Page 61 of The Seeker

“Yes. Unless you made a specific promise to Derek, I’d say you are welcome to spend your time with anyone you want.” I wiggled my eyebrows and both of us collapsed into giggles.

She opened her mouth to say something, but the innkeeper returned, three vials in her hand. “That’ll be six coins.”

I gulped, reaching into Otho’s bag before realizing he’d taken his pouch of coins with him that morning. “I . . . uhh . . . need to get the coins from Otho.”

The woman nodded, releasing the vials into my grasp. “I’ll let the woman know to wait a few moments.”

“Wait.” I looked between Ena and the innkeeper. “Can I meet this woman?”

The innkeeper shook her head. “I’m afraid not. She wishes to remain anonymous.”

The words sank like a rock in my stomach, and I lifted one of the vials, spinning it in the light, before uncorking it and dumping a few berries in my mouth. I chewed slowly; the berries tasted like normal belladonna.

As if I would be able to taste poison in my poison. I swallowed my laugh, knowing it would appear strange to laugh now.

Still, the fact that the woman didn’t want to meet me made me feel uneasy.

I caught Ena’s gaze and tilted my head to the side. Knowing what I wanted, she excused herself to return to her room.

The innkeeper and I stood there in silence as I mentally projected to Otho that I needed him—well, more like I hoped I projected my thoughts.

I received my answer when Otho returned a few awkward breaths later, immediately rushing over to me. “Is everything okay?”

I forced a smile on my lips. “Yes. I need six coins, if that’s okay?”

He didn’t question it, pulling the pouch out of his pocket and handing me the six coins. I passed them to the innkeeper who disappeared into the back of the inn.

Otho eyed the vials. “More belladonna?”

“Yes,” I breathed, sliding them into my brassiere. “How long until the next village?”

He grimaced. “I’m afraid we likely won’t see anyone else until Shianp.”

“Is it really that desolate out here?”

The general added the supplies in his arms to his bag one by one as we spoke. “I’m afraid so. You’ve seen the terrain, it’s . . . not easy to navigate. Even if there were more villages out there, I couldn’t guarantee I could find them.”

“Then why does the king live in Shianp? If it’s so hard to reach?”

He rose to his full height before answering. “Because it’s difficult for enemies to reach, too.”

It didn’t matter how much I learned about war, politics, or the world I lived in, I felt like I knew nothing every time I spoke with Otho, and this time was no different. I’d never considered that the king would be safest living somewhere where it was difficult for everyone to reach—even his own people. That would protect him against the enemy, as well as a coup. And if anyone did dare to cross the terrain to reach him, or take the road, by the time they reached the town, it was likely they were tired, hungry, and in need of supplies.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts, I didn’t notice Ena return until her hand landed on my shoulder. “You won’t believe this.”

I jolted in surprise, peering at my friend as the other men came down the hall, packs in their hands, pulling Otho into a conversation about the route we planned to take. With them otherwise occupied, I motioned for Ena to go on.

“The woman who was selling the belladonna, it was the woman who was flirting with Otho last night. I saw her waiting behind the building for payment. She waited until the innkeeper came out with it.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I’m buying poison, because you can’t poison something that’s already meant to kill someone.” I couldn’t stop my chuckle, and Ena laughed along with me.

“You’re right about that.”

The two of us giggled about the unlikely vendor all throughout the morning hike. Though it was challenging, I found it easier than the previous days, because now that we were in the basin, the mountains we were climbing were smaller, the descents less steep. As we walked, I imagined what a birds-eye view of the Shianp would look like, with the tall rim of mountains creating almost a fence around the smaller mountains that surrounded the town itself.

It reminded me of a great eye—watching all who approached.

I shivered at the thought. But something told me I needed to remember that.