He packed the remains of the deer in peaceful silence while she put out the fire. Alone, in a desert of white, they mounted and rode northeast.
CHAPTER 13
Just before nightfall, they found the road, a ribbon of white cutting through the trees. Nothing disturbed its surface. No pursuit had come this way. Too tired to talk, they made a fireless camp among the trees bordering the road.
Late the next afternoon, they saw smoke from several cottage fires beyond the hill in front of them. Arvin had gathered enough food for several days in the garrison town, but they were running short of oats for the horses. The snow was too deep for their animals to forage. They would have to stop in town and secure provisions.
"I’m guessing we’ve traveled enough to hit the road to the Great Wizard's castle by now. This town should be the crossroads. I think it best to come on it in daylight, M’lady."
Leena looked at him. Even at the slow pace dictated by deep snow, they could make the town in less than an hour. The sun was not yet kissing the horizon. They could be there before full dark. Visions of a hot bath and warm bed floated in her mind.
"Surely they wouldn’t be looking for us this far east."
Arvin stared at her for long seconds with an unreadable expression. Something calculating danced behind his eyes. Leena sensed he was considering and discarding options, weighing their chances.
"You’re right, of course, M’lady. I guess I’ve gotten in the habit of being overcautious. It’s time we had a hot meal and soft bed."
Without another word, he spurred his horse forward. Leena followed, leading the packhorse.
From the crest of the hill they saw the town. Its thatch-roofed buildings comfortably nested in the valley before them. Columns of hearth smoke reached to the darkening sky, gray streamers trailing across pink sunset. The north-south road was well traveled. The east-west road they were on passed through town and continued across the hill beyond. Its white, unmarred path divided distant trees.
From here, they saw lights in several houses. As she watched, more lights winked on. People were arriving home from whatever jobs they labored at during the day.
A wave of homesickness washed over Leena. More than anything else, she wanted to be a part of a community. It seemed so long since she was among people. She shook the feeling off, wiped her eyes with the edge of her shawl and followed Arvin down the hill.
At the livery next to the two-story, wooden inn, A groom took their mounts. For a silver piece from Leena, he promised to give the horses a good rubdown, plenty of oats and fresh hay to eat and sleep on. Carrying their sacks, they trudged to the inn.
Leena’s senses were instantly overwhelmed by the clatter of cutlery against pewter dishes, the base undertone of dozens of conversations, occasional brays of laughter and almost unbearable heat in the inn’s common room. She quickly shut the door to keep the cold out.
Their arrival went unnoticed. This was a crossroads town, used to strangers passing through. She followed Arvin as he weaved a path through the mass of people and secured a table near the rear. They stowed their parcels beneath the table.
"You order us up some food while I see if they have rooms." Arvin had to raise his voice to be heard over the noise. Without waiting for a response, he turned and disappeared in the mob.
Leena had no idea of the proper way to order food in an inn. Should she force her way to the counter? Would their possessions be safe here unattended? Should she stop one of the ladies carrying trays and ask them?
Tears of frustration and anger at her ignorance welled up. She felt like a small girl wishing her Da were here to advise her.
"Is there a problem, Miss? Perhaps I can help."
She looked up into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. For a moment, she lost track of where she was. She felt drawn to the guileless expression of the raven-haired man standing on the other side of the rough, wooden table. He stood awaiting her answer, holding a tankard in his right hand.
"Huh?" Oh great! What a dolt you are.
"I don’t mean to be forward, Miss, but you looked upset. I cannot resist helping a beautiful young lady in distress." His eyes were laughing, but not mocking.
She did not know whether to be elated or upset. Beautiful, he called her beautiful. But young, she was nearly seventeen. He could not be more than twenty himself.
Still.
"I, uh, I’ve never been in an inn. I don’t know... That is, I want..."
He stood, looking slightly confused, and why not, she was not making any sense.
