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“I’m not going anywhere,” Tempest said firmly. She turned her attention back to the men, her glare icy with anger. “You have exactly one minute to release her, or I will make you regret every moment of your miserable lives.”
One man stepped towards Tempest. “Unless you are taking on her debt yourself, this does not concern you. Though I’m sure we could find a use for a woman such as yourself.”
Tempest felt sick. It took every effort to not feel dirty from the darkness of these men’s souls. “I’m warning you; let her go,now.”
The man smiled. “I think you’re bluffing.”
The other men approached, moving as one toward her. The man holding Tavora’s arm released her to do so. Tempest took a step back, her eyes never losing sight of any of them. Her senses were alert and ready; she had no intention of letting them harm anyone.
“How much does she owe?”
The men continued to slowly walk towards her. “More than you could possibly have,” the man who’d been holding Tavora sneered.
“That’s not an answer.” Tempest pulled a small handful of gold coins from her pocket and held them out in front of her. “Is this enough?”
“Is that all you have?”
A glance at Tavora’s wide eyes told Tempest that it was more than enough. “Take it and leave her be. I want it in writing that her debt is cleared.”
The men laughed as they closed in on her. “What’s it to you?”
Her patience completely gone, Tempest reached out and brushed against their souls with her own. It was a warning she hoped would be enough to prevent them from turning violent. Their faces paled.
One reached out and snatched the gold before stepping back. “It’s enough.”
“Good. Go inside and write out the receipt. I expect proof before you leave, or I will come find you myself.”
The men hurried inside and Tavora stumbled over to Tempest, grabbing onto the skirt of Tempest’s dress as her legs gave out under her, accidentally knocking the packages from Tempest’s hands. She reached down to help Tavora up.
“Are you all right?”
“That... that was a small fortune you just gave them.”
“To some. Let me know if they don’t leave the receipt for you.”
Tavora bent down to pick up the pile of clothing and brushed it off as she handed it back. “I take it this means you are leaving soon.”
“It does. I wanted to thank you before leaving. Your kindness will not be forgotten.”
“Oh, no dear, the favor you have just done me is much more than anything I did for you. I will never be able to repay your kindness.”
Tempest could feel the elation of the woman’s soul. It felt free and unencumbered, the opposite of how it had the entire time she had known her. “Let us call it even. I wish you the best.”
“And I, you.” Tavora smiled and waved as she made her way back into the tavern.
Her heart lightened, Tempest turned to prepare her traveling companion for their long journey ahead.
Aiden groaned as he slid off the camel. His knees buckled as his feet sank into the soft sand. Tempest approached with a jug of water and offered it to him.
“Who knew that you would lack the gracefulness one would expect from your station. Thirsty?”
He glared up at her. Rising to his feet and dusting his new white robes off, he replied, “Why don’t you try riding one of these all day and see how gracefully you dismount the beast?”
She laughed and shook her head. “I learned that lesson, once. Never again. Unless you ride them frequently, you will be sore for days in areas you never knew existed.”
Aiden took a swig of water and handed the jug back to her. “You could have warned me.”
She shrugged. “What fun would that have been? It does tell me how rarely you leave your palace, though.”
