Von kept eating. Best not to encourage this jabbering. Not only was he tired, but Klyde wouldn’t like them speaking. Yet sweet silence only lasted half a minute.
“Are you part of a company, or do you work alone?”
Von inhaled a sharp breath. “Are you always this inquisitive?”
Tavin shrugged. “I’m curious. No one tells me anything.”
For good reason, clearly.
“If you don’t mind me asking?—”
“I am not in the mood for conversation,” Von snapped. “Eat and be silent.”
The light dimmed from the boy’s face. He murmured an apology and lowered his gaze to the dirt.
Von grimaced. He couldn’t eat anymore. After handing Tavin the rest of his fish, he got up. “We should go. I must find the others.”
Standing, Tavin wiped his hands on his trousers and handed Von his coat. “Thank you.”
As they headed south, silence hung heavily between them. After hearing nothing but chatter for the last five minutes, the quiet wind and distant chirp of wildlife was awkward.
Von sighed. “What did you want to ask?”
“Well, I only wondered how Dyna paid your fee?” Tavin said sheepishly. “They lost all their gold when they tried to cross the Bridge, so she couldn’t have paid my uncle for his service. They must have bartered for something else.”
Grunting with disinterest, Von led them out of the woods and onto a vast field. Why was Klyde still with them? He didn’t seem keen on collecting Von’s bounty, and Tarn was dead, so why not return home?
“I know they’re hiding secrets, them lot. They stayed with us for the winter, and I learned all sorts of things.”
Von paused, frowning at the boy. Dyna hadn’t mentioned she’d been in his old town. “What things?”
“Well, I have been able to gather that they carry large bounties on their heads.”
Right … Von had completely forgotten to remove those.
“They accused Klyde of planning to turn them in at one point,” the boy continued. “Perhaps he should have for all the trouble they caused. I have seen the power they hold. They’re dangerous folk. Especially the witch.” Tavin glowered. “She must have cast a spell on my uncle. He’s besotted with her. Now he’s to escort them on their journey to only the Gods know where. He refuses to tell me.”
Did that mean Klyde knew about Mount Ida?
“You must know where they are going.”
Von frowned at him drily. “I’m not at liberty to discuss it, lad.”
Tavin groaned. “Why? It can’t be so dangerous since the company didn’t join him. Klyde never kept secrets from me until they arrived. Honestly, it’s insulting.”
“So you decided to follow.” Von paused by a creek and filled his waterskin. He passed it to Tavin to drink first.
“I’m ready to join him on missions, but he always leaves me behind. I had to prove to him I am not some feckless boy.”
“Aye, instead you proved to be a stupid one,” Von said tersely as they continued. “The world is foul, lad. You could have been killed. If not on the bridge, then in some back alley, leavin’ your corpse to the worms. Most people out there would sooner see you dead if it was to their benefit. You should have obeyed and stayed in Azurite, where you belong.”
They came upon a ridge that looked over the land. Not too far in the distance was a city. Thank the Gods.
“We need to find the main road and hope we find the others.”
At Tavin’s silence, he glanced back at the stunned look on his face. He must have scared him.
Von sighed. “Look, lad, you may think you’re ready?—”
