Chapter 9
Daytime comes in a blink with only a few hours of sleep, leaving us to head to the front of the inn to retrieve our breakfasts. The bell rings above as we walk through the wooden door, and a dark-skinned female with wild, curly hair peeks out from the back.
“One moment!” she hollers, bright and cheerful as the morning sun, like she didn’t just spend the night chatting with Ezra.
I admire her cheerfulness, but I’ll never understand morning people. My blank stare lands on Ezra and I groan, sliding into a seat at one of the wooden tables, and rub my temples. Ren sits beside me.
“Good morning, dearies!” she says, pouring us three mugs of their morning brew. I grin, sipping. “Would you like our breakfast pie to start your day?” She looks at us expectantly. Ezra only nods, drinking out of his mug, clearly not a morning person either.
“That would be great, thank you,” I say.
Twenty minutes go by. We’re inhaling our food at an impressive speed when she comes back with another round. Whatever it is, it’s delightful.
“Eat up, we have plenty,” she says.
Ezra eats in silence while Ren practically moans into his food, inhaling his fourth serving. Both have been quiet for most of the morning, leaving me to spark a conversation inspired by the one I had with Alec.
And my favorite way of gaining information.
“You know, I was thinking about the orphanage yesterday—how I still don’t know anything about my parents.” I take a bite, hoping my words sound casual. “I was hoping that once we complete this mission, the king would grant me leave to start my search.”
“We’ve already had this discussion before. They’re most likely dead. It would be a waste of time,” Ezra says, chewing his food as he looks up at me, mouth full. Ren briefly side-eyes him, the utensil halfway to his mouth, furrowing his brows, but he remains silent.
Ezra casually waves his fork in the air, continuing.
“If King Elion took you in from the orphanage, it would be a waste of time to look for your parents. You know that, otherwise you wouldn’t have been at the orphanage.
” He holds my gaze as if it’s obvious, which it is.
“King Elion would be disappointed if you left. Besides, he’s practically a father to you. ”
“Father is a bit of a stretch, but he’s right,” Ren says, talking around his mouthful. “Most of us have never even tried searching for our kin, and the ones who do often come back with a grave marker.”
His gaze drops, a brief sadness creeping in. I realize that I’ve never actually thought about Ren’s family much. He came from the orphanage as well, bringing insight to the early brotherhood days. I chew my food and nod, as if thinking about it.
“I could see how it might be a waste of my time. Best not to get my hopes up.” I chuckle.
“Exactly,” Ezra replies with a grin, going back to his food in silence.
I brush off the previous conversation and lean against the chair. Ezra sips, and I begin to wonder what put him in such a quiet mood, assuming it might be because of Ren tagging along. The two hardly get along.
“You seem tired,” I point out.
“I am. Isn’t it obvious?” Ezra huffs a laugh.
A devious grin tilts my mouth. “How can you be tired when you didn’t even cuddle me last night? I walked into the chamber after washing up and you were already asleep.”
“Probably because you suck the life out of everyone,” Ren mumbles, and I go to stab his hand with my fork. He dodges it with a menacing grin as it makes contact with the table, utensils trembling.
Ezra huffs sarcastically. “I was too busy waiting for you to cuddle.”
“So, what are our plans today?” I chuckle but throw Ren a glare, ripping my fork back out of the wood. Throwing my napkin on the table, I ignore Ren again, trying not to cringe the moment he begins to breathe into his food.
“I thought about heading to the local apothecary to restock our healing salve. How’s your shoulder?” Ezra asks.
My shoulder—right. I actually forgot and haven’t checked it since he put more salve on it yesterday.
“Surprisingly well, it seems, since I forgot I had an injury,” I mutter with a casual shrug. “The salve helped.”
“Good,” he says. “Still, I’ll head down a few blocks to restock since we’re running low. We’ll need it for the journey.”
“I also need salve. Myst told me she cut her leg yesterday,” Ren says, mentioning his red mare. I admire the fact that he can talk with her about such things.
“We’ll go together,” I say, and Ezra nods as we rise.
I drop a few coins for the innkeeper, turning to follow Ezra and Ren out the door, when someone suddenly grips my arm. I whirl around to the innkeeper, who’s an inch from my face.
“You startled me,” I exhale, palming my dagger.
“Trust him,” she says quietly, anxiously glancing toward the exit. My eyes flick across her expression—an attempt to read her face—when her gaze meets mine. “Looks can be deceiving, dear, but trust him.”
Her brown eyes remain serious, nothing like the cheerful demeanor she had when we walked in. She releases me just as Ezra peeks his head inside.
“Isa, are you ready?” His eyes immediately land on the innkeeper, his brow arching, as if he’s unsure about what’s happening between us.
My expression remains neutral when she gives me a light pat on my arm, accompanied with the same bright smile from earlier.
“Thank you for my coin, dear! I am very grateful for your kindness.” Nodding and turning away, she walks back to where she came from.
Is she speaking of Alec? How does she know I met with him? I quickly brush off the strange interaction and exit the inn to find myself back on the cobblestone street. Ezra’s already scanning the area with the face of an assassin—always calculating and looking for threats.
