The Sapphire Crescent by Thomas M. Reid

Author:Thomas M. Reid
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy games, Fantasy & Magic, Fiction, Fantasy, American, General, Forgotten realms (Imaginary place)
ISBN: 9780786930272
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Published: 2003-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Vambran strolled along inconspicuously, following the woman as she made her way carefully through the market and holding on to the younger woman's arm who was escorting her. The mercenary had been following the pair for a while, watching as they shopped for fresh vegetables in the lines of stalls that filled the open square. The day was bright and crisp, somewhat cooler than it had been the day before, but still the sun was warming to the lieutenant's skin as he kept pace with his quarry.

Vambran had tracked down Jithelle's mother easily enough from the instructions Kovrim provided him the night before, getting up early and making his way to the east side of the city, where the less affluent neighborhoods were. He had no trouble finding the small house, really an apartment on the second story of a rug merchant's shop, where Nimra Skolotti and her youngest daughter Mirolyn lived. Initially, he intended to just visit the woman directly, but then caution got the better of him, and he decided to wait. If he was being followed, or watched in some other way, perhaps it would be better not to draw undue attention to the grieving mother.

The mercenary did not have to wait long before Nimra and her daughter appeared on the street. The pair of them headed first to the bakery where they purchased a single small honeyed bun to split between the two of them, then they made their way to the market, nibbling at their breakfast and chatting softly as they strolled. Nimra maintained a steady grip on Mirolyn's arm. It took Vambran a few minutes to realize that Nimra was blind.

The mercenary watched as the two women examined some melons, Nimra picking up one then another, squeezing them with her hands and smelling them. They selected one and paid the merchant, then moved on, toward a stall that sold peppers. Vambran smiled to himself, wondering if those might have been the very same peppers he'd helped make their way across the Sea of Fallen Stars aboard Lady's Favor. Nimra and Mirolyn chose a small handful of the peppers and completed their purchase.

When they reached a corner next to a small kiosk selling hot tea, Vambran approached them. He stepped up next to the younger woman and spoke softly.

"Excuse me, but I would like to speak with you and your mother for a moment."

Mirolyn turned to face the mercenary in surprise, but Nimra only cocked her head to one side and said, "I wondered how much longer you were going to follow us before you showed your intentions."

Vambran did a double take.

"You… you knew I was following you?" he asked.

"Certainly. Not too many big, strapping fellows in some sort of armor make a habit of strolling behind me at the same distance all morning long."

Mirolyn looked from her mother to the man in front of her and shrugged.

"Nothing wrong with her hearing," the girl said, a wan smile emerging briefly.

"I guess not," Vambran said. "I assure you, I have no malicious intentions, here.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.