Leth just bows his head and finishes his meal in silence.
?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
EVAIN
Birchven knocks on the guest room’s door around noon. Rubbing his eyes, Evain drags himself from bed and to the door. Staring at the rafters all night wasn’t particularly restful.
“What is it?” he says, the Lyrisenian words rusty between his teeth.
Birchven’s gaze flicks down to Evain’s barely buttoned shirt. The shot of power is more effective than coffee. “Three more strangers rode into town this morning. I don’t know if any of them are paladins, mind you, but they’re talking to Old Sarah now.”
“Thanks.” Evain runs his hand through his hair, then smiles intentionally. He needs another flare of Birchven’s attention, to wake him up enough. “I need a moment to dress, but after that, would you be so kind as to point me to Old Sarah’s place?”
“Of course.” Birchven swallows. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”
Unhappy but awake, Evain closes the door and slips back into his coat and boots. Then he combs his hair out with his fingers and plaits it neatly. When he looks perfect enough, he stalks back to the door, then hesitates.
He wraps the red scarf around his neck before leaving the room.
***
Snowtown is more alive in daylight. There are more people out to gawk at Evain, at least, as he follows Birchven to the largest house on the street. Three familiar horses are tethered to the post outside—Arthur’s massive chestnut, Shae’s little dark pony, and Freya’s sturdy bay.
“That’s the place,” Birchven says. “Are you good? I need to head out and check my traps.”
“I think I can find it.” Evain struggles to drag one of his usual niceties out from the cobwebs in his head. “Thanks for the room.”
“Safe winter and strong wards.” An old Lyrisenian platitude.
“Safe winter.” Evain manages not to grimace until Birchven turns away down the snowy street. Strong wards—to keep demons out. Evain has no need of those.
He’s still staring off into the distance, breath frosting in the air, when Old Sarah’s door swings open. Arthur, Shae, and Freya emerge onto the street and spot Evain at once. Shae pauses at the doorstep, pulling a ring off his right hand as the others move forward.
“Evain!” Freya waves her arm. If she’s wearing her sun-emblazoned tunic, it’s hidden under her fur-trimmed coat.
“There you are.” Evain moves towards the horses. “Took you long enough.” It’s meant to be a jest, but his voice falls flat and harsh. He can’t handle the switch from Lyrisenian to Charaini as well as he usually can.
“Long enough?” Freya laughs. “We headed here as soon as Radiant Vara spoke to us. Which, for the record, I’m still not used to. Did you know Mother Sephine speaks to Haldis and Marta in gentle dreams?”
“I didn’t,” Evain says. “Let me guess, your Vara does things differently.”
“Sudden visions in broad daylight,” Arthur chimes in. He gestures. “Boom. Very startling. But I still like it better than the vague feelings we used to get.”
“I never even got that,” Freya says with a sigh.
Shae joins them, frowning. “Where’s Leth?”
Evain freezes.
He really must be off his game. He hasn’t prepared an explanation atall.
Arthur’s smile fades, and his eyes narrow. He’s better at reading people than Evain would prefer. “Is everything all right?”
“No,” Evain says shortly. There’s no reason to pretend. “Leth’s all right—he has Daziroth. But we argued, and he left.”
“Radiance,” Arthur swears.
