colder.”
“Do you have any sturdy rope? I could use some of that as well.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “I have some in back.”
The man was not only shrewd, but a bit opportunistic. Nico didn’t want to risk asking for clothes for Riki. He’d done well enough for now. He watched the room as the innkeeper bustled around behind him, packing the basket with food and the other items.
The innkeeper seemed more than happy to earn such a large sum for comparatively little and hustled everything together in record time while Nico tucked in a quick, hot bowl of stew. He was about halfway through with the meal when two of Lucan’s castle guards came stalking through the door, taking seats at a table just a few feet from Nico.
He took the opportunity to listen in on their conversation, doing his best to appear calm and nonchalant. When the door had first opened, Nico thought he was done for, but the guards seemed more interested in eating and drinking than rousting the patrons of the tavern. Thank the Mother.
Nico breathed a sigh of relief when the guards set into their hearty meals and the landlord returned with the cloak and basket. Making a strategic retreat, Nico calmly left the tavern, one gold coin lighter, but richer in both provisions and information. He’d heard quite a bit of the guards’ grousing and knew with certainty now the alarm had been sent up from here to the border.
Lucan’s fast action spelled trouble for their ability to cross the border, but Nico decided to take things one step at a time. First he had to supply them for the journey as best he could, then he would see about getting them out of Skithdron.
Spying a likely clothesline, Nico also took the opportunity on his way out of town to pilfer a bit of clothing for Riki. She had to have been frozen after the long, cold ride the night before. Leaving a silver coin in payment, Nico felt no guilt for taking the unknown peasant woman’s dress.
He circled back cautiously through the cornfield, knowing darkness brought out predators in Skithdron the likes of which they didn’t see in his native land. Still, Nico was traveled enough to know how to avoid the worst of them, and he used all his skills now as he made his way quickly back to Riki.
Nico arrived back at the spot where he’d left Riki, but she was nowhere to be found. Panic threatened until a rustle of leaves in the tall tree ten yards away caught his attention. Riki smiled back at him from between the leaves of a low branch. She hopped to the ground and ran to him.
Nico dropped the basket and caught her in his arms as she entered the camouflaging rows of corn. Hugging her close, he placed little kisses all over her upturned face.
“You scared me, sweetheart.”
“I was too afraid to stay in the corn and I figured I could hide in the leafy part of the tree if I was careful.”
“Brilliant, Riki. That was good thinking.”
She beamed at him and he felt his heart expand. But they were in terrible danger from predators on the ground—both human and not. Nico lifted the basket and led her away from town as quickly and safely as possible, rerouting only once to avoid a large predator eating its nightly kill.
When they were far enough away and out of the corn, Nico stopped.
“I have something for you.” He produced the peasant dress with a flourish and was gratified to see tears of happiness in her eyes. She took the dress from him and held it up to her skinny form. “Put it on over what you’re wearing for now. It gets cold in the night sky and I want you to be as warm as possible.”
Riki tugged the dress on with his help and his breath caught at her beauty.
Her gorgeous auburn hair was coming back to life as her energy built with each passing hour of freedom. Riki was beginning to bloom like a flower after long winter, and she was just as enchanting.
A healthy flush lit her pale cheeks. Nico felt better as well after the way their energies fed off each other and
“Do you have any sturdy rope? I could use some of that as well.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “I have some in back.”
The man was not only shrewd, but a bit opportunistic. Nico didn’t want to risk asking for clothes for Riki. He’d done well enough for now. He watched the room as the innkeeper bustled around behind him, packing the basket with food and the other items.
The innkeeper seemed more than happy to earn such a large sum for comparatively little and hustled everything together in record time while Nico tucked in a quick, hot bowl of stew. He was about halfway through with the meal when two of Lucan’s castle guards came stalking through the door, taking seats at a table just a few feet from Nico.
He took the opportunity to listen in on their conversation, doing his best to appear calm and nonchalant. When the door had first opened, Nico thought he was done for, but the guards seemed more interested in eating and drinking than rousting the patrons of the tavern. Thank the Mother.
Nico breathed a sigh of relief when the guards set into their hearty meals and the landlord returned with the cloak and basket. Making a strategic retreat, Nico calmly left the tavern, one gold coin lighter, but richer in both provisions and information. He’d heard quite a bit of the guards’ grousing and knew with certainty now the alarm had been sent up from here to the border.
Lucan’s fast action spelled trouble for their ability to cross the border, but Nico decided to take things one step at a time. First he had to supply them for the journey as best he could, then he would see about getting them out of Skithdron.
Spying a likely clothesline, Nico also took the opportunity on his way out of town to pilfer a bit of clothing for Riki. She had to have been frozen after the long, cold ride the night before. Leaving a silver coin in payment, Nico felt no guilt for taking the unknown peasant woman’s dress.
He circled back cautiously through the cornfield, knowing darkness brought out predators in Skithdron the likes of which they didn’t see in his native land. Still, Nico was traveled enough to know how to avoid the worst of them, and he used all his skills now as he made his way quickly back to Riki.
Nico arrived back at the spot where he’d left Riki, but she was nowhere to be found. Panic threatened until a rustle of leaves in the tall tree ten yards away caught his attention. Riki smiled back at him from between the leaves of a low branch. She hopped to the ground and ran to him.
Nico dropped the basket and caught her in his arms as she entered the camouflaging rows of corn. Hugging her close, he placed little kisses all over her upturned face.
“You scared me, sweetheart.”
“I was too afraid to stay in the corn and I figured I could hide in the leafy part of the tree if I was careful.”
“Brilliant, Riki. That was good thinking.”
She beamed at him and he felt his heart expand. But they were in terrible danger from predators on the ground—both human and not. Nico lifted the basket and led her away from town as quickly and safely as possible, rerouting only once to avoid a large predator eating its nightly kill.
When they were far enough away and out of the corn, Nico stopped.
“I have something for you.” He produced the peasant dress with a flourish and was gratified to see tears of happiness in her eyes. She took the dress from him and held it up to her skinny form. “Put it on over what you’re wearing for now. It gets cold in the night sky and I want you to be as warm as possible.”
Riki tugged the dress on with his help and his breath caught at her beauty.
Her gorgeous auburn hair was coming back to life as her energy built with each passing hour of freedom. Riki was beginning to bloom like a flower after long winter, and she was just as enchanting.
A healthy flush lit her pale cheeks. Nico felt better as well after the way their energies fed off each other and
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