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“Just relieving myself, kind sirs. What can I do for you?”
Only three men, not even half as many as the two patrols in the larger street, started down the alley toward Javarin. It was blessedly few—and still far too many. If he fought them, he couldn’t silence all three at once. Then the others would come running. And did he even want to fight them? They weren’t the ones who’d given these orders. They were just doing their job.
And she was quite sure they’d have no trouble doing it, which likely meant killing her on sight. Men like Jav were all too rare. He knew she was corrupt, but he was able to look beyond that and believed that shouldn’t mean her death. He just wanted to hide her in the mountains like outcast refuse.
Still. That was better than dead.
She became aware of her surroundings for the first time. She was hidden from the street view but totally visible to anyone inside the upper loft of the home. Luckily for her, it was empty and dark, save a little candlelight from the floor below. Someone had carelessly left the door open, but she couldn’t see anything inside of use. A few rickety chairs. A chipped ale mug.
Perhaps they hadn’t locked it because they had nothing worth stealing. And who would think someone would climb up on their balcony to gain entrance?
Beside her, there were more pine boughs, a heavy bucket—she chose to ignore the contents—and a thick wooden stool.
Below, the men were approaching Jav. She eased onto her knees and listened.
“Who are you? Identify yourself,” one of them demanded. He carried a torch, illuminating the small group, a pool of light in the dark alley.
“I’m no one of consequence, I assure you, my lords. Looking for someone?”
The man frowned at his dodge but answered Jav’s question. “We’re looking for Princess Iseris. Word is she’s been driven mad with an exotic draught and roaming the streets wild.”
“Naked is what we heard,” coughed a second man. “And wild.”
She narrowed her eyes.
The first man sighed at his companion. He might have even rolled his eyes. “So, we’re looking to protect her and bring her back home.”
“Yes, well, I’m sorry to say I haven’t seen any wild princesses,” Jav replied. “Or a naked one, for that matter.”
“You sure?” asked the third. His frown said he suspected something.
“I’m fairly certain I’d have remembered that.” Jav shrugged, smiling.
The third one scowled now and stepped forward. “He’s hiding something.”
“Yeah, you’re wearing chain. You’re not some farmer.”
“No, no. Just a lowly temple boy, I’m afraid.”
“Where’d you get that chain, then?”
“I borrowed it for a party. Quite a good party too. Had a bit too much wine, I think.”
She almost snorted herself. He probably needed to hone his ability to lie. The first, strictly speaking, wasn’t a lie—she was neither naked nor wild—but this was an odd night for a masquerade party.
The first one frowned now too. The third pushed Jav. “A party with Akarian sympathizers perhaps?”
“Akari-what?” Jav cocked his head.
“Didn’t they say they was looking for a knight too?” asked the second. “The knight that gave her the draught?”
“No knights or draughts or draught-drinking princesses at my party,” Jav said, too quickly.
“Except the draughts of mead you was clearly drinking, eh? Can smell that a mile away. Betcha this is him,” said the second. “Can’t lie worth a shit, can he?”
“Hey, now. There’s no need to be uncivil.”
“I think you need to come with us.” The third seized one of Jav’s arms just as the second jumped for his other side.
