Dragon Tide by Dustin Porta & D.K. Holmberg

Author:Dustin Porta & D.K. Holmberg [Porta, Dustin & Holmberg, D.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ASH Publishing
Published: 2024-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

THE ATTIC ROOM

“You made it sound as if you are working to keep my Purlo safe. Is that true? Is he still in danger?”

The owner of the Tavern had insisted on walking them to the room herself. The taverns only staircase was narrow and winding, passing three floors of rooms and a small dance hall on the fourth before ending at a half door that only came up as high as the woman's chest.

“It's best if you don't know,” Treylen said. “Customs violations are a messy business, but I've got my friends in high places.”

“Messy? You don't know the half of it.” Shadows of worry creased her brow as she set her candle on the stair, unhooked a ring of keys from her belt, and opened the tiny door, ducking through. She used the candle to light another on the wall as Treylen ducked into the room.

He had expected something akin to the attic in the Dragon’s Hide, but this was nothing of the sort. Whitewashed beams draped with sheer fabric and sequins of cut crystal glittered as the proprietor moved about the room lighting candles. Two large sofas rested on opposite sides of a tea table just inside the entrance. Beyond them, a canopy bed and a trio of overstuffed leather chairs before an alabaster-pane window. It was one of just a few such windows that Treylen had seen on the island. Most had only shutters to keep out the storms.

“This is the room the captain takes when he's here?” Treylen bent to run his fingers through the fur rug between the couches. A lace covering draped the table and sequined pillows adorned the couches. “Not really his style.”

“Well, my captain isn't alone when he uses the room.” The innkeeper blushed. “Now, shall I light the fireplace before I leave you two?”

“We won't be needing it.”

It was stifling outside, besides it would draw attention to the room from the guild hall up above.

“I will see you for dinner then?”

“I’ll let you know,” Treylen said.

“Don't wait too long.” The innkeeper bowed and backed out of the room closing the door behind her.

“It's a very nice room,” Jargus stroked one of the sheer curtains that hung from the rafters. “These are imports from Ketaresk. Quite illegal with the war on. Expensive. Can we speak now, in peace?”

“Not sure.” Treylen pressed his ear to the door to make sure the woman went down the stairs. “I don't trust her. She told us they had to ready this room, but no one’s been in here or it wouldn't have been locked.”

“Maybe she had to make sure it wasn’t booked already.”

“Maybe…” Treylen fished a handful of salt from the pocket and sprinkled a circle around the couches, waving Jargus over. “It won't stop them from hearing if they’re listening from below. We have minutes. After that I don't trust the Executor not to have found a way to look in.”

Jargus laughed. “I suspect his tourist friends are keeping him more than busy. He's something of a rube and gadabout, don't you think?”

Treylen didn't laugh.

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