Page 42 of Truth's Blade

“It’ll be easier to go down,” he said. “They’re so busy in the tap room, the food will be cold by the time they bring it up.”

“I’m ready.” She stepped out, and her gaze went back to the wall. “How many visitors are staying at the inn? I know I was probably told last night, but I don’t remember.”

“You were pretty tired.” Theo stepped back into the hallway, and his gaze flicked to the door next to theirs. “There was a traveler who left early this morning, so it’s just ourselves and someone who came in even later than we did.” He tilted his head to the left, indicating the room next door. “Peggy says they’re headed to Illoa, too.”

“So all the patrons they’re dealing with downstairs are locals, then?” she asked, walking past him so he could lock up behind her.

“Must be,” Theo agreed. His gaze flicked again to the door beside theirs, and then he held out an arm for her to take as they reached the stairs.

She smiled as she took it. “I’m not quite so decrepit this morning as I was last night. Although I’m still stiff.”

“I like your hand on my arm,” he said simply.

She tightened her grip, and he reached over to brush his fingers over her wrist before they took the stairs.

Itwaspacked in the tap room, but Peggy had kept their little nook for them—probably the benefit of being an actual guest of the inn— and as soon as they had taken a seat, she plied them with food and hot tea.

They had just started to eat when a man came down the stairs. He looked prosperous, and slightly thickset, but his eyes were small and dark, darting toward them as soon as he reached the tap room, and then away to where Peggy was dealing with customers at the bar.

He turned away from them and went to speak to Peggy, then followed her over to them.

Melodie could guess what was coming. There was no other table to sit at.

“Do you mind sharing the table with a fellow guest?” Peggy asked, and one of her workers brought a third chair over. “This is Kandra Gus.”

“Not at all.” Theo smiled, friendly and affable.

She needed to be the same.

After they’d introduced themselves, Kandra Gus sat down and they waited politely until he had food and drink himself before they continued eating their own.

“Peggy told me you’re headed for Illoa,” Gus said.

Melodie sent him a beaming smile, and wondered if he was the magic user they were looking for. Theo didn’t have a clear memory of what he looked like, but whoever it was would know Theo. He had spelled him into a goat, after all. If Kandra Gus was their enemy, he would know they were lying no matter what she said, so she didn’t worry about it.

“Eventually,” she said.

“Oh, I thought you were on your way today?” Gus paused with a spoonful of scrambled eggs on his fork.

“Theo promised me some time out of the saddle.” Melodie sent the same sunny smile to Theo, and he returned it like a love-sick swain. “I can barely move. So we’re resting today and tomorrow, at least, just to get the use of my muscles back.”

“I see.” Gus looked between them. “Haven’t you been traveling from Taunen? I think that’s what Peggy told me?”

In other words, haven’t you already had a lot of time in the saddle? Melodie thought. It was a good question.

She smiled again. “Our cart overturned and broke. Unfixable.” She lifted her shoulders sadly. “We had to sell so much of our stock in the small village where it happened, because we obviously couldn’t transport it, but we were so looking forward to seeing Illoa, we decided to press on anyway. But I’d forgotten how long it’s been since I was in a saddle instead of sitting on a cart bench. I’m reminded now, though.” She gave a wince as she shifted in her chair. “Brutal.”

“Are you headed off today?” Theo asked him politely. “And are you traveling on from Illoa into Kassia?”

“I have some business in Warven, so it depends how long it takes me to get it done.” Gus scraped the last food off his plate. “I might see you tonight, or I might not.”

“Well, happy travels.” Melodie smiled at him, taking a slow, unhurried sip of her tea.

He gave a nod, pushed his chair back, pulled something out of his pocket, and threw it at Theo.

It lifted up, a golden net so gossamer light it floated upward on an air current and hovered, suspended for a moment. Melodie jumped up, leaped onto her chair, got her hand above it, and shoved it back down at Kandra Gus.

He stared at her, slacked-jawed, and she realized he didn’t know what she had done. Perhaps couldn’t even see what he’d thrown at Theo very well. When it floated down and settled on his head, he sat back down on his chair in a slump.

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