Betrayal by Blood: A Prequel (Stones of Terrene Book 0) by RJ Metcalf

Author:RJ Metcalf [Metcalf, RJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fayette Press
Published: 2019-03-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-One

Slate

“I still can’t believe you actually tailed him for a full day.” Slate snorted as he walked down the street toward the City Circle.

Zane threw his arms in the air in exasperation. “What was I supposed to do?” he exclaimed over Slate’s laughter. “I meet a random old guy who conveniently has the ability to save a friend who’s dying from poison, and who happens to know a secret entrance into the palace, and who knows Void magic? What else should I have done, invite him to the citadel for tea and question him over cookies and scones?”

“Well, I did tell you he was trustworthy.” Slate raised his eyebrows pointedly and swiped at the sweat beading on his forehead. “You didn’t have to stalk him.”

“I didn’t stalk him. I followed him,” Zane replied with humored testiness, crossing his arms. “There’s a difference.”

“A difference? Really?”

“Yes! There’s a huge difference in the semantics. Stalking is for dark intentions. Following is for suspicious people.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” Slate shook his head in amusement and switched topics. “Did Finn mention to you what he wanted us for?”

Zane had clued Slate in on his private investigation of Finn yesterday. Apparently Zane’s skullduggery, subtlety, and subterfuge was no match for Finn, who’d “caught” Zane early on the second day, and they’d sat for a long conversation that resulted in the two becoming unlikely friends. And to Slate’s great annoyance, neither man was forthcoming in what exactly transpired.

But whatever had happened had been enough for Zane. Now he trusted Finn. And Slate couldn’t let a moment pass by without teasing Zane about his original suspicion.

Zane skirted around a trio of kids playing in the street in front of them. He shook his head. “No, he just wanted us both for something.”

They angled toward a large metal apothecary sign hanging over a doorway. Slate walked right in, while Zane paused to glance at the street before following.

All Slate could see of his old friend was Finn’s brown vest and a sliver of his sleeve, then Finn stood, back still to them, a pad of paper in hand while he tapped a pencil against bottles on the shelf. He scribbled on the paper, then turned, a smile crinkling his eyes.

“Welcome! Thank you for coming, lads.” Finn walked around the display between them and shook their hands, pulling each of them into a back-slapping hug.

“Of course.” Slate stood comfortably with his hands on his hips while Zane prowled around the shop like a cat on the hunt. “You asked for us, so we came. What’s going on?”

Finn’s entire face seemed to light up. “I got a letter from Connor and Maria!”

“Ooh.” Judging from Finn’s expression, whatever they had to say had been good. Understanding warmed Slate like a mug of mulled wine on a winter day. “How are they doing?”

“Quite well, quite well.” Finn moved back to where he had been originally, sliding his pad of paper between the bottles as a placeholder. He looked over at Zane, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

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