Golem closes the door behind us, his hand flicking to the wood as I hear the lock turn into the wall. I walk towards the bed and gently lift Storm out from under my hood, placing the Bird of Ash on the bedpost. He sleepily opens one of his eyes to look at our surroundings and then curls back into himself without a bother.
Golem and I stay in the room until sundown with no visit or word from Keane or his brother. I pace, I read, I nap. I take a bath. I do anything to still the anxiety that has routed itself firmly inside me. Eventually Cal knocks on my door for dinner and I open it quickly, welcoming the presence of someone,anyone, to quell my nerves. I look back at Golem to ask if it’s okay for me to leave and nearly sag in relief when the magical creatures gives a small nod. We follow Cal to the common room where only Alanna, Holis and Mana are seated, our group small.
Alanna’s cool grey eyes narrow on mine when we walk in. I lift my hand to Stormfall and place him on the table between the twins, ignoring Alanna’s gaze, and walk with Cal to the barrels behind Dnes.
“Another toddy, Lady?” she smiles in amusement.
“And two of the amber ales,” I nod.
“Two toddies,” Cal replies with a grin, “I can’t let you outdrink me, Alex.”
My smile is small as I nod to my friend. I subtly glance at the door to the inn while we’re waiting, hoping that Keane or Desmond walks in.
“Cheers,” Cal offers me one of the small glasses.
I take the toddy from his hand and down it quickly.
“Whoa, easy there, Alex,” Cal laughs but downs his toddy all the same.
We walk back to the group as Cal takes a seat next to Alanna, his big form making her look much smaller than she really is. I take a seat next to Holis and watch him stroke Stormfall’s chest, looking at the door again in expectation.
Was Desmond able to follow the man? Are they with him now? If they are, what are they doing?
My mind clouds with thoughts as Dnes brings out dinner for our small group of five after another round of drinks. No one comments on the lack of faces around the table and goes about their meal as normal, witheveryone eating and drinking and conversing about the travel home. I can’t count how my times I’ve looked at the door to the inn since sitting down, my mind elsewhere and not paying much attention to what everyone else is saying.
Eventually we all finish our dinner and Cal heads back to his room for his pipe and a set of die. We continue into the night as we would any other, drinking and enjoying each other’s company in contentment.
Except I’m not content.
I’m filled with anxiety and hundreds of different questions.
Where are the brothers? Are they with the blonde Discerni? If so, I’m not sure I want to envision the type of things that are taking place right now. The Master Informer of Disce is not known to be friendly- His official title holds too many rumors to his name, whispers of what he does in the dark. Is Desmond questioning the man now?Howis he questioning the man now? And if Keane is indeed with him, is he also participating in said questioning?
The thought makes me shift in my seat. I’m not a fool to think that Keane has never hurt someone, but to willingly torture them?
I glance at Golem with unease and see his own gaze matching my own. Do we stay here as Keane demanded? Head to the Hidden City? Perhaps we could find Lord Daniel and let him know what is going on, ask him if it is normal for the brothers to be gone without any communication?
I’m truly at a loss for what to do, and I’m hating Keane’s command that I stay here. Every fiber of my being is telling me to investigate, but I wouldn’t even know where to start.
Cal breaks my anxiety for a moment and passes his tobacco pipe from across the table, smiling when I let the smoke fill my lungs in a calming effect. He laughs at something Holis says and then eyes his ale with a yawn while everyone else does the same.
“I’m sure they’ll want to leave early tomorrow,” Cal shrugs, downing the rest of his ale.
There’s no doubt whotheyare. The twins nod in agreement as Alanna hides another yawn behind her hand, my brows rising in surprise.
Hmm. Is she not aware of the Hidden City?
“We’re all still recovering from the travel,” Alanna stands from the table with a nod, “I vote we head in early tonight. We’ll be in Gaumond tomorrow and we all know what kind of night awaits us there.”
Her eyes land on Cal in a flirty invite that doesn’t go unnoticed. I say my goodnights to the four and watch them walk to their respective halls, then move towards Golem in his shadowy corner with a whisper.
“What do you think? Do we alert someone? I was thinking of finding Lord Daniel.”
Golem shakes his head and shrugs, as if to say he doesn’t know the answer.
“Is that man dangerous? The one following me?”
No. Then a slight yes.
