Page 28 of To No End

I relaxed my shoulders and managed a gracious, “Thank you.”

Trace leaned back into the booth, relaxing, still adorned in his cloak and those concealing gloves. Once again, he donned all black.

My chest tightened at the thought of us having to make small talk for an entire meal and, perhaps, an entire afternoon. It’s not that I wasn’t deeply curious about him, it’s just that I knew the more we talked, the more I was going to have to conceal the truth.

There were parts of me I just couldn’t share or I’d be putting myself at risk. I wasn’t a good liar, and bound to be even worse at it when his perfect lips were distracting me from damn near everything. I went with the simplest start that I could muster.

“Why’d you name your horse Alcar?” His gaze shifted into something softer, almost sad, like I caught him off guard.

“He’s named after a story from my childhood.” He paused, looking away, then finished, “One my mother used to read to me when I was very young.”

I have no idea why that minor admission appeared to pain him, but I felt like it wasn’t the right moment to pry any further. I replied, “So where are you from, and what brings you to these parts?”

I had no idea why I had stupidly asked that question, but we were likely to get around to that subject matter anyway. I just needed time to prepare my lie.

The eager barmaid arrived, setting down our drinks and meals in front of us, giving Trace time to formulate a response.

“I’m on leave from the Kingsguard.”

Ahh…military. Made sense given his rigid demeanor and all those weapons he kept under his cloak.

He took a swig of ale and I continued with the interrogation. “But where are you from?”

He shook his head, replying, “When you’re Kingsguard you’re never really from anywhere. You’re always on the move; you learn to call home wherever you are that day.”

I took two giant bites of stew, grateful that Trace had some insight about the menu.

“Well, everyone is from somewhere,” I prodded, spooning away at my meal.

“North of North. That’s where I’m from. You wouldn’t know of it.”

The way he evaded the question was condescending, but I was intrigued. Little did he know, my sister and I had studied maps of the kingdom from a young age, especially when my father was away. It comforted us to see the destinations he was traveling to up close. It helped bridge the seemingly unfathomable distance between the span of a thumb and forefinger. I let him move on for now but stowed further questions in my mind for later.

“And you…? Where are you and that beautiful horse hailing from?”

I fidgeted anxiously. Maybe he had noticed too much about Rain. To the average eye, he was simply beautiful—but to someone who knew horses, he was expensive and rare. Not an animal you’d see tied up in a run-down stable. I decided todownplay it, assuming that a common Kingsguard likely didn’t have awareness of rare horse breeds.

“Oh yeah, Rain, he’s a looker,” I took a gulp of the water. “As for me, I’m from south of South. You probably wouldn’t know of it.”

I knew my reply was snarky and he was unlikely to buy it, but it was the best I had at the moment. I could have lied and mentioned the town where I had visited Wendell’s Exchange, but then I might be expected to know all about it on the off chance he’d been there…then I’d really be in trouble.

He let out a small unimpressed laugh and took another gulp. “Well played, Cress, well played.”

I breathed an inaudible sigh of relief that he took my response as just more evasive banter.

“South of South you say? What brings you this far north?”

Of course, he had follow-up questions. “I’m just killing time, exploring. I leave in a couple of weeks to serve the Seafarers on a ship.”

I had to admit the half lie rolled off my tongue naturally, and I knew sticking with my parents’ story was going to serve me well. But instead of him thinking that I was educated, versed in languages, and familiar with the merchants guild, I needed him to think I was nothing more than a commoner in need of labor and a wage.

As I mulled over the different aspects of the lie in my mind, I realized there was an extended, thoughtful silence. He moved his empty bowl to the side. “I think I can help you kill some time. Would you like that?”

The question slid off his tongue like silk, laced with the intoxicating promise of what was to come. My thighs pressed together tightly. I wanted to kill all of time with the stranger before me.

My throat bobbed, and I think I could hear my heartbeat pounding as I nodded in agreement. “I’d like that, Trace.”

I said his name melodically, thinking of how he promised me I’d be saying it until I no longer could. A wicked smile spread across his face, exposing his teeth and accentuating his predatory gaze. “What do you have in mind?”

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