Page 29 of Feral Guardian
I grumble.
She laughs again. “It has nothing to do with yourperformance, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Lilianna, tell me you didn’t just make that joke,” I growl.
She shimmies her shoulders. “Yes, I did.”
My hand flexes over her stomach and I dip my lips to her ear as I whisper, “You are a very naughty princess sometimes.”
Her fingers dig into the leather armor of my forearm and she goes stiff.
I smile to myself.I got her back.
The gateman opens the little door into Yelesna, forcing Lily and I to dismount Kor’Tar to come in. He’s a big horse.
My mind quiets and focuses on the primary objective: find a ship traveling to Fynren.
“Stay close by my side,” I whisper to Lily as we pass through the streets of Yelesna.
I’d thought the poverty was only close to the docks, but how could I be so foolish? This town is drowning in addiction and depression. How could a trade village have fallen so far?
I keep to the opposite side of the city from where we came in days ago. I don’t want to be anywhere near the Last Slab, lest any more pirates see us and come to claim their bounty.
We wander until I find a tavern with a stable. The Golden Grove. I know it’s a respectable establishment because a burly man waits outside to push the filth back. A good place for my princess.
I approach the doorman. “I need to stable my horse and get a room for the night.”
“Ten gold pieces for a room, three for the stables,” he says, holding out his hand.
“Ten!” Lily barks. “However do you attract patrons with those prices?”
It is an outrageous price. The doorman is likely collecting on the side.
“It’s ten, or you can find another place to rest your heads,” he snarls, a chipped tooth showing in the front.
I don’t want to leave Lily outside to speak with the barman for the actual price. I look to Lily. “Let’s move on. There will be another tavern.”
She smirks and something shimmers between her fingers. “Oh, but wecanpay.”
She reaches behind the doorman’s ear and when she flips her fingers, a gold coin appears. She holds it out to him. “This is what you want?”
His eyes narrow. “You’re a clown?”
He’s asking if her magus ability is low blood, some parlor trick. No…she transformed whatever she had in her hand into gold. It may be temporary, but for now, itisgold.
“Just an entertainer looking for a safe place to lay her head. We have gold.” She flicks her fingers and more slivers of the rare material appear. “However, I think when we go inside and question your barman, he’s going to have a different rate for us. Isn’t he?” she asks in a conspiratorial voice.
The doorman glares at me. “Two gold for the horse. Seven for a bed.”
Lily grabs his chin, pulling his eyes back to her face. “Are you sure?”
His lips pull back in another snarl.
“I’d hate for you to get let go…or worse.” She smiles sweetly and I can’t help my own grin. She is bold with me at her back. She should be. I will always enforce her will.
The man glances up at me and his snarl droops to a grimace. “Three silver for the horse and two gold for you.”
“That sounds closer to correct,” Lily says before returning to Kor’Tar. She pats him fondly and he chuffs at her attention.
