Page 30 of Feral Guardian
I lead him around the tavern to the small stable at the rear in the alley. It’s pitiful but secured by a man spinning a dagger on a stool. Kor’Tar looks around at the other male horses and grumbles.
“Nothing to mount tonight, boy,” I whisper to him.
He nickers briefly, as if chuckling. Perhaps hewillbe mounting something tonight. It’s not my place to interfere in the sexual dealings of horses…
I grab the gear from his hindquarters and follow Lily into the tavern. Sound assaults us immediately. Loud, combative patrons fight over cards, women, and drinks. They punch one another, break glasses, and throw back chairs.
It is only just before supper.
I grab Lily around the upper arm and lead her to the bar.
The barwoman eyes me up and down, then smirks. “You and your girl need a room for the night?”
“Yes. We have a stabled horse as well,” I say.
We pay and she hands over the key to our room.
“Floor three, all the way at the end. It’s quiet,” she says with a wink that makes my guts tense. I will not think about why the barwoman has offered us a secluded section.
We climb the stairs and enter the room. It’s not the cleanest, nor filthiest I’ve ever seen. I drop Kor’Tar’s saddlebags beside the door and then check the window. There’s no ward, so I apply one quickly. It’s a simple alert and burn crafted from Morgha’s and Gaien’s runes, something a proper assassin could overcome easily,but someone low-paid and sloppy would miss. I don’t think Trask has the funds for the former.
“I need to go down to the lounge and find us passage,” I say to Lily.
“I’ll go too,” she says with a bright smile.
I shake my head. “You will be safe here. I’ve warded the window and the door.”
“Please, I can take care of myself,” she groans, rolling her eyes. “This might be my last chance to see a tavern before I’m marrying some lord and popping out his children.”
I suck in a breath. Sometimes, I forget she’s the princess. That this is her life, her role. She will be more when she is queen, and surely there will be balls and exciting events, but nothing like this. Nothing like a tavern full of people who don’t know her, deep in their reveries. She’s always been fond of watching my men play cards and jest, though I know it was primarily to learn all the filthy words her mother didn’t want her to know.
She turns to me. “I know, I’msodramatic. Sorry. But honestly, Alastair, I need this.”
Who am I to deny her one more night of fun? I can watch and keep her safe. This will be fine.
I dip my head. “An hour. That’s all.”
She claps excitedly. “This will be the best hour of my life inyears!”
Chapter ten
Lily
Alastair demanded that I change my face and hair slightly to avoid detection, so I gave myself a few modifications that would throw off someone who’s not specifically looking for me. Given that most of the people whoarespecifically looking for me are dead, the risk is low.
My stomach is aflutter as we exit the room and walk down the hall. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to talk to people,realpeople. So many years of political nonsense and posturing. Blech! Finally, I’m going to get to the good stuff.
New dirty jokes.
A chorus of shouts travels up the stairs as a drinking song reaches its peak, then peters off. Alastair is stiff as he descends the stairs, his eyes darting down the hall on the second floor before he allows me to follow him.
He’s being absolutely ridiculous.
Yes, we were intercepted by pirates when they knew what our route was going to be and when we’d be vulnerable, but no one knows we’re here, and if Alastair is right, only one more person is looking for us.
Trask.
I try not to let thoughts of my mother, danger, or stupid pirates infiltrate my mind. I want to have fun. I’mgoingto have fun. And I’m going to have a drink. The nastiest, worst possible drink.
