Page 25 of The Empty Throne

As everyone around her finally began to stir,Oskia packed up her bedroll, gathered her belongings, and went towash up and dress for the day. By the time she returned to thedining room, the tables and chairs were back, and the place wasbustling. She paid for breakfast and reclaimed the table she'd usedthe night before.

This time, she was joined by a couple ofwomen, peddlers by their dress. "Hear anything about the weather?"she asked, pouring them all tea.

The older of the two women, likely the motherof the other one, clucked her tongue and said, "There's some talkabout fire mages coming around to clear away the snow, but I don'tknow how true that is. Don't get that kind of magic around herevery often, not sure they'd waste them on something that a goodshovel can handle just fine."

"Mama, you heard those men from before!" theyounger said in a poor attempt at a whisper, as though she wassharing a state secret rather than gossip. "They're looking forsomeone."

Scoffing, the first woman drank a deepswallow of her tea before replying, "All they're looking for is anexcuse to get out of the cold, though good luck with that this timeof year. Can't wait to get south of Boltane."

"That's another good month of travel ifyou're lucky, and more likely two," Oskia said, sipping more slowlyat her own tea. "What has you traveling so hard this time ofyear?"

"We're spice peddlers," the older womanreplied. "Tekta, my daughter Lia. Came up to gather winter spices,especially broken heart and frostbane."

"I see," Oskia said, and indeed she did.Those were rare, difficult to find, and even more difficult toharvest herbs desperately sought by many professions, butespecially healers. True healers, those who were born with truehealing magic, were precious; they weren't rare, but neither werethey common. Non-magical healers were therefore vital and in highdemand, and the supplies of their trade in even greater demand."Good luck on your journey south. May Holy Shatar watch overyou."

"Thank you. What brings you out in thisweather?"

"My mother passed recently, and I am carryingout her final request."

"My condolences on your loss," Tektareplied.

"Thank you," Oskia said, and then thankfullythe food came and they focused on that, speaking only of theweather and the travails of Endless Night between bites. Breakfastwas rice from the night before, vegetable soup made from otherleftovers, with a poached egg and spicy pepper sauce over all ofit.

They'd just finished eating, and ordered afresh pot of tea since there really wasn't anywhere to go, when thedoor banged open and snow came flying in, quickly covering thehallway floor. The innkeeper flew across the room already shoutingand cursing—and then went silent, backing up nearly as quickly ashe'd charged forward.

Oskia swore inwardly, and in the next breathher worst fears were confirmed: Terekian guards, seven in total,every last one of them wearing Fazekas colors. She doubted theywere looking for her, but they would certainly know her Witch Eyeson sight, and from there easily guess her identity. Not good.

The guards fanned out and prowled, hands attheir sides, ready to draw weapons in a moment. All the easy joy inthe room, of people relishing a chance to take a break because theyliterally had no choice, was gone. Terek had no one single armythat served the whole country, but instead had one to each clan.This wasn't Fazekas territory, though, and the fact they werepermitted to prowl about was far from good.

Who were they looking for? Cohea? It would belike him to have found a way to escape. Looking for him so brazenlylike this was risky, if anyone figured out Cohea's identity andword spread. Still, Cohea would be heading south, and these nitwitshad to know that. This was the very last place Cohea would be. Sowho else could they be seeking?

Damn it, she should have had Sobeki send thatletter after all, instead of being so fucking stubborn.

Problem for later. Right now, she needed toget out of here before she was identified and snatched up rightalongside Cohea.

Cohea missing. Bittersea off at Lindquist.Kite headed for Kuluris. She was buried in Terek, bound for Kenten.The Great Houses were scattered to the winds when they were mostneeded at the palace. She had to keep the heir from taking thethrone, though. Keep the deal with Kenten from coming to pass.Cremisio wouldnotbecome the fucking territory of Kenten—oranyone else.

She sipped her tea, eyes down, forcingherself to keep her posture relaxed, though not so relaxed that sheappeared unconcerned by all the skulking guards. A heavy silencehad fallen, exactly nobody thrilled by the intrusion.

The guards moved along the tables one by one,occasionally manhandling people, mostly men, to get a better lookat their faces.

It took every scrap of focus and fortitudeOskia possessed not to tense or otherwise show dismay as a guardfinally reached their table. She nodded politely along with theother two women, but unfortunately the guard lingered.

Just as Oskia thought the bastard was movingon, he stopped, grabbed the back of her head, pulling painfully ather hair, and yanked her head back. "Spirit eyes!" the man gasped,loud enough that everyone in the room turned toward them.

"Hold them!" the lieutenant supervising fromthe doorway bellowed.

"Fuck," Oskia snarled, and threw her tea inthe guard's face, then slammed a fist into his groin, which got himto let go of her hair.

Shoving him out of the way, she snatched upher bag, jumped onto the nearest table, and leapt table to tablethrough the room before throwing herself at the lieutenant, sendingthem both crashing to the hallways floor, the piles of snow thathad drifted in mitigating the rough landing somewhat.

She scrambled to her feet and threw herselfout of the still-gaping main door, sending a silent thank you towhatever asshole couldn't be bothered to show basic considerationor sense.

Outside, several giant caribou milled about,the soldiers having not even bothered to tether them. Oskia stolethe one that seemed hardiest at a glance, swinging into the saddle,and racing off through snow that had indeed been cleared by firemages as gossip had claimed.

There was shouting and bellowing behind her,emergency whistles cutting through the frigid winds.

High above, the half moon was hidden byclouds, meaning Endless Night was well and truly EndlessNight.If she could get clear of the city, away from all thelight, she would have an advantage the guards could not match.

---