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We were to meet at the tavern – at least, that was what my guards had told me. As I walked across the muddy courtyard to the roughhewn two-story building, however, I saw no sign of my carriage. Worse, there was no light shining from the upper rooms, as if they were occupied, and no sign of my guards in the common room.
There was, however, the Captain from Rockridge, along with four of his favorite henchmen. They were speaking to the owner as I slipped through the door.
"I can’t imagine that they would have gone far, not with the one man in such bad shape," said the Captain.
"I haven’t seen them," the owner said. "No one’s stopped here tonight, other than the usual."
A scruffy trio beside the fireplace watched over their battered tankards.
"Did you hear anyone come through the town?"
"Oh, aye. Someone came through in the early evening. The dogs bayed like crazy. But I didn’t hear them stop." The man saw me, and his face twisted in anger. "You, moocher! Get out! I don’t need your kind here!"
Not a generous man, I thought darkly, but his actions pleased the Captain.
"Gwenna!" the owner yelled at a woman who polishing tableware. "Show that monk what we do with Christian dogs!"
She set down her work and walked toward me. I could see from the charms hanging around her neck that she was a Warlocker, and from the jewels on her bracelet I knew that she was a successful one. I left quickly.
Not three steps from the door, however, her hand caught my arm. "Walk with me, monk."
I raised my hands in question.
A flicker of light, like a candle flame, burned in her palm. She lifted it, and peered beneath my hood, then smiled. "My sister has good taste."
I tilted my head.
"And I can see you’re honest, too. Tonight you sleep beneath my roof. Tomorrow you and your friends will go on your way."
I blew out my breath in relief.
"And that will give me to lay a spell on you." Her smile deepened into craftiness. "If you should prove false to my sister, then you will find that you will never love another again. You might as well join the church, if you do that."
I nodded, accepting her terms. They were not objectionable to me. Any man who takes a woman away from her sister and then treats her falsely deserves such a fate.
Gwenna smiled again. "My sister has indeed chosen well."
