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“I’m glad you won the Imrati,” I said, letting my eyelids flutter closed, content to be safe in his arms.
Twenty-Nine
Rivven
Ihesitated when I went to shave off my beard. Nyah liked me rugged, and I wanted to please her. But she would be sleeping for a few days according to her new arrangement with Rune, and that would give me time to regrow some stubble. Sleeping. It was a term that helped ease my soul when I thought too hard about what was happening.
A soft knock sounded at the door, and I grunted admittance. Lou appeared behind me in the mirror a few moments later. She was the same as I remembered, perfectly put together, painted face, bright red hair swept on top of her head, wearing one of her usual tight, layered ensembles. The emerald ruffles were meant to distract customers with her ample cleavage while strategically hiding several small daggers.
Lou was always prepared. I’d witnessed her in action and was glad we had been on the same side. The thing was, there was something about her that I didn’t trust completely. She never showed her true motives and was extremely successful in business dealings with shady parties. I supposed we clashed on those dealings. While she made nice with certain pirates and thieves, giving them time with her girls and dancing on the edge of a blade, I preferred to shove my blade through their rotten hearts with no pretense. I wasn’t interested in what they could give me. If they reminded me of Balram, they weren’t worthy of my time and certainly not my trust.
Galan, on the other hand, practically worshipped her. If she ever betrayed him, I would not hesitate to chop off her pretty head. And she knew it.
Which was why she didn’t bother smiling as I scraped the blade down my neck, eyes locked with hers. Her gaze flickered to my chest, where my scars were on full display. I hoped they intimidated her.
Galan appeared at her shoulder, already bathed and groomed back to his usual perfection. I smirked, amused that they wore matching outfits.
“Shut the door,” she hissed, and Galan complied.
I continued working on my face with measured, slow movements.
“I’ve managed to close a bit early tonight, but it wasn’t easy.” Her words were clipped as she shot her ire straight at me. “You’re lucky I was able to get you all in here. Do you think I have room for giant, wanted parties? Is this a game to you?”
“Thank you,” I said, snapping my wrist so the soap flew into the basin. “This wasn’t my first choice, but we don’t have many options right now.”
Lou barked out a laugh. “I’ll say. Showing up at my doorstep with the fucking princess that everyone’s been searching for. I should turn you in myself—it’s such a huge reward. And the punishment for keeping her hidden? I’m putting every girl I care for at risk.”
Her face and chest reddened as she spoke. Galan kept a hand on her arm. Judging by her demeanor, if he hadn’t, she may have attacked me physically. I half wished she had. I couldn’t believe her gall, threatening to turn in the princess? All of us?
“Have you? Turned us in?” I asked evenly, clutching the small blade in my fingers as I turned to face her directly and leaned back against the sink.
That flustered her. But only for a moment. “Of course not! But make no mistake, Rivven, my girls come first. Stay low profile until I can sneak you out of here. I mean it.”
“Low profile. Right.” With a mountain elf, three Astridonians, and the missing princess. It wasn’t like I couldn’t understand her misgivings. But I did enjoy riling her.
“And where is Starla?” She lowered her voice, and I detected some actual emotion beneath the words. It was the name we’d used for Nyah in the Imrati. She’d trained here for two weeks. And despite what I thought of this woman, or the worry I’d had at Galan bringing Nye here, Lou had done a damn good job helping her master her magic.
“She’s here,” I said. “It’s a long story.”
“I know who she really is,” she said softly. “She told me the truth.”
Of course she had. “She didn’t know the whole truth herself. I’m sure Galan will fill you in tonight.” That jab was for my friend who’d moved directly into Lou’s own bedroom the moment we’d arrived. But it slid off him easily.
“What’s your plan?” Lou asked, some of the fire wrung out of her. “What can I do to get you to the next step faster?” And there was her real motivation.
“I need a boat and a crew I can trust.” I crossed my ankles, leaning back with my hands splayed over the edge of the porcelain. The blade was still beneath my right palm, just in case.
“Trust?” Her perfectly penciled eyebrows rose. “Here? Are you kidding? The best you can hope for is a crew that’ll take a bribe.”
I shook my head. “Not good enough. This is too tenuous a situation. We need to sail for the Synbari Isles as soon as possible.”
“Always a thorn in my side.” She smiled, shaking her head. “Fine you and I will go to the docks before dawn to hire some scoundrels.” She put up a hand to stave off my next remark. “The kind that hate the king as much as we do. That should work.”
“Agreed.”
Sleep has never been easy, and despite or maybe because of my utter exhaustion, that night was no different. After a few decent hours, I headed outside to the courtyard to practice with my sword. Training would never be unnecessary, and there was something oddly calming about the motions.
A loud thud made me spin, sword out, fire in hand. Slowly, my gaze traveled upward until the threat was found. Only it wasn’t a threat. It was Nyah’s pet dragon, Ven, perched high above on the slanted roof, spiked tail dangling down the side of the inn.
