Gisela was as surprised by her actions as he was. She had no idea why she’d stopped him.
Other than one thing…
“Is there a safe place to stay tonight? An inn that will rent to one like me?”
He shook his head. “No…humans aren’t welcome in Vaskalia. I doubt you’d find any inn in town that would let you stay even for a night.”
Yet they knew him and feared him here. That much she’d gathered. Was he not human, too?
A sorcerer or shifter, perhaps?
No. Not with that armor and bearing. A mercenary more like. Some nobleman who’d fallen on hard times. That would make sense. They often drifted through the kingdoms, looking for work.
“Are you a sell-sword?” she asked.
“No.”
She expected him to say more, but that one blunt word was all he seemed capable of. Interesting.
If there was no inn, she’d find an alley to bed down in. “In that case, thank you for helping me.”
Xaydin cursed as she walked away, knowing what she intended to do for the night. While an alley in some streets would be fine, this wasn’t one of those towns. Derthal was a lethal place for those who didn’t know the customs and laws. The Watch would pick her up and probably kill her…
After they did unspeakable things to her first.
What’s it to you?
Life was cheap in every kingdom. Vaskalia was no different than anywhere else on that count. But…
“If you can stomach me for one night, I’ll share my room with you.”
The look she gave him would freeze dragon fire. “Beg pardon?”
“I’m not negotiating a bedmate, love. I’ve already turned down half a dozen good offers for the night. I’m offering you a safe place to sleep until morning. You can have the bed. I’ll take the floor…across the room and sleep in my clothes.”
“Why would you offer that?”
He clenched his teeth as memories surged. But as always, he tamped them down with raw determination. His past would never rule him. He refused to be anchored by that weight. “I’ve seen the horrors of what happens to those without protectors. I’m only a predator to those who can fight back with equal skill or better. Trust me or don’t. Makes no never mind to me. But if you sleep in the streets here, the Watch will take you, and your outcome won’t be favorable.”
Gisela didn’t know why she believed those words. Trust was as alien to her as love or kindness. She didn’t believe in either of those concepts.
At all.
She had no reason to trust him. Yes, he’d saved her, but that meant nothing in the world. She lived in Meara’s court where hypocrisy reigned supreme. A favor always required a favor in turn, and then the one you helped would turn on you for no reason whatsoever.
The only thing she trusted in this life was that someone would be at her throat at any moment. And often for no reason whatsoever.
Don’t do it.
But where else was there to bed down? The stable wouldn’t be safe. Anyone could come or go there—and often did. She’d gone to all five inns in this place, and all had refused to rent a room “to the likes of her.”
Tomorrow, she’d need to go to Oath Island to begin her search for theaþaswere.That would require a clear head, which meant a good night’s sleep.
But how could she sleep in a room with this man?
You’ve done worse.
True. And it would be nice to sleep in a bed after being on the road this last week, sleeping in the damp brush while trying to stay alert for fear of being attacked. Really, she wanted a safe, comfortable place for the night.
