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I didn’t question her further, and neither did any of the others. After what had happened at the gate, I even felt relieved. Anyone who got word of our arrival would expect us to be at one of the city’s inns. While I didn’t know where else we could go instead, anywhere seemed better than there.
We had nearly reached the large central square—our route bringing back unpleasant flashbacks of the storm’s destruction and violence—when Amara stopped abruptly in front of a large, closed wooden gate.
“What is this place?” Luna asked over my shoulder, looking at the worn wood with curiosity.
“It’s a small, private stables,” I said, recognizing it. “When we first arrived in Eldrida, the stable master was sheltering people from the storm. He kept Acorn, Ember, and Phoenix here while we went out to help. Oh!” I exclaimed, suddenly realizing what must have happened. “Has he been looking after Acorn while we’ve been gone?”
Amara nodded. “When we left for the desert, I organized for Acorn to board here until I came back. Since we were being labeled as heroes, he agreed easily enough, although I think his personal view was that I was pushy and self-righteous.” She smiled slightly, obviously not offended.
“Why didn’t you just leave her at one of the inns?” Luna asked. “Especially if you thought the stable master didn’t like you.”
Amara raised an eyebrow. “What difference does it make whether he likes me or not? Liking me isn’t the measure of someone’s worth. His first instinct during the storm was to open his doors and shelter as many as possible. And he even opened the doors a second time just because he heard hoof beats through the noises of the storm. And when I first came back to check on Acorn in the aftermath of the storm, she had been well groomed and looked fast on her way to becoming fat and happy.”
Luna subsided, looking suitably chastened.
“I wish I could be so uncaring about whether or not people like me,” she whispered to me, and I nodded agreement.
Amara had to rap on the wood several times, but eventually the large gate creaked open. The grumbles of the elderly man behind it ceased as soon as he got a good look at who was there.
“Oh, it’s you,” he said sourly, but his heart didn’t seem to be in his ill temper. “I suppose you’ve come for that cantankerous mare of yours?”
Amara led the way inside, the rest of us trailing in behind her.
“Been causing trouble, has she?” she asked.
“See for yourself.” He nodded toward a stall halfway down the short aisle. We peered over the closed half-door to see a contented Acorn feeding from a trough.
She hadn’t looked up at the sounds of our arrival, but when Amara laughed, her ears pricked, and she turned her head. For a moment she surveyed her mistress before swishing her tail and returning to her feed.
“Who is that calm horse?” Hayes asked. “Do you think he swapped Acorn out with another mare with similar markings and a rounder belly?”
Amara chuckled again. “It’s a good thing I have Delphine with me, or I’d never convince her to leave this stable.”
I eyed the mare doubtfully. “I’m not sure my presence will be enough.”
“I’ve never liked that animal,” Hayes muttered, and Acorn pricked an ear, stopping eating. Turning her long neck, she gave him a look that could only be called a warning.
Luna and I burst into laughter while Hayes glared back at the horse.
“There you go!” I said. “It is Acorn after all.”
“You were gone for long enough,” the stable master said from behind us.
“Yes, we were held up for much longer than expected,” Amara said. “Which is why I left her with you in the first place. I knew you wouldn’t get rid of her when my original payment ran out. Of course I’ll pay the balance now, with a bonus as well for your understanding.”
The stable master’s face lightened considerably, and he even nodded respectfully.
“If you’d like to earn a bit extra,” Amara added, “I seem to remember you have several rooms on the second level above the stalls.”
The elderly man eyed us uncertainty. “They’re nothing fancy. You’d be more comfortable at an inn.”
“Perhaps,” Amara said lightly. “But we’d rather stay with Acorn if it’s possible.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hayes and Renley once again positioning themselves in front of Nik, attempting to block him from sight.
For a moment I wondered if they thought the man was a threat and why they weren’t blocking Gia as well, if so. Then I remembered Nik’s official status. He was a reneger—the kingdom’s most famous reneger—and if the stable master realized his status, he would be legally required to refuse him service or lodging.
The man didn’t even glance in their direction, however. Instead he started toward the stairs, gesturing for us to follow him. “Don’t go saying I didn’t warn you,” he grumbled as he began the climb.
