“Oh, I have half of what you prepared—”
I am roundly ignored. The maid secures her gifts to the saddle by rising up on her tiptoes. When things are settled to her satisfaction, she steps back.
“You will return,” she says, “when you see for yourself that the way is impassable. I shall save your room.”
There’s nothing else to say on that front, as far as I’m concerned. “Please take care of yourself.”
The girl looks down at her hands. “I…”
I want to hug her. “It was never your fault. You didnothingwrong. The problem was him.”
“Emma says that your husband…”
“You know what I’ve found helpful, in life?” I wait until she glances up at me, even as I don’t meet her eyes. “Only forward, never back. Your future is ahead of you.”
And indeed, I’m trying to heed my own words as I contemplate leaving here without Merc.
“I shall do my best.” She takes a step back. “And I will see you soon.”
No,I think to myself.You won’t.
In the heartbeat that follows, I know it’s time to go. I know I must nudge my heels into the stallion’s flanks, and loose the reins, and—
The center double doors open.
And Thale emerges.
Sixty-TwoThe Promise of an Overlord.
The Outpost’s ruler is dressed in another one of his finely fitted black suits, and he has a top hat with a purple band above the brim pitched on his head. When the maid sees who it is, she ducks her head and scurries for the other entrance, clearly terrified that she’s been caught outside when she needs to be at the oven.
“Lalah,” he says sharply.
She freezes in mid-step—and I realize I’ve never known her name. I should have asked—
Abruptly, he switches to that other language and I’m surprised. I don’t know what he’s saying, but his tone is gentle and the tension in the girl’s body dissipates like the stormwater that is even now evaporating in the sunshine all around us. When he’s finished speaking, she glances up at him from the side, and as he nods a dismissal, she takes a deep breath, and continues on at an easier pace.
Well, what does one know. It appears that he intends to keep his word.
At least in front of me.
Thale saunters over, his tall hat accentuating his height. “Nice horse. And I see you’ve been well provided for. Those packs are quite full, are they not.”
Across the muddy lane, people loiter and glance over with curiosity that they cannot hide.
“In spite of the Outpost’s reputation,” I say roughly, “I’ve found the people here to be quite kind.”
“Hmm. That is more a commentary on you than this place, I suspect. You have a way with others.”
I recall the mob who wanted to kill me in my village, and decide that’s one word for it.
“I hear you’re heading south, then.” He glances down the lane. “You’ll beback soon when you see the flooding. You’re the type of woman who must experience things for herself, however. We’ll hold your room.”
I glance to the entrance Lalah used.
“That wasn’t just a show for you,” Thale says softly. “I will protect her. Worry not.”
“And the other maids.”
