I dig in.
Once I’m finished, there isn’t a single drop of broth left in my bowl.
“Did that help any?” Thane asks.
“Yes. Very much so.” I place my spoon down and pick up an oat crisp. It crunches as I bite into it, and the chocolate explodes on my tongue. “Mmm. That’s so good.”
Crumbs tumble to my chest, and Thane’s eyes follow them.
I swipe at the crumbs, my cheeks heating. “Gods…I love food.”
“Didn’t ask, Quinlocke.” He sighs, looking away from me.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t takeanythinghe says personally.” Algar tips back in his chair, balancing on one leg and locking his fingers behind his head. “He’s a dick to everyone.”
“Yeah.” I huff a laugh. “I gathered that.”
“I’ve known him since his sixth year, and he’s always been uptight.”
“Algar.” Thane glares at his friend with an inclined eyebrow, as if telling him to proceed with caution.
“You’ve known him since yoursixthyear?” I ask, surprised to hear that.
“Oh, yeah. He was my neighbor, actually. Lived two houses away.”
“Wow. So you two reallydidgrow up together?” I thought he had been exaggerating before.
“Yeah. We were like brothers.” Algar flashes a smile at Thane.
Thane shakes his head and peels out of his chair, like the last thing he wants to discuss is his past. “Going to the toilet,” is all he says before trudging away.
“You’ll have to tell me all about your childhood with Thane,” I say, biting into another crisp. “Surely he couldn’t have beenthismuch of a grump back then.”
“Nah.” Algar considers that. “He could be serious, but he wasn’t an absolute jerk like he is now. There are so many good things I remember about him.”
“Well, that’s good. I’d love to hear what they were.”
“I’d tell you now, but he might overhear and put a spell on me.” He winks. “Soon.”
I laugh, then glance at the counter, where Penju is checking the barrels and reading something, while Rynthea holds a clipboard and is marking things off.
But then there’s a thud in the distance.
And that’s when I notice the hooded stranger who walked in is no longer at his table.
Rynthea places her clipboard down on the counter as the thudding grows louder along with deep, muffled grunts. Her ears twitch, as if sensing something.
Then the double doors to the entrance fly open, slam into the walls, and reveal a group of masked men.
Chapter 15
Algar and Torjack shoot to their feet. I stand, too, glad most of the unsteadiness has faded from my system.
“Absolutely not! Get out!” Rynthea bellows as she rounds the counter. “There will benofighting inmyinn!”
“There doesn’t have to be a fight,” the man leading the group says as he steps deeper into the tavern. “We just want the sorcerer.”
Rynthea raises her chin as Algar slips his hand down and snatches a knife out of the holster at his waist. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Rynthea squares her shoulders as she inches forward. “There is no sorcerer here. I don’t like them in my inn.”
