Fire Falling - Kova Elise - Страница 43
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A silence fell over the room as the last of the ash fell to the floor. Vhalla breathed shallowly. Each of the woman’s words seemed to have been carefully and perfectly chosen for an exact meaning. But what that meaning was Vhalla still considered. Vi’s eyes slowly faded to black again.
“And now, for payment.” The woman settled into a more comfortable position.
“Ah, right.” Vhalla put down her sack and reached for her gold.
“I do not want coin.” Vi stopped her.
Vhalla paused, an unsettling feeling worming its way into the back of her skull. “What, do you want then?”
“That watch.” The Westerner pointed to the one which Vhalla was holding.
“This one?” Vhalla held it up; it was the woman’s to begin with. Vi nodded. “All right, of course.”
Vhalla passed it over. She had never expected to keep it, but something strange tingled across her fingers as Vhalla gave it up. It was physically difficult to see it in the other woman’s hands.
“Our current business has concluded.”
They both stood, and Vi held open the back curtain while Vhalla slipped into her shoes.
“Heed my words, Vhalla Yarl.”
Vhalla could only nod at the cryptic message and walked out into the shop proper. She rubbed the soot off her face, trying to figure out how much the woman’s fortune telling bothered her. Vhalla nodded to Daniel and they left silently, back out into the chaos of the market. Somehow, she felt the fiery glow of the woman’s stare halfway down the street.
Vhalla linked her arm with Daniel’s to avoid getting separated from him again. He was also steady and, in truth, she felt a little shaken. Vhalla flexed, gripping him tighter.
“How did it go?” he asked as lightly as possible.
“It was an experience.” Vhalla attempted a chuckle. She could tell he didn’t buy the brave front, but he didn’t follow up with any questions on what type of experience it was.
Daniel was in good form the rest of the day as he showed her the market. He let her walk as close as she liked to him and neither pushed her away nor pulled her closer. Normally they were arm–in-arm for practicality, but if she was completely honest, she was enjoying the position of being physically close to someone who wasn’t confusing or frustrating.
They stopped at a food stand and purchased balls of rice that had vegetables inside. Vhalla laughed as she fed him a bite of her flavor and half dropped out onto his lap. For dessert, they tried a square sweet had a strange stiff, jelly-like texture. Vhalla bought a small box to bring back to Larel and Fritz.
After the morning’s affair finally faded, the day gave way to an all-around positive experience in the market. Vhalla purchased a small bottle of perfume and a potpourri ball for her bag from a scents shop, thinking they may come in handy during the rest of their march in the desert.
They passed a candy shop and found the lemon peels that Aldrik had mentioned. Vhalla picked up two bags, one for her and one for him. He had brought them up, and he had liked the lemon cake. Daniel purchased a new dagger that could be worn on the leg and short swords that he insisted were worlds better than his own. When Vhalla told him she had no weapons, he was aghast and that hunt absorbed the rest of their afternoon.
She finally decided on a thin, almost needle-like dagger that was just a little less than the length of her forearm. It came with a holster to wear on the arm, the hilt right near the wrist. Daniel pointed out that she’d lose a lot of stability and strength choosing such a small option. But as Vhalla clipped it onto the underside of her forearm and rolled her sleeve down over it, she instantly liked her choice. With a normal shirt, it was perfectly concealed. The hilt was just the right length to not impede her movement. Yet in a quick motion she had it drawn.
In all, the day cost her almost all the money she had brought. But they were only in the Crossroads for a few more days and most things seemed to have been taken care of for her.
Even outside the market her arm still lingered around Daniel’s. The night chill was setting in and he was familiar and warm. Vhalla smiled, fussing with the dagger strapped to her left arm.
“It doesn’t work as a concealed weapon if you’re showing people it’s there,” Daniel scolded with a grin.
“You’re right, I suppose,” she agreed with a laugh. He hadn’t touched the new dagger strapped to his calf for hours.
They strolled through the market and back to the central square, where the East-West Way met the Great Imperial Way. Firebearers walked about lighting the lamps, and Vhalla found it amazing to see a society that had sorcerers so integrated in helpful ways. She smiled, eyes following one in particular for no reason. He moved to a building with large circular stained glass. Vhalla paused shifting her bag on her shoulder.
It was a bad idea. She was having another moment where she needed to admit it, and stop herself. Vhalla took a breath. “I—” She paused, glancing between Daniel and the building. “I need to make a quick stop. The inn is right over there. You can go ahead.”
“No, I’m not letting you walk alone in the Crossroads at night,” he said definitively. “It can be dangerous.”
“Very well,” she sighed softly. “Then wait out here for me?”
“That, I can do.” There was apprehension locked in his eyes, but Daniel kept it away from his tongue and spared her comment.
Vhalla took a breath and summoned her courage, walking to the front doors. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to see Aldrik again. Wasn’t she mad at him? But at the root of all her conflicting feelings was the need to see him, to say what needed to be said: the truth.
Soft music, a Southern sound, played from one of the rooms off the main lobby. Vhalla looked uncertainly at the shut doors and opulent parlors. A man cleared his throat from behind the front desk.
“I have a delivery for the Crown Prince,” Vhalla announced.
The older man folded his bony fingers and regarded her skeptically. “What could you possibly have?”
“I’m the Windwalker,” she declared, attempting to use credentials to dodge the question.
“That is most excellent, and what is so important that he would not leave word?”
Deflated that her approach hadn’t worked, she lost her resolve and mumbled, “He ... We have work to do ... for the Emperor.”
“I’m sure ...” The man didn’t believe her in the slightest. “Unfortunately the prince has explicitly asked not to be disturbed. Do take care.”
Vhalla sighed softly, resigned.
“Vhalla?” Prince Baldair stopped in a hallway joining the lobby with other rooms, walking over to her. “What’re you doing here?”
“My prince, I was just leaving.” Vhalla keenly remembered the last time she and Prince Baldair had spoken.
“She was asking to see the crown prince,” the treacherous clerk informed.
“Vhalla.” The golden prince frowned, glancing at the man and thinking better of continuing. “I’ll take her there myself.”
“You will?” Vhalla and the desk man said in unison.
“He’s shut himself up; I’ve not seen him once. Company is a good thing, no?” Baldair placed his hand on the small of her back and practically pushed her up a wide staircase.
“You’re really taking me to see him?” Vhalla asked as they reached the second floor landing.
“Of course not, but I am going to ask you what you think you’re doing here.” In private, the prince dropped all decorum.
“It’s nothing important,” Vhalla muttered. She was already second guessing her mission.
“I thought I told you to stay away.” Baldair frowned.
“It’s not your business.” Vhalla pulled the bag of candy from her pack. “And I also wanted to give him these.”
“Lemon peels?” Prince Baldair recognized the sweet shop’s marking. “Vhalla ...” he sighed. “I don’t know what kind of relationship you think you can have with my brother—”
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