Unlikely (Kingdoms Gone) by Frances Pauli

Author:Frances Pauli [Pauli, Frances]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 2013-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

They stepped out of the pocket and into company. The two trees that marked the rift squeezed them closer together, and beyond, a ring of Starlights lounged to all sides. Vane stood up slowly, as if he’d been waiting a long time and still saw no reason to rush. His smile had a dagger behind it. She could almost taste his malice.

“Goodmother,” he said. Cheerily, a neighbor’s greeting. “There you are.”

“Vane.” She nodded as curtly as she could manage. Some part of her relaxed at the sight of the gang. She had accounts to settle with the man before she left this town behind her. “Good afternoon.”

“I’ve been so hoping for a chance to talk with you.” The rest of his gang held perfectly still. Not one hand touched a weapon, but the swords existed, the potential for violence thrummed through the moment.

“How nice that you caught us then,” she picked careful words. “Marten was just heading back to town. He has a shop to tend, but I’m perfectly free to chat now.”

She saw a flicker of indecision on the gang-leader’s face. If he’d meant to detain them both, he’d have to argue outright. Not the best way to start a conversation if he meant to gain anything from it. Of course, if he only meant them harm, her parry would just be ignored. She held her breath and waited.

“I could use some help at the shop,” Marten said. His voice had less conviction. His shoulders already hunched into his customary submission. This was what he wanted her to learn, how to hide, how to make herself small and stay out of harm’s way.

“I believe Vane and I have some things to discuss alone.” She didn’t look at him, kept her eyes riveted on Vane’s. This time, his smile held more than malice. He recognized her ploy and he respected it. Marten had been wrong about that much.

“Of course,” Vane agreed. “The imp should return to tend his shop.” He looked over his shoulder, made some face for his men’s benefit while he waved Marten off. “Let him go.”

“Satina.” Marten’s hand was on her sleeve. His voice pleaded with her, even just her name on his lips, but she shook her head and didn’t budge.

“Don’t worry about me, Marten,” she said. “I’m no hero, remember?”

His hand dropped away. He stepped back, put physical distance between them to match the rift they’d already dug with their words. She didn’t dare look his way, didn’t have that luxury with Vane’s gaze fixed upon her. Marten walked away, back to his ruined shop, and she was left to face the man who’d done the damage.

“I’m so glad we caught up with you at last,” he said.

“I didn’t realize I was that difficult to catch.”

“Oh no,” he smiled and stepped closer, looking past her now to the space between the trees. “Not at all. I only meant that the town is not large, and I’d assumed we’d have run into one another by now.

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