Terra took a seat across from me at the small, round table in the tavern. I accepted the pale ale she’d bought at the bar, and sipped at it with some apprehension. It was smoother than the wine, but there was a weightiness to it that I wasn’t sure I liked. I did my best to sip and look as if I was enjoying it though.
Terra flipped her hair over her shoulder—she’d insisted that we both wear the skirts and bibs of healers, with our hair down—something I used to do every day, but now felt odd—then leaned closer, tracing a crack on the table in front of her with a nail as she whispered to me.
“The most important thing to remember is patience, and peace. Live your life under the eyes of others, and only deviate from that for the purpose you’ve been given, and only when you’re certain it’s the right time. Better to miss an opportunity today with another chance to fight, than to risk the entire endeavor for impatience, do you understand?”
I did. But it was easier said than done. I had a low roiling in my belly when I thought of this, despite knowing it would harm no one. Still, it was good practice, I realized, to sit there with her and look normal. Unassuming.Plain.When in truth, my nerves threatened to strangle me.
Terra had brought me here to practice a new skill. And if I was going to do that, I needed tolookrelaxed, even if I didn’t feel it.
For a moment I let my head drop and stared into the ale, but then I remembered.
Live your life until it’s time.
If I was really here, I’d look around. Examine the place. Familiarize myself with it.
So, I did, leaning in to listen to Terra’s casual conversation, while letting my gaze flit around the room and take in details without any pressure.
This tavern was nicer and smaller than the one my brothers frequented most often. It was also run by a woman. I’d wondered if that meant no men would be here. But Terra had chosen this place for two reasons.
The first was that the woman kept strong arms in the back room who would come when called, if there were any problems. So Terra felt it was a safe place for me to practice.
But it was also more expensive than the soldier’s taverns, so attracted a higher class of clientele.
And she was right.
Two men leaned on the bar, talking. Both wearing suits with high collars. Not nobles, but men with means. Traders, probably. Or scribes.
Men accustomed to dealing with the higher born.
My goal, if I was successful tonight, was to insert myself with a man of this stature as simply and casually as possible.And when I gained access to his drink, to drop the small vial of powder currently burning against my skin.
The powder was harmless—it would dissolve quickly and be virtually tasteless. But Terra had provided vials to me that contained a drug that she said would drop a soldier to the floor within minutes—and make him conduct himself like a drunk on his way.
I’d been shocked at the proposal, but Terra shook her head and insisted that I listen.
She’d looked at me with firm warning in her eyes. “This is for your safety. A herb we use when a soldier is out of his mind with pain or illness. It’s virtually tasteless and will knock him out within twenty minutes. He’ll wake after a couple hours with a terrible headache, and trouble remembering what happened. If you’re going to be dealing with men and putting yourself in their hands, it’s a last resortif a man has become a threat. It will make him dizzy and easily distracted within a minute—and go downhill from there. But you’re going to have to learn how to administer it without being seen if you want to maintain a cover. Especially if you aren’t alone.”
I took a deep breath and then another sip of my ale.
The little vial in my pocket was a smattering of salt and sugar. It would harm no one. But knowing I was practicing slipping poison into a man’s drink made this Shadowfang purpose suddenly seem very real.
“Are you ready?” Terra asked quietly, looking down at the table as if she were bored. “The man in the corner near the bar has looked at you twice,” she said without meeting my eyes. “You could approach the bar and see if he speaks to you. If he doesn’t, don’t worry. Return to me, take more time, then go back. Place yourself under his eyes, butdo notbe the one to approach him. You’re a capable woman who doesn’t require a man, but who also wouldn’t reject a true prospect—especially one with wealth.”
I nodded, and in a thoughtless reflection of my brothers, tipped back the cup of light ale to take the rest of the cup in one go—then almost choked on the alcohol, though there was little of it in the drink.
I had to take another minute or two to blink the tears out of my eyes and clear the frog from my throat, while Terra giggled at my discomfort, until I was sure I could converse with a stranger without coughing in his face.
Then I pushed back my chair and got to my feet—almost tripping over my skirts because I’d forgotten I was wearing them.
By the time I made it to the bar to wait for one of the women to serve me, my cheeks were warm. But Terra had coached me on the walk to the city: Being who I was, thinking as I thought, choosing my natural preferences—it would all help and be far easier to maintain than a façade.
“Let the clothes speak for you. You’ll be surprised how much they assume,”she’d said.
And now, I knew she was right. One of the barmaids approached, her eyes kind. “How might I help, Mother?” she asked, startling me with the honorific given to female healers of experience and wisdom.
“I’m not—I just wanted some watered wine, I have to work later and—” I stammered, and she shook her head, her gaze growing earnest.
“Your sister has helped me many times. I am grateful for the work you do,” she said, tipping her head, then looking at Terra over my shoulder.
