The Executioner's Blade (The Executioner's Song Book 3) by D.K. Holmberg

Author:D.K. Holmberg [Holmberg, D.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: ASH Publishing
Published: 2021-02-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Finn stood outside of the tavern, looking up at the overcast sky. He wasn’t as well rested as he would have liked, but having a bed to sleep in was better than the alternative. There was some activity in the village this morning. An energy. It was familiar to him, though a little bit different from what he would have felt in Verendal.

The Blood Court.

Word of his arrival had spread. Even though it was early, somehow word had gotten out that he had come to the village and would be exacting the king’s justice today. He shouldn’t be surprised, especially in a small village like this. Even in Verendal, word got around quickly.

Finn returned to the tavern and took a seat at one of the empty tables. There were many. Only two other people were up and seated in the tavern at that time of the morning, neither of them the mercenaries that he’d seen the night before. Bev was probably right that they wouldn’t be getting up all that early.

An older woman smiled at him. She had a stooped back and a faded brown apron tied around her waist, but her eyes flashed with the same amusement that he’d seen from Bev. Though she was older, she had the same wavy brown hair and pale blue eyes as Bev, and there was no doubt that they were related.

“You must be the executioner,” she said.

Finn nodded. “And you must be Bev’s mother.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“There was a discussion about the quality of your rolls.”

The older woman smiled. “Bev has always loved them. Bennington too, though he doesn’t like to admit that.”

“Why wouldn’t he admit it?”

“He thinks that sharing would only increase my cost to him. Probably concerned I’d start my own bakery.”

I wonder where he would get that idea.

“I’d love to try them if you have any this morning.”

“Ah, for a man coming to exact the king’s justice, I can make sure you have whatever you need. Can’t have you running out of energy when you’re supposed to be working.”

She tottered off and Finn settled in at the table, looking over briefly to the two others in the tavern. They were well dressed, both men in jacket and pants, hair neatly combed. It was too early for them to be there, he suspected, which left him thinking they were part of the village council.

He didn’t say anything, rather just sitting at the table and waiting until food was brought out to him.

“I didn’t catch your name,” Finn said when she placed the tray in front of him.

“I’m Mariah. Most around here call me May.”

Finn could smell the sweetness of the roll. A delicious-looking frosting coated the top, and she’d set two hard-boiled eggs alongside it, with two smaller sausages. His stomach rumbled immediately at the plate.

She left him to his breakfast and Finn ate in silence, enjoying the flavor of the food. Mariah really was a good cook.

When he had finished his plate, one of the men from

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