Chapter 7 #2
“You and me both.” Ezra chuckles, Ren grunting in agreement behind us. “But let’s find a local inn and ask around about where our target could be. We still have a few hours before dusk, so I think we still have time. How’s your shoulder?”
“It’s fine.” I keep my voice steady, but in truth, six hours of sweating on top of a large horse hasn’t done me any favors.
The salve helped at first—numbing the area and dulling the sting—but in this heat, it’s already been sweat off. I didn’t want to say anything earlier and risk slowing us down. I try not to let it show.
Ren rides up, glaring at me from atop his horse, and clips, “Let him apply more salve. We can’t afford you being injured when we have to finish this mission by tomorrow night.”
My teeth grind. “I’m fine.”
“You’re wincing,” Ezra argues and I huff, attempting to wave him off. “Stop being stubborn and let me apply some to your shoulder after we get to the inn. Can you continue tonight?”
I give him a quick nod. “Fine. We’ll apply more when we arrive, but we’re going out tonight for answers.”
Going into a light trot, we enter the town after a few short minutes. We finally dismount and hand the horses off to Ren to find a nearby stable. We agreed on an inn called the Golden Oak—secluded from the rest of the town but close enough to the horses should we need to leave quickly.
“I’ll stand watch while you arrange the rooms.” I lean against the outside wall of the inn and sigh.
Groups weave between the crowds, walking toward the local taverns. I begin to wonder if it’s where everyone will be, silently wishing that I were one of them right now.
But the Silver Lily tugs at my thoughts—thinking of everything I encountered over the last two days and the note in Alec’s room.
I found her and she won’t be alone, it said.
What does that mean and who did he find?
He must be important if the king is set on finishing the mission, leaving me to wonder what Helga might have relayed to him.
When Ezra asked, she refused to discuss it, insisting that it was meant for the king’s ears only.
The inn’s wooden door creaks open, leaving me to swivel my head.
Ezra steps out. “We got two rooms.”
“Two rooms? Who’s sharing?” I blink, mouth falling open on a retort—because I clearly misheard—when I’m suddenly interrupted.
“Excuse me, miss!”
A boy no older than eight, with auburn hair and freckles, stares up at me. I scan the area, searching for his mother, then glance back down, wondering where he just came from.
“Do you have any coins?” He eagerly extends his shirt like he’s expecting me to drop some in.
My head tilts as I blankly stare, suddenly feeling a sense of familiarity wash over me.
My blood prickles, as if the magic beneath my skin is itching to crawl out.
An odd feeling, and something that’s never happened before.
“Have we met?” I ask.
He only gives a quick shake of his head, holding out his shirt again. A small, tight smile lines my mouth as I study him, dropping a coin anyway. He saunters down the road at a slow pace, inspecting the new coin in his fingers. Ezra raises his eyes back to me, caught off guard as well.
“Room, yes,” he says after a minute. “We have to share because they’re booked for the night.”
“Oh, please. This town is tiny, and this inn is booked for the night? I get my own room. I refuse to share with either of you,” I demand, not believing a word he says.
“If I have to share a room with anyone, I’m killing someone tonight, and it won’t be our target.”
Ren walks down the road, carrying his pack over his shoulder, clearly annoyed at the situation. He gives me a once-over, as if I’m the last person he wants to share a room with.
“Are you sure you don’t want to share with me?” I taunt with a menacing grin. “I bet you haven’t had a female sleep next to you in years.” He scans my face in silence, clenching his jaw. Ezra fights a grin, failing before quickly trying to recover with a cough.
“Don’t worry, I’ll share with Isa.” Ezra waves his hand, gesturing us to follow and throwing Ren a glance over his shoulder.
“We need to get ready before the day is gone. By the way, we’ll need to split up tonight—cover more ground.
The innkeeper told me that she might have seen a newcomer earlier today that fits his description.
There’s a couple of taverns here, and she thinks he’ll be in one of them.
I’m hoping to pick up a scent. There’s also free breakfast in the morning.
” He winks, leaving Ren to grumble and take his key.
We all take a right on the side of the building, the inn’s rooms lining up off the corner of the road, accessed outside. Ezra halts in front of the third door, slides a key into the lock, and swings it open.
“After you.” He smirks, bowing dramatically, hair brushing his forehead as he gestures for me to go in. I chuckle and walk through.
After a couple of hours of settling in and applying fresh salve, I finally lace up my boots. I head to the chamber, adjusting my hair in the mirror.
Even though I opt to leave it down for a more approachable look, I braid the auburn patch behind my ear and pin it. To avoid being overly noticeable—especially if Alec is here—I weave it into a braid, tucking it into the wavy strands.
It vanishes entirely.
Ezra’s reflection stares at me from the doorway, an arm resting on the frame as he gives me a subtle once-over.
“You’ll pass.” He shrugs.
I throw an unimpressed glare at him through the mirror. I’m wearing all black except for my cream-colored tunic. Still, I pinch my cheeks, summoning a little color as I know flirting might be a part of tonight’s plan, pulling every advantage I can get as I question the locals.
“Careful, I might take that as a compliment,” I say, raising a brow when his eyes meet mine in the mirror.
He snorts, shooting a glance toward the mantel as he flicks his wrist, lighting a fire. “I’m hoping you don’t scare anyone off before we find our target. We’re a little pressed for time.”
