“I don’t know. I’ve come to expect everyone to be a problem.” I took a deep breath. “Let’s just get our things, and get back to Sheldon’s. I’ll feel much better once we’re there.” Once I knew we had an actual guard watching our backs. And even more so once we crossed the damn border out of Korteria. Or New Korteria. Whatever.
We combed through the room, gathering all of my things. And Auriel’s—Rhyan’s now. It only took a few minutes since we didn’t have much—most of what we owned we were wearing. Our armor, our shards, our weapons. And my stave. But there were first aid supplies, extra sleep clothes, an extra cloak that could be used for bedding. I knew now from my travels just how important these resources could be.
One final sweep of the room, checking the closet and under the covers, and we left. I returned to the front desk, and handed over the keys.
“Thanks again for everything,” I said, wishing it was her husband here. He was not nearly as interested in the guests.
“Of course,” she said. “I hope you’ll come and visit us again.”
“We’d love that,” I said.
“Oh, and I’ve been meaning to tell you …” Her eyes narrowed. “I love that hair color on you.”
My throat went dry. “Thank you.”
Rhyan wrapped his fingers around my arm, already dragging me toward the door.
“Bye now,” he said formally. “Enjoy the day.”
“You, too,” the innkeeper called, a sickening smile on her lips.
The moment we touched the ground outside, we were fucked. Five soturi of Ka Kormac waited on the waterway.
“Excuse me,” called the leader, the turion I assumed from the looks of him. Blond like they all were, with black beady eyes, and that fucking wolfish gleam in his smile. He was at least a foot taller than the others standing behind him. “We’ve had some strange reports of akadim in the area. Mind if we speak with you two?”
I watched Rhyan from the corner of my eye. We were armed, and we had soturi waiting in the shadows. If we had to fight, we could. But it would fuck up the plan. And absolutely destroy any semblance of secrecy we had. Before, I’d needed to remain anonymous so no one interfered with my search for Rhyan.
But now? We had to get fifty soturi into Glemaria without word reaching Devon Hart. A misstep here and the plan could fall to shit before we even started.
“I haven’t seen any,” Rhyan said, his voice still devoid of his accent. “Though there was some odd stuff happening in the meadows. Looks like part of the Wall of the Prince fell.”
“Yes,” said the turion. “Possibly akadim activity.”
“We were just passing through,” I said. “Small holiday. We’re heading back east though. Back home.”
The turion stepped forward. “Home? And where is home for you two?”
“Vrukston,” I said quickly. It was the name of the first town I’d visited with Auriel.
“Vrukston?” the turion asked, one hand on the hilt of his sword. “And how long have you been staying here?”
I nervously eyed Rhyan before blurting out, “Two weeks.”
The turion frowned. “I see. And you’re just now completing your stay at this inn? Enjoy your visit?”
My heart thundered. “We did, very much. Didn’t we?” I asked Rhyan.
He nodded vigorously. “It was very pleasant.”
“So if I were to ask the innkeeper when you checked in— they’d tell me it was two weeks ago? You didn’t check in after that?”
That Godsdamned bitch—she’d already reported us.
I laughed nervously. “Oh, here? Well, sure. I’m sorry. I meant, we’ve been on our trip for two weeks.” I wrapped my arm through Rhyan’s trying to look like I was too besotted to remember details.
“Hmmm.” The turion eyed me up and down before narrowing his gaze on Rhyan. “Women. Can’t remember anything.”
Rhyan laughed again. “No. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I better get her home. Before she forgets where we live.”
