I glance again to the burnt down homes and shops of this quaint village. My head spins, and I wish I’d stayed on my horse so I’d at least have something to hold onto. “But the people that didn’t make it out?—”
“Like I said.” Galen holds up his hand. “I gave Elora many chances to tell me where the Stones might be. She knew the consequences.”
“But what good is it!” I push forward so that I’m by his side. My eyes snag on broken limbs half buried under a fallen tree before glancing back to Galen.
He shrugs as if he’s not seeing the same destruction I am.
“This accomplishes nothing.” I gesture to the rubble. The ash and soot and lives and hopes that have all been squashed by this madness.
Galen grips my hand, his nails biting slightly into my skin. “There are only so many places for them to hide, Roman. Only so many places to run.” He looks back to the rubble. “All I’ve done is eliminate one possible place.” He drops my hand, my stomach sinking along with it. “One by one, Roman, I’ll burn all of the Trinity Forest until I find them.”
Wickersham is justas unimpressive as the previous town we passed on our travels here. Small and dainty, the only good thing it has going for it is the pub.
And even that is grim.
Galen orders us a round of drinks as I settle into a booth in the corner. The seat is worn, the tabletop not much better. My fingers land in something sticky and I cringe.
I’ve kept my hood on, attempting to conceal most of my face. I dismissed the guards for the night, not sensing a threat in this decrepit little town.
Galen joins me with two bowls and two tankards of ale. He sets the bowl in front of me, and I’m thankful for the hood to hide my grimace. The soup is thin and briny, the vegetables meager, and I doubt there’s even any meat. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Nothing like our meals in Valebridge.
My stomach rumbles just thinking about home.
“You just going to stare at it?” I glance at Galen as he takes a slow sip of his drink. His face puckers, and it’s almost enough tomake me smile. Almost enough to make me remember the man I fell in love with. The man who loves books and mathematics and art. The man who hates ale and crowds and too many days of sun in a row. “Eat your meal, my heart, it’s been a long day.” He casts me a rare smile and I let it be enough for now. A quiet olive branch cast my way.
“Can you call this a meal?” I nudge his side and he smiles again, wide enough to cast a shadow over all the moments leading up to tonight that I’ve been angry about.
“I can fetch you some bread if you’d like?” A woman approaches our table, her hair is the color of rust. Her face, round and soft. She’s lovely and my cheeks warm under her vibrant, attentive gaze.
“I know it isn’t much.” She gestures to my bowl. “But with the blight, we’re on strict rations from the king.” She lingers a moment, and my skin begins to crawl.
Does she recognize me?
Galen clears his throat, his boot nudging mine under the table. It’s then I remember she asked me a question. “Yes, on the bread. Thank you.”
A moment later she sets down a plate of hard bread, but I don’t make any more complaints before diving in.
The blight hasn’t been unnoticed in Valebridge, our crops drying up or some not growing at all. But at the woman’s mention of it, I scan the pub and notice how emaciated the patrons look. How pale and pallid their skin is. How loosely their clothes fit.
They’re starving while I’ve feasted.
“You haven’t spoken to Sorin, have you?” The woman’s question makes me choke on my dry bread. I hadn’t realized she was still standing here. I cough several times before downing a few gulps of the bitter ale.
“Afraid not,” Galen says in a tone as smooth as butter.
The woman’s face falls. Her bright eyes casting down as she bites her bottom lip.
“Something troubling you, Jeanette?” I’m perplexed when Galen addresses this woman by her name then am immediately reminded of how he lived a life outside of Valebridge. A life so very different from my own.
She glances over either shoulder before leaning in close. Her dusty pink dress and brown vest fit snugly over her chest, and out of instinct, I recline backward as she gets closer. “It’s just that we haven’t heard from him since he killed that hunter the last time he was here. He scared us half to death actin’ that way. Was so unlike him.” She shakes her head. “Nothing’s been quite the same around here since. Hunters and guards stopping by. I mean just look.” She glances around the pub full of my men.
My stomach knots.
“Just be safe, Galen. And your companion too.” She smiles at me, and I fight the urge to pull my hood tighter. She tilts her head and squints. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“Thank you for the meal, Jeanette,” Galen says. “Hurry now, darling. You heard the lady. Best if we call it a night.”
