Page 6 of 1000 of You
Her face flushed, and she nervouslywiped a hand across her thigh. “I was able to negotiate a fair price for it,”she told him. “I also got us enough food to last us through the day.”
“On twoduas?”
Her face turned a brighter shade ofred, and a wild thought came to him. A thought born from the stories he’d heardabout theOrshii. About what they could do, or werepurported to be able to do.
Swallowing thickly,Muamquietly asked, “Gova, areyou a sorceress?”
Chapter 5
Honesty
Govadidn’t hesitate to answer him. She couldn’t. Notbecause she feared what he might do if she lied, and he discovered later thatshe’d deceived him, but because she never wanted to be less than truthful to aman who may have saved her life.
“Yes.”
“How?”
She glanceddown at the frame. Instead of taking the time she was at the market to work ona weapon, he had been making her a bed. He’d been thinking of her, of hercomfort.
He plannedto keep her around.
She gazedback up at him. “I changed a pebble to look like adua.The merchant will not discover it until late tonight or tomorrow morning.”
Muameyed her shift. “Do not ever do that again,” he flatlyordered.
“I have noplans to. To do so might bring suspicion upon me and you, and I cannot allowthat to happen.”
He gave anod, then strode over to the other side of the hut to put down the frame. “Thebear skin from last night will comfortably pad it. I saw no need for you tosleep on the floor, and you cannot continue to sleep in my bed,” he addedalmost as an afterthought. “However, there are not enough furs to blanket youwith. I will ask about to see if anyone needs their knives sharpened. I mightbe able to raise enough coin to purchase a coverlet for you.”
Sharpeningknives. That explained how he was able to survive between sales of his weapons.
Govareached up to the shelf where she’d stashed the changefrom the fakedua. Walking over to him, she held themout. “This was left over from when I bought my shift.”Muamtook the small lead ducats without commenting.
Sheretrieved the one small bowl he must use to eat out of, and the larger one heused as a wash basin, and squatted in front of the fire.Muamparked himself in front of the pit and watched as she ladled some of the meatand broth into the larger bowl before handing it and the only spoon to him. Hegrunted as he took them from her.
“I willneed to make you a spoon. Until then, how will you eat?”
“With myfingers.”
He lookedat the steam rising from the food. “But it will burn them.”
“I havebeen burned before,” she told him. Picking up the two slices of flatbread she’dhad warming by the fire, she held them out to him.
He tore offa piece and used it as a scoop, blowing on the meat chunk before stuffing it inhis mouth. She watched in amusement as he gave her a wide-eyed look, knowingwhat he was thinking.
“Ideliberately madeKolis’sfood unpalatable. It wasone of the few ways I could punish him for the things he did to me.”
Theycontinued to eat in silence. At one point,Muamlicked his fingers. “What all can you do when you use your sorcery?’
“Not asmuch as the stories foretell.”
“Can youchange your shape? Can you become another animal? Say, a tiger?”
She manageda small laugh. “No. That is impossible. However, there are times when I can speakto animals. It takes a lot of concentration. Anything I do takes a lot ofconcentration.”
When hedidn’t reply, she glanced up to find him staring at her. “At any time did youuse your sorcery on me?” he finally demanded.
“No.” Itwas the truth. She’d been terrified, yes. Worried and hurting from having towalk all those miles behindKolis’shorse. But shehadn’t tried to use her abilities to convinceMuamtotake her in.
