Page 128 of A Tribute of Fire

Especially given that he was aware of how capable I was of defending myself.

Although I would not want to try hand-to-hand combat against him. I would most likely lose.

I was not goddess-blessed. My skills had been acquired through practice and training, and his came naturally.

It was unfair.

But I had learned a long time ago that life generally wasn’t kind.

Jason approached the table with another man and, with a broad smile, announced, “I have found you a Locrian.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

“Shall we take this outside?” Jason asked. He waited for me to stand up and then followed me out with the sailor.

When we exited through the front door, Jason said, “This is Simos. He said he can carry a message for you.”

I was going to tell Jason to give us a moment alone but there was no reason to do so. I had hopefully crafted a message that would withstand scrutiny and not give anything away about my background.

“If the price is right,” Simos added.

I opened my knapsack and took out the smaller portioned bag of salt that I’d brought with me. I handed it to him and his eyes widened.

“Will that suffice?” I asked, knowing that it would.

“Yes. What is your message?”

“There is a soldier in the palace named Demaratus. I need you to find him and tell him that his daughter lives.” Demaratus would know that I intended for him to pass the message along to my parents.

“That’s all?” Simos asked.

“Yes.” I thought short and simple would be my best bet. “It is important that this message be delivered as quickly as possible.”

“Simos told me that his ship is setting sail tomorrow,” Jason offered.

“We are.” The other man nodded.

“That’s good. Swear to me that you will deliver this message right away.”

Simos put his hand over his heart. “I swear it. I will make certain that I find your Demaratus as soon as we land and I will tell him his daughter lives.” I was glad he repeated the message back to me, showing that he would remember it. He tucked the bag of salt into his belt. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”

I nodded. I was so very relieved. Finally, I had managed to accomplish something. I would be able to get word sent back to my parents. They would delay the prince, giving me more time to find the eye. I was no longer treading water—I had surged forward.

Simos pulled open the door to the tavern and loudly announced, “Drinks are on me!”

A loud cheer broke out and I made eye contact with a man I recognized.

It was the witness for the selection. The one who had made sure Quynh and I got on the ship and not some substitute Locrian maidens. Alarms sounded inside me, my breath quickening. Something was off about him being here.

About him watching me.

The door swung shut but I yanked it open again.

“What are you doing?” Jason asked.

I scanned the room quickly but I didn’t see the man. As my breathing evened out, I figured that my overly anxious imagination had created it.

It didn’t stop the dark and creepy sensation currently crawling up my back, though.

---