I pivot, huffing through my nose as my back leans against the basin, crossing my arms with a teasing grin. “I don’t think it’s me you should be worrying about with Ren next door.”
“I actually agree with you on that.” He chuckles, scratching the scruff on his face before turning, leaving me to grin after him and exit the bathing chamber.
It’s always been easy with him. Arguments between us are typically short-lived, dropped almost as soon as they start, as he’s the one who keeps me in check.
But when it comes to the king’s orders, Ezra follows through no matter what, and I admire his loyalty for it, which is usually why I let it go most of the time.
“Are you ready? Do you remember the plan?” He grabs his cloak and mine off the back of the settee in the bedchamber, then extends it to me.
“Yes. You’ll be at the Wytches Brew, Ren will be somewhere unimportant, and I’ll be at the Cauldron all night getting drunk and flirting with strangers,” I repeat for the third time, tone dripping with sarcasm as I secure my cloak.
“Flirting? Yes, always. Drunk? No. You need to stay alert. Let’s all meet here at the end of the night to report back.”
“You kill dreams for a living, Ezra,” I mutter.
“You hurt me.” He places his hand on his chest like I’ve truly wounded him with an incredulous look on his face, grinning as we walk out.
Ezra pivots to knock on Ren’s door, raising him from his slumber. He stumbles out of his room with nothing more than a pissed off look and a grunt, clearly waking up. Rolling my eyes, I turn and head in the opposite direction.
Dusk has arrived, bringing life to the seemingly small town. Walking down the cobblestone, we see the lights line the road, an orange glow reflecting off the stone as people gather hand in hand.
I spot the Cauldron—one street south of the inn—under a few orange lamp lights and a sign hanging on a metal post. Turning the corner, I finally reach a tiny arched door.
Something that was clearly made for a child.
My brows pinch with a glance around, and I bend to peek inside, suddenly unsure of where to start. This must be a cruel joke.
“You must not be from around here,” a little voice says, and I whirl to find the same boy from earlier. How does he do that? I scan the area again, utterly confused.
“No.” The word comes out unsure, my eyes warily locked on him. “Is this the Cauldron?”
“Yes, but that door is for pixies. The Fae door is around the corner.” He tilts his head with a toothy grin. “You should see the inside. Looks can be… deceiving.”
My hands land on my hips. “Okay then. I guess I’ll try to go in.”
“Thank you,” he quietly blurts, and I stop. “For the coin. I’ve been asking all day, and you are the first to give me something,” he says in such an innocent way that it squeezes my heart.
I know what it’s like being an orphan—hungry with people shooing you away like you’re nothing more than a stray. At a loss for words, I watch him retreat down the path, vanishing around the corner.
After a quiet minute on the street, I decide to follow him, finding the doors he mentioned, and let out a huff of disbelief. I almost forced myself through those tiny doors without a second thought.
How embarrassing would that have been?
I pull the large oak doors open, revealing the most exquisite tavern I’ve ever seen. Having frequented a lot of taverns, I’m shocked that this one escaped my notice.
Looking around, I now understand why the Golden Oak is booked. It looks like I’ll be apologizing to Ezra for assuming he lied about the rooms with how busy it is. I chuckle to myself, knowing that I definitely won’t be apologizing.
The tavern is spacious, and I think of what that boy said, about how looks can be deceiving. The tavern is mesmerizing.
A large skylight rests on the ceiling, bathing the tavern in a soft moonlight glow.
Candles and lanterns litter wooden tables while Fae, human, and Halflings of every kind sit at them.
Bookshelves line the walls from floor to ceiling, Fae sprawled out across the room.
Some read, some sit with company, and others are drinking.
A mantel with a roaring fire sits to the right, complete with settees. The tavern fills my nostrils with ale, cedar, and incense.
With a grin, I stride to the large bar near the back that’s bustling with guests. I slowly scan the room and sit, looking for anyone familiar.
“What would you like, miss?” a scruffy male asks from behind the bar, kind eyes and a wide grin. There’s hardly an empty seat at the tall bar, surrounded by groups of two chatting and laughing. Intricate melodies drift by when my eyes land on the floating violins playing themselves.
“An ale, please, and stew if you have it,” I say.
I find myself staring at the instruments magically playing when the male nods, and I slide a few coins across the bar. After a moment, he comes back with my ale, a friendly grin spread across his face.
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
“No, just passing through.” I grin, though my eyes go wide, the small sip of ale shocking me as the taste of crisp apples touches my tongue.
“I can see that.” He grins. “My name’s Donny. Holler if you need anything.” He pats the bar, parting to take orders from the other guests.
I make my way around the room, beginning my investigation by chatting with a few of the locals, subtly trying to identify those who are not from the area. I’m careful not to reveal the real reason I’m here to avoid raising suspicions.
Yet I find myself easily laughing, sitting on laps, and becoming one of the locals for a few hours, meeting a slew of new people.
And as grateful as I am for the company, I eventually find myself walking to the darkened corner of the tavern toward the mantel, too dim to be noticed.
With an exhale and a large grin on my face, I rest my head on the back of the settee and close my eyes.
After a moment, someone settles in on my right.
Assuming it’s one of the males that I was flirting with earlier, I’m suddenly greeted by the familiar scent of tobacco and oakmoss.
“I think you forgot this.” His voice is deep and smooth—a voice I recognize.
My eyes slowly peel open, my gaze immediately locking with Alec Thorne.