Chasers of the Wind by Alexey Pehov

Author:Alexey Pehov [Pehov, Alexey]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781466818415
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2014-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

13

Layen and I had stayed at the inn, the Supreme Witch, several years ago and even though quite a lot of time had passed, I found the establishment without much difficulty. The sturdy two-story building had a sign, on which a fairly talented hand had painted a red-haired woman with a malicious appearance. True, it resembled a witch as much as a Je’arre looks like a butterfly. That is, they had nothing in common.

There weren’t all that many people in the common room. But in about an hour, just when it started to get dark, the neighborhood residents would drag themselves in to toss back a mug of shaf or a glass of reska. Then it will get so crowded, people will be sitting on one another’s heads.

Luk, as he had promised, urgently requested food, drink, and a bath. A servant boy was sent to the nearest shop for new clothing. When he found out that we were ready to foot the bill, the soldier got right down to it. But I didn’t mind; I could spare the extra sorens.

Layen and I got a nice room—bright and clean. Through old habit, the first thing we did was check the door. It was hefty, with a good dead bolt. It wouldn’t be easy to knock down. From the window there was a view of the inner courtyard, the stables, and the barn. That was also excellent—there was always the chance we’d have to leave without drawing special attention to ourselves.

I left my wife to rest and freshen up and went to a weapons dealer at the far end of town. There I grudgingly bargained with the surly dealer, who apparently didn’t have such particular customers every day. I only stopped when I’d selected two dozen more or less decent arrows from the three hundred he had on offer. I had complete confidence in ten of them, while the remaining fourteen were of middling quality, but they’d do in a pinch.

After I paid, I returned to the inn, which was now crowded; the customers were piled high on top of one another, with servants rushing around between them with trays full of orders. It was one hell of a ruckus. It smelled pleasantly of cold mint and chamomile shaf, and the aroma of roast meat tickled my nostrils.

Our table was the one closest to the stairs that led up to the second floor. Happy and content, Luk was laying into his food assiduously. Shen, who had cheered up some, was sipping his cooling drink and playing with Midge’s knife. I won’t say that he impressed me, but the lad was somewhat skilled. Layen was listlessly watching the knife as it flashed through the Healer’s fingers. Like I said, the Healer couldn’t make an especially striking impression on a person who had earned her keep working risky jobs.

The northerner was looking around more than he was eating. His interest was caught by a neighboring table, where some miners were sitting. There they were discussing important news—the war that was sweeping across the northeast of the Empire.

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