“I have no idea.” My tone is shrill. I’m so frustrated with myself. I suck in another deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. There’s nothing I can do about it now. “A stranger—somebody I saw for the first time a week ago and barely know—told me to lie. And I did. It makes no sense.”
“What stranger?” When I don’t answer right away, Toffer lays a hand on my arm. “Sifa, what stranger?”
“I don’t know his name,” I explain. “I don’t know anything about him. But we’re connected in the weirdest way possible.”
“What do you mean?” Toffer’s face is twisted in confusion.
“I’m sorry,” I exclaim. “I’m being so cryptic.” I pause, gathering my thoughts. “You know that I can sense people, right?”
Toffer bobs his chin for a moment, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Well, this man, for some reason, puts my senses on high alert. I can feel him coming. And I’m convinced he can feel me. But it’s more than that.” I lean back and take a sip of my wine, letting myself remember the emotions he triggers in me. “When he gets close, my feelings go to war with each other. At the same time, I am both completely enticed by him and thoroughly repelled.”
“Is he handsome?” Toffer looks at the cat and then back at me. “Thor wants to know,” he explains.
“Since when do you serve as an interpreter for me and Thor?”
“He was nicer to me when you were gone. We’re trying to get along.”
That finally lightens my mood, just a bit. I’ve been waiting years for them to learn to like each other.
“And now I want to know too. Do you like the way he looks?”
“Gods help me, I do,” I respond with a laugh. “He’s a mean, rude man. But he’s not bad on the eyes.”
“And he asked you to lie to Bevin?”
“He told me to keep some things I learned secret. I knew I should have told Bevin when he asked, but I didn’t. And Bevin can always taste a lie. It’s how he got where he is. He knows what I did.”
“But you’d do it again. Why?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” I sit with it for a minute, trying to figure out why. “He keeps showing up. The gods must have a reason for connecting us the way they did,” I answer at last. “Even if I never see his miserable face again, I can’t deny the link between us. Maybe it’s there just so I’ll listen to what he says.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to try to earn back Bevin’s faith. I don’t like it, but I need him to trust me.”
“And what if you see that man again?”
“That won’t happen,” I assure Toffer. “We’ve been in this town for years, and he’s never crossed my path before. I’m done with Ulfhild, so I’m done with him.”
Toffer gives me one of his crookedest smiles. “If you say so, Sifa.”
“I’ve never been so positive about anything,” I promise.
I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince him or me.
Chapter seven
Sifa
Why Are You Stalking Me?
“Whyarewestillwaiting for him?”
Bevin’s man—Fhord—is late. Really late. I’ve been here more than thirty minutes, and he still hasn’t arrived. I have no idea why Bevin puts up with this. I’d be looking for other work if I showed him such disrespect.
“Why do you care?” Bevin’s irritated but not ready to send me on my own. Maybe this guy will never show up, and I won’t have to deal with him at all.