"How in blazes does one order food around here?" She blurted it loud enough to slow conversation around her. She could feel eyes staring at her and hung her head to hide her blush.
"That can be a problem at times, Miss, especially when it's crowded like this." He said it in such an understanding tone she dared look back up. "Allow me."
"Evelyn!" his deep voice, though not loud, easily penetrated the noise.
"Yes M’lord," A serving girl, with a bodice far too revealing for Leena’s taste, appeared at his side, "what can I get you?"
"The lady would like to order some food." He seemed so confident, so at ease.
"We’ve beef stew and bread tonight, M’lady. Can I get you one?"
"Two. I’m traveling with a friend. He should be back in a moment."
"As you wish." Evelyn disappeared in the crowd.
The young man pulled out the chair before him, spun it, and sat with his arms resting easily across its back. She had never seen anyone sit like this. It looked so, dashing, was the word that came to mind. Leena tried to keep her eyes from the open neck of his loose, white cotton shirt.
"So where are you heading, Miss?"
Suddenly, Leena felt ill at ease. She had no idea who this man was. She dared not tell him the truth.
"North."
He said nothing, his expression expectant as though waiting for her to continue.
"Uh huh," he said when it was obvious she was going to say nothing more. "I guess that figures. This time of year most people are either headed north or south from Pineton. It seems we’re heading in the same direction, though I’m going all the way to the Great Wizard's castle in Elderon myself. I doubt you’re going that far?"
She let the question hang in the air. He waited.
"Well, I’ll leave you to your meal. Perhaps we’ll see each other on the road." He looked at her for a moment as though hoping she would say something more. Perhaps he wanted her to ask him to stay, but she couldn’t. He stood, turned the chair back to the table, and lifted his tankard in a salute.
"I’m glad to have been of service. I hope someday I may serve you again."
She was surprised by her feeling of disappointment as he left. She wanted to call him back, to explain she was not intentionally being rude, but she dared not.
"I’ve secured us two rooms M’lady and they’ll have baths prepared for us in the morning." She jerked at the sound of Arvin’s voice. She was so lost in thought she had not seen him approach. He glanced in the direction she had been looking, then back at her with a curious expression.
"Something the matter, M’lady?"
"No," she said, then more cheerily, "No, I was just watching for our food to arrive and woolgathering a bit, I suppose. Do you think we could have the rooms for two nights? It would be nice to have our clothes washed."
He looked at her as though he felt something was not quite right. He glanced again in the direction she had been looking. Something disturbed him, but she could tell he saw nothing unusual. She could almost see his mental shrug.
"That’s not a bad idea M’lady. The horses could use the rest."
They finished their meal in silence. Arvin seemed uncomfortable. He constantly looked around as though expecting someone to accost them. Or perhaps, the unwelcome thought jumped into her mind, he is expecting to be recognized, but if so, by whom?
She shook her head. No, she was just tired. The encounter with the stranger had unsettl
ed her. Now she was seeing night frights at every turn.
He had been so strong, so handsome and self-assured. Who was he? She realized she had not thought to ask his name. She dared not look around for him. Arvin was nervous and unpredictable. She did not want to find out what his response would be if she spotted the stranger.
Finally, their meal done, they gathered their bundles. With Arvin leading, they headed through a hallway at the rear of the common room and up a dimly lit flight of stairs.
"You take eight and I’ll take seven, M’lady." He motioned to doors on either side of the wooden hallway.
Sliding a small iron bar from its slot in the doorjamb freed the door. On the other side she found a peg on a string and a hole drilled halfway through the door. With the peg in the hole, the bar could not be moved to open the door. She would be safe here.
A cozy fire danced gaily in the small, iron grated fireplace. The room was pleasantly warm. A new moon cast dim light through the diamond shaped panes of the frosted window. The noise of conversation in the common room was muted and soothing, like distant ocean surf.
