“Um... hello?”
I jump, scooping the crystal up and slipping it into my pocket as a familiar voice sounds from outside of the cabin.
“Walter?”
I throw the door open, and the man’s bearded face brightens in recognition. “Dominai, you turn up in the damnedest of places,” he laughs before he walks forward, pulling me into a bear of a hug. I’m a little dazed as he claps me on the back. Last time we crossed paths was just outside of the Black Burrows two springs ago when we were hunting for Olbric.
“Did you ever find your wizard friend?” he asks as he releases me. “Hell, what was his name. Abric?”
“Olbric,” I say with a forced smile. “We did. We’re both on... an assignment of sorts right now.”
Walter chuckles as he looks me over. “Still can’t believe you actually did it, y’know?” he says. “When you said you were packin’ up and leavin’, we all thought - well...”
“You all thought I was bullshitting you,” I say with a grin. “Remember that redhead that asked me to escort her to Watervin a few years back?”
“‘Course. Hard to forget a looker like her,” Walter says, his grin wry as he scratches the back of his head.
“She was a wizard. She gave me an invitation,” I say, even as I think of Allisande now, in Marikadar for the peace talks. I keep my smile on as best as I can. “Took a little while for me to take her up on that offer.”
Walter chuckles as he looks me over. “Well, wizarding’s done you good, Dom. It’s good to see you.”
“Could say the same,” I say, and I can tell he worked a season in the Black Burrows just by the size of his arms. Then I rememberwhyhe was working the mines in the first place. “Your da’s herd recover? You didn’t have to work the mines again this season, did you?”
Walter waves a hand. “Nah, not this year. We’re still short a few heads of where Da wants to be, but we had five healthy ewe lambs in the spring.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Walter looks me over before glancing back at the cabin. “You just here to visit?”
“I - yeah,” I say, trying to ignore the magiline crystal in my pocket. “Was just looking to see if I’d left behind something I’ve been looking for.”
“Must’ve been important to come all this way,” Walter says. “Did you find it?”
My smile wavers a little as I slip my hand into my pocket, feeling the rough magiline against my fingers. “Yeah, I did.”
Walter gives me a curious look before he asks, “Where you staying?”
“Nowhere, yet,” I say. “This was my first stop. Was gonna swing by Janessa’s before I get back on the road.”
Walter tsks. “Sure you can’t spare a night? It’s a long road from Straetham.”
I shouldn’t. Nik’s likely closed the lead I had on him. Hopefully I’ve covered my tracks well enough to keep him busy, but I have no doubt he’ll catch up to me sooner rather than later. I can’t linger for long, and I still need to talk to Janessa.
Walter must see my hesitation before he says, “C’mon, at least stay for supper? I foraged some honeycomb mushrooms that Constance is going to make up with dinner.”
After so many days of nothing and no one to talk to, I realize Iwantthe company. I’m heartsick from the thoughts about my da and my mother, missing the Crux now more than ever. I’m not ready to think about that note, the magiline in my pocket.
It would only be a few hours. I can talk to Janessa when I check in at the inn later tonight. Right now, good company seems like a perfect distraction, and besides... Walter’s my friend. It’ll be nice to catch up.
“You know what, I can spare a bit,” I say. “Thanks for the offer.”
“Good! C’mon then, I even got a jug o’ beer I’ve been waiting to break into,” he says, and I follow him away from my cabin. “Connie will be thrilled to see you.”
Caught Up
It’s important to gather all the information you can while on an assignment. Speak to the locals. Talk to people at inns. Valuable news can come from unlikely sources.
Magical Tactics by Eroland Lockhart
