Page 44

Forty-Three

“Are you still glad you came?” Lira asked Vaskel as they walked along the dark, dirt road leading to the heart of the village and toward Wayside’s only inn. “Even after learning about Pirrin?”

She’d thrown on her old rogue’s cloak to walk with him, and even though she’d arrived in it, she hadn’t worn it since she’d started reviving the tavern. It felt strange to wear it again, but she was glad for the added warmth on the crisp night.

His nod was curt. “I’d rather know, even though I wish I didn’t.”

Lira sighed and her breath made a cloud in front of her face. “I know. Malek was bad enough, but Pirrin…?” She let her words trail off. “But you know as well as I do that it couldn’t be wraiths.”

He raked a hand through his dark hair, the movement harsh. “Then how do you explain it? Did our crew get cursed by them?”

Lira hadn’t thought of that, but she was pretty sure wraiths who were trapped by a curse couldn’t inflict curses on others. She shook her head. “The rest of us are all right, aren’t we? Rog’s safe with his wife. You and Cali are here with me.”

Vaskel turned his head, his pale blue eyes practically glowing in the faint moonlight. “I hope you’re right.”

Guilt twisted Lira’s gut. Should she tell Vaskel that she’d felt like she was being watched lately? That would do nothing but confirm his worst suspicions, and he was already more on edge than she’d ever seen him. The last thing she wanted to do was add fuel to the Tiefling’s fire—literally. He already ran hot, with passions that he fought to control.

An owl hooted in the distance, and Lira gathered her cloak tighter around her neck. The village was quiet, all the storefronts dark and the market stalls empty. When they reached the inn on the other side of the open-air market, a figure was hanging halfway out of a second-floor window.

“I knew I smelled you,” Cali called down, her grin wide.

“I hope she’s talking to you,” Lira said.

Vaskel chuckled, not remotely offended by the Tabaxi’s comment. “She can probably smell both of us.”

Cali beckoned him with one arm. “Come on up, you wastrel.”

“See?” Lira gave his arm a squeeze. “Things aren’t so different.”

Vaskel took a step toward the inn then paused. “Thanks, Lira.” He gave her a grin that made his scarlet face even more handsome. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You, too.” She shooed him with both hands. “Now don’t keep Cali up too late.”

Lira watched him disappear through the door to the inn, turning and heading back the way she came. As soon as she passed the stone monument that centered the village, her neck prickled.

Son of a wand waxer! Why hadn’t she sensed this when she was with Vaskel ?

Picking up her pace, she darted to the potter’s storefront and pressed herself to the door. She held her breath, listening for footsteps or the rustle of clothing. Nothing.

You’re as paranoid as Vaskel , she told herself as her shoulders crept down from her ears. There’s nothing stalking any of us. There’s no one out there.

If anything, it was Rygor watching her, and as much as she disliked the reeve, she didn’t believe he would attack her. With renewed confidence, Lira darted to the next storefront and then the next, until she hurried under the awning for the chandler and almost ran straight into someone.

Hands closed around her arms as she stumbled back, but her breath lodged in her throat and prevented her from screaming. Then the figure stepped into the moonlight.

“Korl?” Lira didn’t bother to keep her voice low. “What are you doing here?”

He released his grip on her, his gaze sliding to the ground. “I went to the tavern to thank you for the cake, but Sass said you’d left.”

Lira had almost forgotten that Val had delivered the cake for her earlier.

“So, you followed me?” She hadn’t meant her tone to sound quite so accusatory, but she blamed it on the fact that her heart hadn’t resumed its normal pattern.

He jerked his head up, shaking it. “I was walking back when I saw you running through the village like you were being chased. I wanted to make sure you weren’t.”

Lira released a breath, kicking herself for jumping to the wrong conclusion. Then she grinned at him. “That might have been the most words I’ve ever heard you say at once.”

He grunted. “If you’re okay…”

She caught his sleeve as he turned to go. “Wait, I’m sorry. I’m not teasing you. It’s nice hearing you talk.” She glanced over her shoulder. “And I did think I was being followed, or at least watched. Not that this is the first time I’ve had that feeling in Wayside. ”

He scowled, then took her by the elbow and hurried her away from the village.

“Where are we…?” She started to ask before she saw exactly where they were going.

They walked past the mill on one side and the tavern on the other then across the stone bridge that crossed the stream. Korl didn’t bother knocking on the door that led into the house attached to the blacksmith and wheelwright workshops.

Lira might not have been surprised when they entered the orc’s home, but Korl’s dads were. They turned abruptly from where they sat at a massive iron table, and both had a slice of Lira’s apple cider cake in their hands.

“Well, this is a nice surprise,” Vorto managed to say while Klaff only stared with cake-stuffed cheeks.

“Lira needs a weapon,” Korl said without preamble.

Her mouth fell open as he led her to the table. “I don’t need a—”

“You do if you’re being followed,” Korl insisted.

Both his orc dads bristled at this, even as Lira smiled at Korl, touched that he’d believed her without question.

“Is this true? Are you being followed?” Klaff asked, having finally swallowed.

“It’s a feeling I’ve had, that’s all.” Lira had learned to trust her instincts, but she also was used to dealing with danger on her own. “But no weapon is necessary.”

“Cake then.” Vorto held out the plate. “It’s delicious. Just as good as your gran’s.”

Lira flushed at the compliment, but Korl spluttered.

“You aren’t going to help her?”

Vorto smiled at Lira as he shifted his considerable bulk in his orc-sized chair. “I suspect Lira doesn’t need a weapon because she already has some. Am I right?”