For a moment she considered lighting the lamp and unpacking, but the food had been so good, so filling, and she was so tired. Quickly, she shed clothing down to her undergarments. She no longer noticed the Garlan branch against her stomach. With a smile, she climbed between the crisp coolness of linen sheets beneath a mountainous feather quilt. In seconds, her body heated the space and she was fast asleep.
Late, so late all noise had ceased in the common room, she heard a tiny noise from the door. The bar moved against the peg. Once, twice, three times, then squeaking of the hallway floor as someone moved away. Half awake she waited. All was silent. Not certain whether it had been a dream, she drifted back to sleep.
CHAPTER 14
Morning sun streamed through iced windows when she woke. The fire was out and the room was frigid. Her hedge witch wand was buried somewhere in the pile of clothing on the floor. It was easier to lay here and relax than fetch it and cast a warming spell. Her body heated the bed quite nicely.
What did she need to do today? Trousers were the first order of business. She could not ride sidesaddle another day. She needed to see a blacksmith and have a keen edge put on her sword. Hopefully, she could learn how far it was to the Great Wizard's castle. Perhaps she could find someone who knew of the events at her village and could explain why it happened.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a rap at the door.
"Yes?"
"Is M’lady ready for her bath?"
Bath. She had forgotten.
"Oh, yes."
Using the door to shield her skimpy clothing, peeking only her head around, Leena saw a kindly, plump-faced woman. "Where is the bath room?"
"At the end of the hall, on the left." She nodded her weather-reddened face in the direction. "Here’s a towel and I’ll run and have your bath ready quick as a doe. Leave any clothes you want washed in the basket by the bureau."
Leena watched the woman scurry away then shut the door and tugged clean clothing from her pack. She removed her hedge witch wand, purse and scabbard belt from the pile and tossed the soiled clothing in the basket. Wrapped in the oversized towel, carrying clean clothes, she padded barefoot to the bath.
Clean, dressed and refreshed she returned to her room and donned her sword, purse and wand. She was ready to face the day.
Several people were in the common room. Activity and anticipation flowed from the crowd. These were people with places to go and anxious to be moving.
"Sit where you like, M’lady." A plump man behind the counter motioned with a broad sweep of his arm. He looked enough like the woman who drew her bath they could be bookends.
"Want a pot of tea?" The man came around the counter and placed a bowl and mug before her.
"Yes, that would be lovely." She felt odd saying that, but he was treating her so royally she felt the desire to prove she was a lady.
"There’s gruel and a ladle by the fire and honey, milk, nuts and berries on the sideboard. There’s also bread, butter and wild berry jam, if you’d like."
"Thank you sir. Can you tell me whether the gentleman from room seven has eaten yet?"
"Oh, he’s long since gone, M’lady. He was gone before the sun came up. Woke the groom to get his mounts early, he did. Ate cold meat and left. I have to say I don’t approve of guests helping themselves to the larder at all hours, Miss." His tone was not hostile, however much of the warmth and friendliness had disappeared. The man turned to go.
Leena’s mind spun. He must be mistaken. Maybe she misremembered the room number.
"One second, if you please, Sir?"
"Yes M’lady?" The man stopped and turned, waiting patiently.
She slowed her mind to find a question that could free her from a confused storm of thoughts.
"Did he happen to mention where he was going?"
She saw his eyes soften, as though suspecting she had nothing to do with the raid on his stores.
"I’m sure I don’t know, Miss. The groom told me only that he left early this morning. You might check with the groom though. I’m sure he could answer that. Now, you’d best have some breakfast. What’s done’s done and the next few minutes won’t change things." He smiled like a kindly uncle giving advice.
He was right, of course. Arvin was unpredictable. Rushing around now would change nothing.
Leena scooped a heaping bowl of gruel and smothered it with nuts, honey, berries and milk. A sharp knife easily sliced the warm, fragrant bread. Butter melted into the crevices and the wild berry jam was unlike anything she had tasted.
