Page 126 of Silverbow
“You should have seen the one she punched,” Aiden quipped. “Nice right hook.”
The boy’s eyebrows rose.
“So now that we’re all gathered,” Oryn growled. “Why don’t you enlighten us on your plan.”
She pointed a finger to where his ring sat against her skin beneath her filthy, travel stained shirt. “Merchant.” She turned the finger on him. “Merchant’s guard.”
The boy furrowed his brow. “Am I missing something, En?”
“Ansel!” Oryn snapped.
“Right. Am I missing something, Ansel?”
“I have contracted these gentlemen for an escort. That’s all,” she said, glaring at Oryn.
“To where?” Oryn demanded.
“Sanctuary, of course.”
“Thank the bloody gods.”
“With what money?” Liam asked, his brow furrowed.
“Excellent question,” Aiden replied. “Perhaps Adar can explain his negotiating tactics. I’m sure it would be insightful for us all. Merchant’s guards don’t work for free, you know. I’m not the one with a debt.”
“Adar owes me a debt,” she said by way of explanation. “You’ll come with us when we leave and you’re moving to this inn. You can have his bed.”
Oryn’s eyebrows rose. He certainly hadn’t agreed to that. “Oh?”
She turned a saccharine smile on him. “You can find another, or sleep in the stable, for all I care. On second thought, do you think we could find a witch in Misthol?”
Oryn had the distinct feeling Bade was hiding a grin his ale and Aiden wasn’t even trying to mask his amusement. Liam just looked confused, but with a look around the table, he had the sense not to ask. At least one of them seemed to have some sense.
When the boy finally departed to collect his horse and Enya had retreated upstairs, a devious smile flitted across the fire wielder’s face. “Now’s your chance to knife him in the Foreshore.”
Oryn met his gaze levelly. “And why would I want to do that?”
Candlelight danced in Aiden’s eyes, echoing his own flame. “For the same reason you’re letting her order you around, I suspect.”
Oryn’s hands balled into fists below the table.I will not not behead Bellas’s son. I will not behead Bellas’s son.
“Easy,” Colm warned.
“Will we be five or six when we ride out?” He grinned.
“Three seems the ideal number to me,” Oryn answered. “I recall a lot more peace and quiet when we were just three.”
“Why are we here?” Bade asked.
“Hoping there’s a good fight involved?” Aiden asked the earth wielder.
Colm sighed. “She’d never forgive you if we left him behind.”
She’s never going to forgive me anyway.
Aiden was grinning at him wolfishly. “I, for one, think that the more the merrier.”
“No one asked you,” all three of them said in unison.
