood with her until the street was as free of guards as itwas going to be, then nodded up the way. “Let’s slither through the shadows as best we can.”
