Page 161 of Salt Between the Wolves

Stone buildings rose above narrow lanes winding toward the harbor, colorful banners shifted in the sea wind, and shop signs hung above doorways. Foreign languages drifted through the crowds and blended with familiar speech until Eira could no longer distinguish where one ended and another began.

At one intersection, two merchants appeared to be engaged in a heated argument.

Leander slowed his horse.

One of them immediately pointed toward him.

“Tell him he’s wrong.”

Leander looked between them.

“No.”

The merchant blinked.

“What do you mean no?”

“I haven’t heard the argument.”

“You don’t need to.”

“I absolutely do.”

The second merchant folded his arms.

“See? I told you.”

The first groaned dramatically.

Eira expected Leander to continue riding, but instead he listened carefully to both sides of the dispute for nearly a minute.

By the end of it, both merchants looked dissatisfied.

“Congratulations,” Leander said. “You’ve both managed to be wrong.”

The first merchant immediately protested while the second looked deeply offended, but Leander rode away before either could continue.

Eira watched them for a moment before turning back to him.

“They argue with you.”

“Frequently.”

“And you allow it.”

“They’re citizens, not furniture.”

The answer was delivered so casually that she almost missed its meaning.

For several moments she said nothing while the city continued around them and the wind carried the scent of salt and smoke through the streets.

Eventually the crowds began to thin, and the road climbed slightly above the harbor.

Stone walls appeared ahead, though they were not defensive walls but garden walls enclosing a sprawling estate that overlooked the sea.

Dark stone, tall windows, and terraced gardens descended toward the cliffs in graceful layers. The estate looked elegant without appearing fragile and wealthy without appearing wasteful. It resembled less a noble residence than a place built by generations of people who expected it to remain standing for centuries.

Leander followed the road through the gates.