My fingers wrapped around the strap to my satchel and squeezed until they felt cold and stiff. It was probably futile to point out that I was currently inside some place safe and that he was the one sending us back into the dark unknown.
I glanced at the faces of the men gathered around one more time. No, we wouldn’t find help here.
Oliver took my wrist in shaking fingers and yanked me toward the door. “Do you think if I asked nicely, he would give us directions to the nearest temple?”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. I couldn’t tell if Oliver was jesting or not.
Looking back at the stern-faced ogre I shook my head. “I doubt it. Ten to one odds, he would prefer it if the demons found us as soon as we stepped outside.”
Oliver snorted. “Not helpful.”
“Did you say you were travelers?”
I jumped, startled by the gruff voice near the tavern door. His voice cut under the guffaws of the men watching us leave and if I had been less jumpy, I might not have heard him at all.
I looked up to see a man leaning against the door frame. He was almost entirely hidden by a black cloak with a hood draped low over his eyes. I could just make out a scruffy beard covering the lower half of his jaw.
“Who?” Oliver stared wide-eyed at the man. “Us?”
“Are you travelers?” the cloaked man repeated slowly.
“Y-yes,” Oliver answered for us. “We’re on our way to… to… to visit an aunt.”
I elbowed my friend in the side and found great satisfaction in his low grunt. But honestly, Oliver. Our aunt?
“Papers,” the stranger demanded.
I studied him and tried not to panic. The rest of the men of Tenovia were built as thick as their trees. They were made for hard work in their forests, chopping down ancient wood, and hauling lumber to all corners of the realm. The stranger didn’t have that build or height, yet he was no less threatening.
His cloak didn’t help. I imagined all manner of weapons tucked into the folds. His gloved hands rested on the hilt of something that promised to be especially sharp. And he kept his face tilted away from us so that all I could see was that strong jaw.
If I could only see his face, then I could relax. I would be able to…
“Papers?” Oliver squeaked.
So much for a guardian to protect me. It looked as though I would be the one defending Oliver.
“You must have travel papers if you’re not from Tenovia. Otherwise we’ll have to assume you’re with the rebels.”
“We’re not!” Oliver squeaked. “We’re not with the rebels.” He glanced at me fidgeting nervously, shifting from one foot to the other. I poked him in the back to get him to settle down.
It didn’t work.
“So you have papers,” the stranger assumed.
Oliver’s voice could barely be heard, “Not exactly…”
“Then you’ll have to come with me,” the stranger told him. “You’re trespassing.”
Trespassing?
They would find the crown within minutes. We’d only been on the road for two weeks. We’d only been outside of Heprin for one day!
“They’re with our horses outside,” I lied as quickly as the thought came to me. “They’re out… side. With our horses.”
“With your horses?” the man asked dryly. “Outside?”
I nodded.
