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“Where, exactly, in Warven was the letter addressed to?” Melodie asked.

The old man shook his head. “It was addressed care of the inn in Warven.”

Theo glanced over at the road, and noticed the others getting restless. “If you’ve lied to us,” he said, “I will find you. Do I make myself clear?”

The trader gripped his hands together. “Aye.”

“Good.” Theo stepped away, but Melodie stayed where she was.

“Why did you tie the goat to the bridge?” she asked.

“Because it turned out to be a billy goat, and I wasn’t going to get any milk out of it. I didn’t want to just abandon it, though. Thought people might feed it by the bridge, or it could eat the apples there. And maybe someone would take it home.”

“I’m glad you did that, at least,” Melodie said.

Theo looked back, caught her gaze, and with a shrug, she moved to join him.

“Wait.” The old man’s voice trembled a little. “Be careful of that box.”

“It’s a bit late now, old man,” she told him, glancing over her shoulder, and then she strode toward the road.

Theo fell in step with her.

“You really know what the paint box does?” he asked, just before they reached the others.

“How do you think I escaped my old boss?” she asked.

He reached out and gripped her arm. “You used it?”

She patted his forearm with her other hand, her eyes alight with amused laughter at his concern. “It’s not made byhim,” she said. “Sounds like he bought it from someone in Bartolo.”

“Will it hurt him not to have it?” Theo asked.

She considered the question. “It is useful, so the answer to that is probably yes.”

All right then. He released his hold on her.

“I’ll show you, if you like?” she said.

“When?”

“Tonight, when we make camp.” She grabbed the reins Jacinta tossed her and swung back in the saddle.

“We’re going to Warven, wherever that is,” Theo told the team, who were watching his and Melodie’s byplay with interest.

“I know of it,” said Gallain.

“Then lead the way.”

CHAPTER 12

They rode hard,so when they finally stopped for the night, Melodie wasn’t surprised that they mostly brushed down and fed their horses in silence.

“You ride well enough,” Jacinta said to her as Melodie put her saddle down with the rest of the group’s. “Didn’t think you would.”

“I spent a lot of time riding when I was younger,” she said. “But I’m feeling how long it’s been already.”

She tried to not let the stiffness show too much, but Jacinta flashed her a sympathetic grin as they found seats around the fire that Ivan had started.