Page 21

Chapter

Twelve

ARLON

I must have missed my mate by minutes. The groom at the Gilded Crown is annoyed to be woken up twice before dawn, but he changes his tune when I slip two silver coins into his palm.

“She took the horse and all her tack and settled her account,” he tells me when I inquire after the mysterious woman I’ve been chasing through the night. “Didn’t say when she was coming back, but that she wouldn’t need the stall for at least a week or two.”

I swallow a growl to avoid scaring the man. He can’t tell me anything about her destination, apart from the fact that she took some grain for her horse and turned left when exiting the courtyard.

I leave the groom to return to sleep and stand outside the inn for long minutes, thinking through my options.

If I go to my friends, they’ll want to help, I’m sure of it.

I would help them if they were in a similar situation.

But I can’t put this on them. I fucked up, and now I’m paying for it.

There’s only one thing to do, and it’ll involve a lot of travel if my suspicions are correct.

My mate is running from the gang, aye, but I don’t think that’s the only reason she’s leaving the city.

She was searching for something at the Ravens’ mansion, and since she’s no longer lurking around Ultrup’s rooftops, I suspect she found it in that safe.

It’s annoying that I don’t even know whether it was information or treasure she was after, but whatever it was, it must be valuable.

Cursing under my breath, I turn right and run in the opposite direction the groom indicated.

The Heron is at least fifteen minutes away on foot, and I need to get there, pack everything I own, and get on the road as soon as possible.

Tessa will surely be leaving the city as soon as the gates open, which will happen…

The bells chime all around me, waking the sleeping city. I count the strikes to six, and my heart plummets. There’s no stopping her from riding out now. And if the gang figured out who robbed them, they’ll follow, especially if they know where she’s going, which they might.

Thoughts swirl in my head as my feet pound on the cobblestones. I haven’t slept a wink tonight, and soon the strain will begin to show, but right now, I need to move. There will be time to rest later.

I barge into the common room of the Heron minutes later. The maid behind the counter looks up, startled by my abrupt entrance.

“Morning. I’m leaving today. Have my horse saddled, and if you have another horse I could buy, or even a mule, to carry my things, I’ll pay your asking price.

” I sweep my hand through my still-damp hair and add, “Have breakfast sent up to my room, and please pack enough food for at least two days. Something that’ll keep. ”

The maid bobs a curtsy, her eyes wide, but doesn’t question my request. I’ve spent enough coin here for word to get around that I mean business, I suppose.

I stomp upstairs and thank the gods that someone has already stoked the fire.

There’s a small blaze going in the fireplace.

I add another piece of wood, then hang my cloak and jacket in front of it to dry them as much as possible while I pack.

I strip off my shirt and peel my sodden pants off my legs, then wash quickly.

I have no idea when I might get a chance to bathe next.

The wound on my thigh has scabbed over, and the gash on my forehead has stopped bleeding too. The bruise looks nasty, but that’ll only last a day or two. A good night’s rest would help, but I don’t have the time for that.

I’m tying the strings of my fresh shirt when a knock announces the arrival of my breakfast. But when I open the door, it’s Sarrai carrying the tray, not the maid from downstairs.

“Hello,” she greets me, marching right in. She sets the tray on the table, turns to me, and puts her hands on her hips. “So, you’re alive.”

I wince, guilt bubbling up inside me. “Aye. I’m sorry for canceling dinner. What are you doing here?”

I would have written a letter for everyone at headquarters before leaving. A quick note, at least, to be delivered after my departure so no one could follow me easily.

Hurt flashes in Sarrai’s dark eyes. She hides it quickly, sits at my table, and plucks a pear from my breakfast tray, making it clear she’s not going anywhere.

“You’ve been acting strange for days. It’s not just the dinner you missed. You look like shit, Arlon. When was the last time you slept through the night?”

I crouch by the bed, pull the heavy lockbox from underneath, and unlock it quickly. “Last night wasn’t so bad, actually.” I take out three purses of gold, leave the rest inside, lock the box, and heft it onto the table next to Sarrai.

“In the morning, I found out I’d been robbed.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Robbed? In here? Or in the street?”

As much as I’d been annoyed by the loss of the letters and the money, I can’t help a grudging smile. “In here. She came in from the roof. Brazen as anything.”

“She?” Sarrai straightens in her chair. “So you know who it was? You caught her?”

