Flight of the Spark by Evelyn Puerto

Author:Evelyn Puerto
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evelyn Puerto

25

I’ll wait as long as it takes, Kaberco thought. He and Boreje were settled comfortably at the foot of the Guarded Path. At least, Boreje was. He dozed in the summer heat, lulled to sleep by the drone of insects.

Kaberco rubbed his hands over his trousers and bit his lips. This just had to work. He didn’t want to think about having to take her.

He was so deep in his musings he didn’t hear Iskra’s approach. He sprang to his feet when she appeared, startled by the noise she made when she nearly tripped over Boreje’s legs stretched across the opening in the rocks.

“You’re back,” Kaberco said. “See anyone important?” He pulled his eyebrows together and watched her face carefully as she replied.

“I don’t know about important,” she said. “But there was one trader there.”

Kaberco frowned. Her tone was as playful as if she had brought him a surprise from the market and wanted him to guess what it was. “Who?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before.”

“You didn’t ask his name?”

“I only caught a glimpse of him as I was leaving.”

He raised an eyebrow at her, then sighed deeply. Using her as a tool wasn’t as simple as he thought it would be. “What did he look like?”

“He’s tall, dark-skinned. I think he was selling things made of leather.”

“That’s all? Did you notice anything else about him?”

She wrinkled her forehead and pushed her lower teeth out in front of her uppers as she thought. “No. He was dressed just like any other trader, leather boots, brown pants, and shirt.”

“He was the only one?”

“Yes.”

Kaberco studied her face, wondering if she was telling him the entire truth, or only part of it.

“Kaberco?” Iskra asked. “If you please, may I leave?”

“Yes. I’ll let you know if I need you to go back again.”

She nodded, and strode away.

Kaberco noted how she was trying not to run, but started walking faster the farther she got down the trail. Good. She’s nervous. But not intimidated. She’s not hunched over, her head’s up like she owns the world. What’s changed? He waited until she’d turned onto the road, then looked at Boreje. “I think I know who she saw: Poales.”

“Who’s that?”

“He’s the one they took in Trofmose a few months ago. They suspected he was involved in some kind of plot to undermine the Prime Konamei. That fool of an ephor let his wife convince him Poales is a halfwit and they set him free. Halfwit or not, now I’m sure he’s up to something.”

“Why?”

“Since when does Poales come to a backwater like this? All those southern traders stick to the bigger towns, and let the local traders go to villages and Risker camps around here.” He clenched his fist. “Mark my words, Boreje. Something is up. We need to find out what it is.”

“And the girl?”

“She doesn’t know anything, I’ll wager. But she’s served her purpose. Now it’s time to teach her a lesson.”

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