Page 52 of Seized to Sacrifice
‘The slaver’s cart,’ she said. ‘The one I was brought to the town in.’
She moved closer to them as if afraid the slaver would come out of nowhere and capture her again.
‘He’s long dead,’ Rye said in a bored tone, continuing to look ahead on the road.
His words, though delivered as if he simply found her fear exasperating, made her visibly relax.
They journeyed all day, taking the road that curved up to the east away from the coast and into the heart of the land.
‘Is the Camp still at the foot of the mountains?’ Nyx asked Rye.
His Brother had been the only one of them to have contact with the Commander.
‘Aye. Quin expects us in three days. They’re still awaiting the passes to thaw. They should be camped there for another sennight at least.’
They continued on at a relatively slow pace, not in any real hurry, and that night, just as it began to get dark, they arrived at the inn they’d been making for. Nyx and Thorne took the horses along with Elle to the stables while Rye went inside to sort the rooms and their other needs for the night.
Thorne put his and Rye’s horses in their stalls while Elle and Nyx did the same. Nyx noticed Elle kept casting sidelong glances at Thorne, but he ignored her completely, leaving the stable alone when he was finished seeing to their mounts.
They followed him soon after, Nyx ushering Elle inside the inn. It had begun to rain, and the wind had picked up. There would be a storm tonight and he needed to find her some boots and a cloak for the morrow.
The taproom was busy and full. A bard sung in the corner by the fire and Nyx’s eyes narrowed. Too busy, he thought, but Elle was looking around curiously. Not liking the look of the rowdy men and women around them, he didn't allow her any time to get comfortable.
‘Do we have rooms?’ he asked Rye without preamble.
Rye nodded.
‘Good. Order us a bath. Elle also needs some sturdy boots and a cloak.’
Rye gave him an amused grin but nodded, and Nyx took her hand and pulled her away. He urged her gently up the creaking stairs to the first room, practically pushing her inside and closing it firmly behind them.
‘What's wrong?’ she asked.
‘Nothing,’ he answered, pasting a smile on his face to hide his relief, and she frowned at him.
‘Then why did we run up here? I wanted to listen to the music,’ she said.
‘You can still hear it,’ he said with a frown.
She sat at the small table in the corner, leaning her elbows on the table and propping up her head with her hands, looking a bit despondent.
A cheerful fire burned in the grate, making the room warm.
Too warm.
Sweltering, he opened the casement to let in some of the cooler air. It was pouring outside.
He turned to find her regarding him from where she sat.
‘You haven’t left the keep in a long time, have you?’ she asked.
He frowned. She was too intuitive by half.
‘It’s been a while,’ he admitted.
‘I can see that you’re anxious about being here.’
‘It’s not that,’ he said quietly. ‘I don’t travel much and when I do, it’s only with the others or by myself. Having you here is …’