The groom could not add anything to what the proprietor told her. Arvin arrived long before sunup, had the groom saddle his horse while he loaded the packhorse and rode off north.
So be it. Although a sort of friendship had grown, Leena still found it difficult to trust him. He had something, a look in his eyes or perhaps his demeanor, which bothered her. Besides, he had a disturbing habit of popping up at the most unexpected times. She had no doubt she would meet him again. She wondered whether he still hoped to use her as ransom for his parents.
Oh well, he was gone for now. She had other things to worry about.
The town was livelier than she was used to. This was a trade town. Carts constantly rolled back and forth or were loaded or unloaded on its main street. At breakfast, merchants talked and made deals over bowls of gruel. Outside, gentlemen gathered in the street and in shops. Everywhere, business was being done. Half the buildings on the main street were shops.
Leena tried several dress shops before a clerk suggested she try the general store. With a disdainful expression, the clerk informed her that the general store was where men bought work clothes.
The general store was larger than any shop Leena had seen. The place was crowded with foodstuffs, clothing, farm instruments and hardware on tables and in orderly stacks. The sheer number of goods assailed her mind.
In a pile of homespun trousers, she found a boy-sized pair that would fit if she used a belt to cinch the waist. Because Arvin had taken most of their foodstuffs, she restocked with dried meats, fruit and nuts. She also purchased a large bag of oats. On a whim, she bought a dark-blue ribbon that contrasted nicely with her black hair. Now she could tie it back so it would not blow in her face as she rode.
She was juggling packages, and admiring the way sunlight glinted on the satin ribbon, as she neared the armorer’s shop. Too late, she saw a shadow cross the crushed snow in front of her. She looked up just in time to run into the back of a man leaving the shop. He was looking behind, talking to the armorer as he left.
"I’ll be back tomorrow, first light." He was saying.
She had no time to avoid him. With an ungracious thump, she found herself sitting amid scattered packages in a sprawl of skirts on the uneven ice of the street. She looked up into the blue eyes of the man from the inn.
"Forgive me, Miss. My fault entirely." He extended a
hand to help her up. "We do seem to run into each other under adverse circumstances. I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Darius."
Darius. What a perfect name.
"I’m Leena." She was relieved to see no hint of recognition in his eyes. The name meant nothing to him.
She held his hand a moment longer. Did she feel a slight pressure from his?
Flustered, she turned to look at the disarray. She could feel her ears glowing red as she snatched up the ribbon and started gathering packages. Before she thought to stop him, he bent to pick up the trousers.
"Are these for your traveling companion?" He held them out to her. She was irritated to find herself blushing again. She grabbed them from his hand and bunched them with the rest of her armload. Was she doomed to find herself forever embarrassed with this man?
"No, he’s gone and well, you see...I’m, that is, I don’t like riding sidesaddle and I thought I’d try these." Why did she have such a difficult time expressing herself around him? Why had she told him Arvin was gone?
"Ah." He said as though the nonsense she spouted was profound. He helped her restack the parcels in her arms. His glance drifted to the sword she carried. "Did your companion leave without his sword?"
Enough! If she had to suffer one more embarrassment, she would shrink to nothing. Why did he do this to her?
"It’s mine," she snapped. "Now, if you’ll be so kind as to move, I can get to the armorer to have it sharpened."
She lowered her head and used her shoulder to push past him into the shop.
The room was warm. Through an open door in the rear, she saw the edge of a mighty bellows. The clang and ping of hammers against metal floated into the shop. On a counter was an assortment of knives, swords, spears and weapons Leena did not recognize.
A large bald man with forearms bigger than her thighs, clothing protected by a stained and soiled leather apron, looked at her sharply.
"Can I help you, Miss?"
"I think I need to have my blade sharpened." She placed her parcels on an empty section of counter and held the scabbard out to him. The blacksmith drew the blade and inspected the sword closely.