Nightblade: A Book of Underrealm (The Nightblade Epic 1) by Robinson Garrett

Author:Robinson, Garrett [Robinson, Garrett]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Living Art Books
Published: 2014-09-12T04:00:00+00:00

twenty-two

Loren sent Gem to fetch some of the washcloths from the storeroom, and they wrapped their arms and hands so that their skin barely showed. Loren winced at the musty, moldy stench of the cloth as they covered their faces.

She had to leave her cloak, which pained her greatly. But the fine black cloth would be easily recognized, whether by the constables or Auntie’s urchins. Instead, she took Xain’s dark brown mantle. It sat too large on her shoulders and hung nearly to her feet, but that only concealed her better. She tucked her dagger under the cloak. She carefully studied the wizard’s face, anxious to see any reaction, something she had missed when they met. But he spared the blade no second glance. Loren sighed, folding her black cloak up and reverently placed it under his bed.

“Take care of that,” she said solemnly, her green eyes meeting his grey ones.

Xain only snorted. “What will happen to it in here? Do you expect someone to come and steal it?”

They left the inn through the same back door where they entered, and Xain showed them how to trip the latch from outside. As they walked away, Loren thought to turn and see the inn’s name: the Elf’s Purse. It sounded vaguely familiar, though she could not recall why.

Gem stumbled beside her, and she moved to catch him. He batted her hands away. “No, you fool. We’re lepers, or have you forgotten?”

Loren flushed, glad he could not see it through her rags. She adopted Gem’s shuffle, even dragging one foot slightly to heighten the effect. They kept to the street’s edges, leaning against buildings as if for support. It worked. Not many prowled the lanes so late at night, but any man or woman who saw them turned in fear, walking on the other side of the street or turning to head in the other direction.

“All goes well so far,” whispered Gem.

“Boastful words tempt fate. Passersby will grow less discerning in the slums.”

Loren panicked the first time they saw a constable, but the woman avoided them just like anyone else. She walked with less fear after that. Gem led her down streets, avoiding alleys where they might catch a knife. Streets seemed almost well lit, for even when torchlight did not illuminate their way, both moons glowed full in the sky. At first, Loren had feared to roam the city at night, but now it seemed no worse than the forest.

“Hold.” Gem stepped back and pressed her into a doorway.

“What?”

But then Loren saw them. Four large figures in armor, walking heavily down the street toward them. They stood tall and broad, their eyes searching every corner.

One of the figures was Gregor.

Her blood chilled, Loren ducked to avoid his gaze. Part of her knew she need not have worried; Gregor could not have found her green eyes by moonslight alone. Still, she quaked within her rags as he passed with his guards.

They had to be hunting for Annis, same as Loren. She could think of no other reason for Damaris’s guards to wander the streets in darkness.

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