“As sure as my sword is sharp,” Kurtz said. “The woman tied up her horse at the hitching post, she did, then went inside the Boar.”
Cole had heard all of this last night, but Mistel hadn’t gotten the story yet.
“Who let her in?” she asked.
Kurtz took a sip of his ale. “Cernel Crow.”
Mistel’s eyes flashed wide. “Why would she visit him?”
“That’s a very good question, that is,” Kurtz said.
“How long was she in there?”
“About ten minutes.”
“Did you speak to her when she came out?”
“I did, and let’s just say, she didn’t like my questions. And I didn’t want to spend another night in Lytton Hall’s dungeons, eh?”
“Then you followed her back to Lytton Hall?” Mistel asked.
“From a distance, aye. She rode through the gates, she did. And that’s as far as I went.”
“They must have been waiting for her.” Mistel slouched in her seat. “Oh, I wish you’d followed her all the way to the door.”
“Had no business doing that,” Kurtz said.
“But why would she visit that old bloodvoicer?” Mistel asked.
“My best guess?” Kurtz said. “To bribe the man to use his magic to help Eric win the fight.”
“Lord Livna cheat?” Mistel’s tone made her feelings on that idea plain.
“Never,” Kurtz said. “Lady Viola, however…I’d put nothing past a Jaelportian.”
“That’s not fair,” Cole said. “She’s only half Jaelportian, and she grew up in Zerah Rock with Sir Rigil.”
“Bah!” Kurtz said.
Cole though it over. “My guess is Fenris Yarden has something to do with this. Maybe he wanted to take Lord Livna’s family in case he lost the duel.”
“What if he’s working with Verdot Amal and sells them?” Mistel asked.
“We should go to Lytton Hall and offer our help to Lord Livna,” Cole said.
“You think you and I are going to add muscle to the Fighting Fifteen?” Kurtz asked.
Kurtz would, but Cole would only be a burden. “Can’t you at least try to bloodvoice her?”
Kurtz pinned him with a heavy stare. “All right.” He closed his eyes.
Cole stared at Kurtz: blond eyebrows and dark eyelashes, reddish beard, the thin scar on the right side of his beard where no hair grew. He stared a moment longer, then let his eyes drift to Mistel. Her ginger curls and easy smile somehow lightened the tension in the room.
Kurtz sucked in a deep breath and blinked. “Sorry, lad. If she heard me, she didn’t answer.”
“Maybe she couldn’t,” Mistel said.
Near the fireplace, Arbin finished one song to a smattering of applause, then began another. Cole supposed there was little else their trio could do to help a man like Lord Livna, who had his own army. He steered their discussion back to their mission.
