Page 24 of Witch’s Ruin

Marvin chuckled.

“Well,” I said, “you’ll have to wish me luck, then.”

“You should come to the inn and dine with us,” Anne said. “Far more enjoyable. We’re the greatest of friends. And Mother Mya always sees that we’re cared for proper.”

Her invitation enticed me more than I expected. “I probably will. Not sure how I’ll stand the king’s company for long.”

“Yes, see that you do,” Anne agreed, giving a pleased nod.

I looked them over, capturing my lower lip between my teeth. It had only been a single morning, and already I was fond of them. These were the witches King Kozma suspected of summoning demons? Really? Neither seemed the type. I could hardly believe it.

And yet, I needed to be certain.

I considered my suspects, less inclined to think suspiciously of Anne and Elianna. Lola had been extremely quiet. Could that be evidence enough? Both Josette and Odell had been out most of the morning, doing who could say what. And what of Mya? She seemed the least likely, but could that make her an ideal candidate?

My stomach twisted. A witch betraying the citadel? It went against everything! We were trained to protect, not harm. I hated the thought.

I sighed, glancing at myself in the mirror.

I needed answers and that meant digging into the matter myself. Rixon and I had work to do. I just hoped I could handle whatever truths I discovered.

* * *

I linked my arm through Rixon’s as we took up a leisurely pace through the city, keeping to the main thoroughfare. It was early afternoon, and the weather was mild, overcast. Rixon had explained that many days were like this, given the proximity to the sea. The sound of gulls overhead punctuated the city’s hum. I’d always thought sea birds only dined on fish, but everywhere I looked, they swooped between buildings, cawing and collecting discarded food, digging through refuse, pattering about in gutters.

“They’re dirty birds,” Rixon had explained at the start of our walk. “Near as bad as pigeons.”

Earlier, we’d decided to dine at a small pub near Marvin’s. Everything was charged to Rixon’s account, naturally. We’d had an excellent clam chowder and seared sea bass with rice and vegetables. The rice, he’d explained, was imported from across the sea. I’d only had rice a few times because of the difficulty in getting it inland. I’d eaten enough to burst. Hence, our walk.

We’d long since bid goodbye to our companions. I’d already given him an abridged version of our time in the shop, Marvin’s excitement over his return, and the invitation to dine at the inn when we wished to avoid his father.

“How did you find their wielders?” I now asked, tugging on his arm. We crossed the thoroughfare and headed in the direction of the ports. Rixon grunted, shrugging. His eyes darted about, taking in every single detail. “That bad, huh?”

“They talk too much.”

My laugh was more of a bark. “Dearest Rixon,” I cooed. “Everyone talks too much, by your standards.”

“Not everyone.”

“Oh?”

“I never mind your conversation, Lady Witch.” His eyes darted to mine, and his expression softened a measure, before he turned his gaze back to the street.

“Of course you don’t, especially when it’s dirty things.”

“Especially not then.”

“You are insufferable! You—”

“Aleksander?! Oh my gods!” I whirled around and caught a flash of red. I blinked, staggering back several steps. A female clung to my wielder, her arms wrapped around his neck.

For a moment, I simply stood there, nearly sputtering. Then, a laugh burst from my chest. The look on Rixon’s face—he was positively appalled. Well, he certainly didn’t find anything funny about it, not like I did. I calmed myself, plastering my hands against my mouth to hold back my laughter, as Rixon began detaching the red-headed beauty from him.

“Oh, do forgive me,” she declared, finally stepping back. “It’s just…I heard rumors of your return. I so hoped they were true. I knew you would return eventually. Father knew it too! We’ve been waiting so, so anxiously. You—”

“Forgive me, madam, but…have we met?”Rixon somehow grew taller.

The female’s expression fell.