She flicked her attention to the poster beside it.
Loshika.
This one clearly stated the healer was a criminal—someone who’d helped the Asterans.
Ice filled her veins.
Her one and only friend had been branded a traitor because of Dahlia’s actions. More giants gathered around her, their voices becoming fuzzy as Lia stared at the insidious posters. Her eyes widened at the sum that was offered for any information on either of them.
It was enough to live three lifetimes lavishly.
Any number of persons would gladly turn her over for such a sum. Stars, if anyone found out what she’d done, they’d torture her and hand her over anyway.
No one knew what she looked like... except the innkeeper and his wife.
True fear crashed over her.
That greedy giant would turn them over for a few meager coins.
She dropped her head and spun on her heel. Carefully, she pushed through the small group of giants and kept her pace sedate until she was out of sight. Lia picked up her woolen skirts and sprinted for the inn. She skidded on a patch of ice as she entered the alleyway and crashed to her hands and knees. Lia scrambled to her feet, ignoring the stinging skin of her palms.
Yanking opened the back door, Lia rushed inside. Her hair immediately curled in the damp warm heat of the scullery. Cosmos was frowning at her.
“Where have you been? Your break ended...” He trailed off at the look on her face. His hazel eyes widened. “What’s wrong?”
“We leave now.” Her voice was resigned.
Her brother straightened, his lips pressed in a thin line. “We’ve only been here a few weeks,” he groused. “I don’t want to. I like it here.”
Dahlia snapped into action. In three strides, she stood in front of him. She grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him away from the door that led to the kitchen. “There is a wanted poster with my face on it in the town square. There is one for Loshika as well,” she hissed under her breath.
All color drained from Cosmos’ face, before his cheeks turned red in anger. “So this is your fault. Again.”
She took the verbal blow and licked her lips, glancing at the door once more. “They’re offering a ridiculous amount of coin for our capture and Loshika’s death.” She swallowed hard. “I know this last month has been difficult, but we don’t have a choice. The innkeeper will turn us in sooner rather than later.We must leave now. I’m sorry.” She squeezed his wrist. “Is Loshika in our room?”
Cosmos shook his hand out of her grip and crossed his arms. “I don’t know.”
Lia swallowed hard, hating that he was drifting farther and farther away from her. “I will fetch her. I’ll grab your bag and anything you need. Please tell me you packed your things this morning?”
Her brother rolled his eyes. “You’ve made me pack my bag every single night before bed. Of course, it’s packed.”
“Good boy,” she murmured before slipping out of the scullery and through the kitchen.
She kept her head down as she passed by the bar and dining area. Lia scanned the simple clean room from beneath the edge of her hood, making sure no one took notice of her. She steered to the left to avoid the innkeeper and slipped up the servants’ stairs up to their small room.
Her heart pounded, and Lia paused at their door, her hand shaking as she reached for the knob.
What if someone was already waiting for her inside?
Her pulse rushed in her ears, and she forced herself to calm down—to think rationally. Silently, Dahlia leaned forward and pressed her ear against the wooden door. All she could hear was Loshika humming softly.
Surely, if the healer had wanted to betray Lia, it would have already happened by now. If there was an ambush waiting inside, her friend wouldn’t be in that sort of good mood.
Lia steeled herself, stepped inside, and then closed the door softly behind her. Relief was almost immediate. The tiny room was empty except for the giantess. Loshika’s head popped up from her knitting, and she smiled at Lia. Her smile melted away. “What’s wrong?”
“We must leave. Now.”
Chapter Fourteen
