Page 31 of Unrivaled
She made a noise of contentment.“You’re too kind, sir.”She removed the ring of keys in her belt without even a jingle.I suspected it was a Matri’sion magic trick to have metal that met but never chimed.“Tomorrow I’ve much to see to, but the day after we ought to go riding, see if we can bring in game.If the weather permits.”
The idea of getting out of the city made my heart sit lighter in my chest.“We could overnight in a local village, see the status of the residents while we add to their cookpots.”
She made a noise of agreement, her eyes lingering on my lips.“Mayhap the beekeeper’s hut.”
The memories of the first time we’d shared together made the blood in my body go south.To keep my ability to think, I imagined Isolde dropping her bedroll beside us and sending me a no-nonsense look.“Mayhap,” I agreed, letting her enjoy the fantasy.She stayed close as we left the little room.
As predicted, Kaelson and Thomas were barring the hallway just around the corner.She started when she saw them, her shoulders lifting toward her ears ever so slightly.I held onto my impatience.
“Riordan’s escaped, my lady,” Kaelson said, the words impersonal.“He attempted to break into the treasury.”
A chill settled over me.And they’d just stood there, waiting?
“The guards he attacked will live.He fled and collapsed in the stables.He’s in the infirmary, but without a mage, I doubt he’ll make it through the night.”
“The infirmary?”Audrey asked.“With Isolde and the widow?”
“We moved the widow to her own room, my lady,” Thomas said with a bow.“When we heard Riordan was coming in, we thought it might grow crowded.”
“By the Son,” she muttered.“And the guards he attacked?Infirmary?”
“Lesser hall, my lady.”
“So, everyone he’s hurt has beenremovedfrom the cleanest, best provisioned place to make it comfortable for he and his family?”she clarified, stiffly.“Is that how we’ve handled this?”
Kaelson bowed his head.“It was, my lady.”
“Next time,” she said, “I don’t care how much coin they’ve got, or who they’re friends with, if they’ve done the crime, throwthemin a room by themselves.”
“Hewasthe most sorely wounded, my lady,” Kaelson offered.“And it hasn’t been ruled whether the disagreement between he and widow Fitzherbert was started by Riordan.”
The look she sent Kaelson was more venomous than a steppe viper.I struggled to hide my grin.“I’ve four injured people,” she said, crisply.“One cannot be with the other three.Then, in the future, we avail as many as we can to the resources we have.”She nodded to them in finality.“And I need a second bloody infirmary.Tell Ettie.”
She set off along the corridor in the direction of the stables.
“My lady,” Kaelson called.“Riordan’s mother.”
“I’ll deal with her after the watch cries the next hour,” Audrey sent, without looking.
The two older men shot me a look I didn’t try to read.I shrugged.They were probably fortunate she was functional at all, really.“See you in the hour,” I offered, then set off after her.
CHAPTERELEVEN
AUDREY
The consort I took over from?The Advisor told me he’s suspected of working for the Nightingale.KA very suspicious right now.I'm only hearing about his aching heart and full balls.Will report when there's more to tell.
—Rubes to Man in the Mountain
16thDay of Winter’s Wife Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 271
La’Angi City
The wind still belonged to winter, but lacked the icy edge that could cut you right to the bone.For that I was grateful as I moved away from Storm’s warmth.The crew of the Siren’s Ally skillfully handled the ropes and pulleys that seemed like they went everywhere, lifting cargo from the loading area to where the ship was anchored a dozen measures from the edge of the salt-encrusted dock.
I shouldn’t have been there.But I’d done so many things Ishouldhave yesterday that it felt like wasting a little time was fair.I’d beenso politeto Riordan’s grieving mother.I hadn’t even told her he’d got what was coming to him.I was headed into the orchard, and while that time would be for me it was also a sensible decision.
