Nightblade by Robinson Garrett

Author:Robinson, Garrett
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Legacy Books
Published: 2014-09-11T16:00:00+00:00

LOREN SENT GEM TO FETCH some of the washcloths from the storeroom, and they wrapped the rags around their arms and hands so that hardly any skin showed. Their faces too they covered, and Loren winced at the musty, moldy smell of the cloth.

She had to leave her cloak, which pained her greatly. But the fine black cloth would easily be 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. Her dagger she tucked under the cloak. As she did she studied Xain’s face, anxious to see any reaction, mayhap something she had missed when he saw it in the Birchwood. But he spared the blade no second glance. Loren sighed, folding her black cloak up and placing it beneath Xain’s bed with reverence.

“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 the outside. As they walked away, Loren had a thought and asked Gem the inn’s name.

“The Elf’s Purse,” he said.

It sounded vaguely familiar, though she could not recall why.

Once the inn was out of sight, Gem stumbled beside her. She moved to catch him, but he batted her hands away. “No, you fool. We are lepers, or have you forgotten?”

Loren flushed, glad he could not see it beneath her rags. She adopted Gem’s shuffle, even dragging one foot slightly to add to the effect. They kept to the edges of the street, leaning against buildings as if for support. It worked. Not many prowled the city this late at night, but any man or woman who saw them turned away in fear or headed in another 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. After that Loren walked a bit less fearfully. Gem led her down streets, avoiding alleys where they might catch a knife. The streets were almost well-lit, for even when torchlight did not illuminate their way, both moons glowed full in the sky. At first she 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 towards them. They stood tall and broad, and their eyes searched every corner.

One of them was Gregor.

Loren’s blood chilled to ice at the sight of the giant caravan guard, and she ducked to avoid his gaze. Part of her knew she need not have worried; Gregor could not have picked out her green eyes by moonslight alone.

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