“Excuse me, sir!” a little boy says. “Please, do you have any coins?” The boy holds out his shirt as Ren stands on the edge of the street.
No, not any little boy. The little boy. Alec.
Auburn hair and freckle-faced just like yesterday, but I can clearly see the color of the boy’s eyes today, a deep blue with a hint of gold. How I didn’t notice them the first time is a mystery—they pierce your soul.
My eyes narrow, but he’s clearly set on getting Ren’s attention. I’m quickly reminded of what Alec said about testing someone’s character. I’m suddenly curious how it unfolds, letting it play out, knowing Ren will probably kick the boy for fun.
A grin tugs at my lips.
Just then, Ren leans down to give the boy a gentle pat, tossing a coin into the shirt, and begins walking in our direction with a faint grin on his face. Which is unlike him.
My face scrunches in shock and confusion. What the fuck?
The boy makes brief eye contact with me as if to say, I told you. So does that mean Ren is decent? I almost turn nauseous at the thought.
Alec quickly passes by when Ezra tosses in a couple of coins before he scurries down the path without so much as a second glance toward us. Ezra remains silent as he scans the town, though his jaw is slightly tense.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“What?” His tone is a little sharper than usual but nothing out of the ordinary as his attention shifts to me.
I suddenly raise my hands in mock defense when he sighs with a half grin, the tension easing.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I didn’t sleep well last night, and it has me on edge this morning.
I’m ready for this mission to be over, and we only have tonight to finish the job.
We’re cutting it too close,” Ezra says quietly.
I nod, understanding exactly what he means, but remain quiet the rest of the walk to the apothecary. We’re cutting it way too close. Walking in after Ren, we’re instantly greeted by an Herb Weaver.
Herb Weavers have the power to manipulate plants with a simple touch, allowing them to obtain the knowledge they need to create potions, tinctures, and salves—a direct connection to the land.
Plants extend from every surface, hanging from the ceiling and cascading off the shelves, tables, and counters.
The male touches them, silently muttering nice words to each leaf as he passes by.
Old and frail, he greets us with a smile and shows us his best healing salves off to the side.
Ezra and Ren search for what they need as I walk near the front of the small shop in silence, Ren filling the space with how large he is.
The shop smells wonderful though, like an earthy incense supplied for every ailment under the sun. I pick up a few jars and sniff.
“Careful,” the male says. “You don’t want to sniff those unless you want babies.”
Scowling, I slowly set them down, shooting him a sideways glance. He chuckles, eyes crinkling. It’s not uncommon for Fae to conceive naturally but most take the special drafts created by Herb Weavers, giving them an extra aid in fertility.
“I’m Edwin. Who are you, my dear?” he asks tenderly, taking my hand in his.
“I’m Isa.”
“What can I do for you? Or are you here for the same thing as those grumpy males over there?” He arches a gray brow, gesturing over his shoulder where Ezra and Ren currently browse.
Ren suddenly bumps into a table, knocking over a jar, and he lunges to catch it. A grin tugs at my mouth as I secure a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Actually, no, but you may be able to help me,” I say softly, recalling what’s supposed to happen tonight with Ren accompanying me to the Cauldron.
Now is my chance to hopefully find something to put him to sleep for a few hours.
“Do you happen to have anything for… sleep?” I ask warily.
“I’ve been having some trouble sleeping lately and need something a little stronger than my usual tonic.
” I’m hoping he understands what I’m asking as my gaze flicks behind him again.
“Oh yes!” he hollers loudly, like he didn’t catch anything I was hinting at. It takes everything in me not to silence him with my hand when both males look over their shoulders in our direction. “I have just what you need for your monthly affliction. Follow me!”
Ezra and Ren grumble behind him, and I hear them shuffle deeper into the far corner, cowering away as if I’m something gross.
Oh wait—hah! Clever little weaver. I grin and follow him through the large curtains in the back. Looks like I underestimated him and he did catch on after all.
I’m greeted with the warm touch of the room as the sun streams in through the windows that line the ceiling, casting streams of light on the red-and-orange brick floor.
Vines from various plants line the shelves in search of the sun, but surrounding the creeping vines are hundreds of jars resting on the surface.
Below them lies a wooden working space resting against the wall.
He gestures to a little jar on the table.
“This right here would do the trick for you. You’d get plenty of sleep and might even sleep for an extra…
” He shrugs. “Half a day. You won’t even taste it.
” Winking, he grabs a jar off the shelf in front of us—no questions asked.
Edwin places it in my hand, closing my fingers around the jar.
“Take it. I’m not sure what you might need it for, but it should accomplish what you need,” he says gently and lifts his brows with a stern expression.
But I find myself hesitating for a breath. Not because I would feel guilty putting Ren into a deep sleep, but because of how much I want those answers from Alec. I want the truth about my parents—and it terrifies me how far I’m willing to go to get it.
I glance over my shoulder in search of Ezra or Ren when I finally face Edwin with a small nod, placing it in the hidden pocket of my cloak.
“Thank you,” I mutter as he gestures to the curtains behind me. I sigh and walk through, finding Ezra and Ren paying for their items with Edwin’s wife.
I smile at Ezra, my heart pounding against the glass jar in the pocket of my cloak. “You ready?”