Blood Ties by M. A. Leon

Author:M. A. Leon [Leon, M. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M. A. Leon

10

The Vanished

By morning there was panic.

Travellers passing through heard the news and crowded the inn. Their collective voices grew to a sonorous furore, waking Jake at the brink of dawn. He was pulling on his tunic, staring out his bedroom window, when Paul scooted into his room, latching the door’s lock behind him.

“What do we do? What do I do?” Paul joined Jake by the window, elbowing the knight out of his way. He stretched his head out the paneless opening and then ducked in, closing the shutters with a snap.

Jake sighed and tugged on his last sock. “I’ll go down and see if the innkeeper can help us get away.”

“Wait.” Paul grappled with his pocket. “Take this. He might need some… incentive.” He plopped a small drawstring bag that rattled with coins into Jake’s hand.

Jake nodded and left.

The hardest part of his errand was getting to the bar without drawing attention to himself. Jake pulled up the cowl of his royal-blue cape, wishing for the first time ever that it had been made of a less conspicuous colour. Travellers eyed him dubiously and townsfolk openly squinted, trying to catch a glimpse of his face as he padded his way through the tavern door.

He wove his way to the bar where the innkeeper wiped the insides of a pile of tankards. A few quick words and two seolfors later, the man nodded, slid Jake an ale, and headed out back to talk to the stable boy.

Jake sipped his drink absentmindedly. He’d only ordered it to avoid suspicion. Alas, this early in the morning, the tipple left a dry, bitter taste at the back of his throat.

A figure slipped onto the bench beside him: the dark-haired woman from the day before. She didn’t have ale or any other tavern beverage. Instead, a steaming mug of pungent tea warmed her fingers. She wore her dark cloak, which accented her tulip-red lips and long, veiling eyelashes.

“Ah, the warrior from yesterday,” she said with keen interest.

“Mistress,” Jake raised his tankard and bowed his head.

“What’s your name?” she spewed the question with confident ease.

“I could ask you the same.”

The woman smirked, Jake’s retort sparking her interest more than not.

“But that’s no secret. I’m Vicky; I own the apothecary in town.”

Jake’s memory prickled at the name. “Vicky?” He frowned before remembering. “Ahh. How’s Orrels?”

“You keep your wits in a mess,” Vicky grinned. “Mister Orrels will recover with a grand scar to brag to the ladies about.”

“Good.” Jake frowned at her. “How did you know about the wraiths in Tristan?”

Vicky’s only reply was a raised eyebrow.

Jake’s eyes widened. “You’re an adept.”

Vicky brushed her finger over her lips as if they now shared the biggest secret.

Jake tried not to roll his eyes. “Are you in denial or too scared to let the others know you’re an adept?”

“You know very well how dangerous it’s been for adepts to reveal themselves,” Vicky gave Jake a pointed stare.

“How do you know what I do or don’t know?” What did this woman

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