Bitter Winter by Jaye L Knight

Author:Jaye L Knight [Knight, Jaye L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Living Sword Publishing
Published: 2018-12-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Jace and Holden followed Aaron through the city. The farther south they went, the seedier it became. Trash and garbage heaps littered the streets. If it were the middle of summer, Jace could just imagine the stench that would have burned their noses. Dark figures in tattered clothing slunk away down the alleys as they approached. Others ignored them, digging through the piles of refuse. Those who did notice cast them vacant looks. Jace had seen such broken, lifeless expressions growing up in slave yards. His nerves prickled, and he kept his cloak around his money satchel. They carried enough valuables to make even an honest person consider robbing them if desperate enough.

Even so, Aaron strode confidently past the figures. The man had more guts than someone twice his size. Like Jace, he had seen his fair share of hardship growing up as a miner in the Graylin Valley. The people there were often little better than slaves themselves.

“Avery’s supposed to have his loot stashed in some of the abandoned buildings around here, but he does his business in the taverns,” Aaron told them. Despite his confidence, he did scan each street with an alert and watchful eye. “In this part of the city at least, there is no love lost between the people and the queen or her men. Soldiers won’t even go into the taverns. Any who do don’t come out alive, or so I’ve heard.”

Jace raised his brows. These men had to be pretty bold to kill off soldiers. “Do you think Avery’s men will speak to us?”

“We want to do business. That should be enough to get us a meeting.”

A stiff breeze gusted toward them as they turned into an alley, and Jace shivered. Just ahead, several shady characters milled outside one of the doors along the alley walls. They looked like hired muscle, each one bearing a variety of swords and knives. The hair along Jace’s arms rose under his sleeves at their shifty glances.

However, when they spotted Aaron, they seemed to stand down. Jace glanced at the sign hanging over the narrow street. Briar Pub. Aaron pushed the door open, and they stepped inside, unhindered by the men. The pungent scent of alcohol, sweat, and smoke hung thick and heavy in the air, and the hum of voices filled the dim room. It was not unlike the few Jace had seen as a slave. Occasionally, Jasper had drummed up interest in him, the half-blood, by taking him into taverns while he ate. News always traveled fast that way.

Aaron paused to scan the round tables, most of which had two or more men sitting around them. “I don’t see him. We’ll wait a bit. He usually shows up around now.”

He walked to the bar, Jace and Holden trailing him. Jace kept watch on the other patrons out of the corner of his eye. At least, according to Aaron, they weren’t loyal to Davira.

Aaron nodded to the barkeeper, a burly, dark-haired man. “Three for my friends and me.

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