“Not yet.” I knock on the metal box. “I can’t travel with this. Will you take it back to the house? I’ll pick it up next time I’m in Ultrup.”

I have no idea when that might be, but I can’t very well leave Torren’s box in this room when I go. The Fates have brought Sarrai to my door right when I needed her, and not just because of this task I need her to do.

“I found her.” I take the chair opposite my best friend and grin. “My mate, Sarrai. I finally found her.”

There’s the briefest flash of jealousy in her expression. That’s understandable, because I felt the same way when our other clansmen found their mates. Then she grins, genuine excitement lighting up her face, and reaches across the table to squeeze my hand.

“That’s fantastic! Where is she?”

That dims my enthusiasm a little. “I don’t know. Not right now. But I have some clues as to where she went, which is why I’m leaving the city today.”

Sarrai gapes at me. “Wait—you mean she’s the thief? The one?—?”

“Aye, the one who robbed me.” I gingerly touch the bruise on my temple. “I caught up with her after she robbed the Ravens, and she knocked me out with a blow to the head.”

My friend covers her mouth with her hand, but that does nothing to hide her amusement. “Apparently Hazel isn’t the only human who knows how to take down an orc.” She shakes her head. “Are you sure she didn’t knock anything loose in there? She’s definitely yours?”

“I’m sure,” I confirm, all humor gone. “Her scent is just as I imagined. Better, even.”

Her expression softens. “All right. Where are we going, then?”

She wants to go with me, just as I suspected.

I would’ve offered the same had she been in my shoes.

But Tessa was spooked enough when it was just me chasing after her, and besides, I can’t in good faith pull Sarrai into danger like this, not when the largest gang in Ultrup might be at Tessa’s heels.

“Sarrai…” I begin, my voice hollow.

But she’s already shaking her head. “If you think I’ll let you run off on your own, your brain really is addled. Think of what you’re saying.”

“I know exactly what I’m saying,” I counter. “Your duty is to our clan, and you have to be there for them. In a matter of days, the entire caravan will pack up, and they’ll need you on the road. Darrin is too young to lead them, and Marut and Violet will have their hands full with the twins.”

She lifts her chin, her expression stubborn. “Then you should wait so we can send for more warriors. They’ll guard the caravan, and I’ll come with you…”

“I can’t.” It’s my turn to take her hand, and I give it a squeeze, trying to make her understand.

“Tessa is in trouble. If I don’t find her, someone else will, and I can’t let that happen.

I still don’t know exactly where she’s going, and she’ll be faster than me on the road, with a lighter horse. If she slips too far away from me…”

If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.

My expression must show some of my thoughts, because Sarrai lets out a sigh and pats my hand.

“All right. Tell me what to do.” She leans back in her chair. “Do you have everything you need for the road?”

A rush of warmth fills me at her easy acceptance. This is why we’ve been friends for almost three decades.

“I think so.” I shove a piece of bread in my mouth and mumble around it, “I just asked to buy a pack animal and some food for the road.”

She purses her lips. “How about a tent? A kettle to cook over a fire? Where will you sleep?”

“Gods, I don’t know.” I shovel up some eggs and chew thoughtfully. “It’s late in the year for camping if you’re human, don’t you think?”

“You think she’ll prefer to stay at inns?” Sarrai taps her long fingers on the table. “If you want to woo her, definitely make sure she’s safe and warm at night.”

“Aye, that’s what I was thinking. Need to find her first, though.”

I’m eating methodically, not lingering over the food, even though it’s good. The faster I leave, the better my chance of catching up to Tessa by tonight.

“Where would she go?” Sarrai stands, walks to the wooden chest holding my belongings, and starts sorting them into two piles. “What’s your plan?”

I bite off a piece of sausage, wipe my hands on a napkin, and join her.

“I’ll visit each of the gates to see which general direction she picked.

” Though I have an inkling, judging by her questioning last night.

I’ll start with the Eastern Gate, then work my way around the city clockwise if no one saw her there.

“Hey, I’m not taking that tunic. Put it on the other pile. ”

“It’s your nicest one, dummy,” she retorts, already handling a spare pair of boots. “You should put your best foot forward with your mate.”

I frown at her. “She’s my mate. Once she knows I won’t hurt her, she’ll understand we’re meant to be together.”