I pushed open the door.
The warmth hit me first, then the smell, ale and smoke and bodies packed together in comfortable proximity. The conversations didn’t stop when I entered, which was a good sign.No one looked up, no one seemed to care about another hooded figure slipping inside.
Just another traveller. Nothing special.
Exactly what I needed.
I made my way to the bar, claiming a stool near the end where I could watch the room. The bartender, an older woman with silver streaking through her dark hair and the kind of face that had seen everything twice, raised an eyebrow.
“What’re you having?”
“Whatever’s cheap and strong.”
She snorted. “Honest. I like that.” A glass appeared, filled with ale that smelled like it could strip paint. “Two coppers.”
I fumbled in the cloak’s pocket, found the small pouch of coins I’d stuffed in there. I dropped the coins on the bar.
The bartender made swept them off the counter. “You lost?”
“Something like that.” I took a sip, managed not to cough. “Just passing through. Heard this was a good city. Safe.”
“Safe as anywhere, I suppose.” She was wiping down glasses, but her attention was on me now. Curious but not aggressive. “Safer than most, thanks to Lord Varyth. He keeps the monsters out.”
“Lord Varyth.” I said the name carefully, testing it. “What’s he like?”
“Fair. Stern. Doesn’t tolerate nonsense.” She set down one glass, picked up another.
“Keeps us safe and doesn’t tax us into starvation. That’s more than most lords can claim.”
I nodded, filing that away. “I heard something happened today. At the castle. An attack?”
The bartender’s expression shuttered. “Where’d you hear that?”
“Rumours. You know how it is. People talk.”
“People talk too much.” But she leaned forward slightly, voice dropping. “There was an incident. Some fools tried to breach the wards. Didn’t end well for them.”
“Who were they? The attackers?”
“No one knows. Or no one’s saying, which amounts to the same thing.” She studied me with eyes that were far too aware. “Why the interest?”
I shrugged, aiming for casual. “Just trying to figure out if I picked a bad time to visit. Don’t want to walk into trouble.”
“Trouble’s already walked out, from what I hear. Anyone foolish enough to breach those walls isn’t living to talk about it.”
I finished my drink and slipped out. Another tavern couldn’t be far.
I’d made it two steps before the voice came.
“You’re a long way from the castle.”
I spun, hand going instinctively to my hip where a weapon should have been and wasn’t.
Cindrissian emerged from the shadows like he’d been born there, all lean grace and that insufferable smirk that made me want to punch him on principle.
“How long have you been following me?” I demanded, heart hammering from the surprise I refused to show.
“Since you slipped out of the eastern postern gate.” He tilted his head, studying me like I was a particularly interesting puzzle. “You’re good, I’ll give you that. Most people wouldn’t have made it past the first courtyard without triggering something. But you move like someone who’s spent a lifetime avoiding notice.”
