I’m certain he doesn’t know I see him. I’ve learned most people don’t see in the dark as well as I can. The shadows have a way of sliding apart to reveal whatever lingers in them when I look. But I’ve learned from experience that other people cannot see through them so clearly. As usual, this comes in handy.
Putting aside my distrust, I stride up to him confidently. “Ellys?” What kind of name is Grinning Ellys anyway? “Zerth said I would find you here. I’m Kaelun.”
He looks me up and down, chewing bitterleaf and then turning his head to spit on the ground. “That’s me. You sure you’re up for this job? I thought Zerth said you was skinny.”
I choose to take that as a compliment. I guess I’ve filled out a bit recently. “Don’t worry. I can fit into lots of tight spaces. I’m your man.” The reward for this job is too good to turn down, and things in Vathira have been slim pickings lately. Purse strings are tied tight with the late inundation.
He grunts. “My associate is just picking up a few things, and then we’ll be off. Have you got a donkey?”
I narrow my eyes. “Zerth told me travel costs were covered.”
He sniffs. “I s’pose we can get you one. Meet me at the north gate at sunset.”
I frown. “How far out of the city is it?”
“You don’t need specifics, boy. You’re either in, or you’re out.”
I have to think hard about that. This must be a shit of a job or they’d never risk hiring someone and revealing the location oftheir stash. Something tells me I should probably ask for danger pay on top of my fee. “I dunno. You sure this is worth my while?”
He glares at me. “Do you want it or not? You look like you could use a few extra meat skewers, so I wouldn’t be complaining too loudly if I were you, kid.”
I refrain from telling him my true age. I have a young face. Better for me if he underestimates me. “I think I’ll need twenty percent. Not fifteen.”
The guy folds his arms across his broad chest. “You’ll get ten if you wanna try that one.”
On the surface, he shows nothing, but the fact that they’ve hired a stranger tells me more than his body language. I match his stance. “Twenty-five, or I walk.”
He swears in disgust, and I make a show of turning around. “Fine! Twenty. Not a gold piece more.”
I spin quickly and shake his hand again before he can change his mind. “Twenty. Now we’re talking. See you at sunset.”
Ignoring his scowls, I dart between customers in the market and hurry to gather a few things together for this trip. I hope it doesn’t take too long. I don’t trust these guys as far as I could throw them—which isn’t very far. So the quicker we get it done and I take my cash and make my getaway, the better.
I take the long way, skirting around the markets and lingering to look up at the top of the palace walls as if Yalina will somehow pop her head over the top at any second.
Of course she won’t.
I’ll never see her again. She said as much.
Doesn’t stop me wishing.
I give the donkey a wary look as my new associates sling their legs over their own mounts and turn them toward the gate. I know about as much about riding as I know about Drasha Theater, but I’m not about to mention that.
He jumps forward just as I’m about to mount, and I end up hopping a few steps on one foot with the other stuck over his back while I try to get myself into position. It doesn’t help that there’s no saddle, just a rough blanket thrown over the beast’s back. He seems about as impressed with me as I am with him. As soon as I’m on his back he twists his head to nip at my leg, and I let out a shout and push him away.
Ellys looks back with a frown. “Keep up or you’ll be left behind.”
“I’m trying,” I mutter. I dig my heels into the donkey’s side, and he finally twists his head forward and starts plodding along the road toward the gate, following behind the others.
I wish we didn’t need to ride at all, but my companions seemed to think it necessary. They still haven’t shown me a map or told me anything at all about our destination. I pat the ten gold pieces I made them hand over before we set off as a down payment. At least they were good for that. It gives me hope I may not come out of this with nothing.
We travel for hours. My ass grows sore, and I shift uncomfortably in place. Every time I do, the donkey turns to nip me or darts forward as if he hopes he might jolt me off his back. I cling tight, clamping around his belly with my thighs and winding a hand into his spiked mane just for insurance. We travel like this all night, only breaking once for a meal. The others pass snacks backward and forward and chat in lowered voices, but for the most part they ignore me.
When we stop to make camp, I follow their lead and tie up the donkey beneath a sparse-leafed palm tree and unroll the pathetic excuse for a bedroll I brought with me. It’s a little chilly,and the wind whips over the dunes and blows sand into my clothing, so in minutes I’m itchy and wishing for my tower room. I find a place beside a large rock, partly sheltered from the sand, and tuck my gold under my arm and try to get some rest.
I wake to blaring sunlight and chapped lips. My small flask of water has long since run dry, and I’m parched. Ellys waters the beasts, and when he’s not looking, I scoop some of the water from my donkey’s trough into my hands and drink gratefully.
My stomach rumbles as my companions munch on dried fruit and nuts without offering me any, but I’ve skipped a meal or two before in my life. I’ll live.
