[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Alanka opened the long bag she d been carrying. I thought you might want this. She handed Filip his
prosthetic leg. So you wouldn t have to crutch all the way back to the inn.
Thank you. He took the leg. Very much.
Rhia walked with Alanka and Bolan to the end of the alley, giving Filip privacy and blocking the view
from the street.
Don t worry, Alanka said. We ve slipped Marek out from under armed guards before. We can do it
again.
Rhia thought about how she and Lycas and Alanka had crept into the Descendant camp to extract
Marek. It had been a trap, though, set by the Descendant colonel to obtain a more valuable
prisoner namely, Rhia. Marek s powers of invisibility had saved them, along with the speed and grace
of Colonel Baleb s horse, Keleos.
The key, though, had been Baleb s arrogance in allowing them to enter the camp. Perhaps Basha had a
similar weakness.
Filip joined them, and they headed back toward the inn. Rhia heard him speak quietly to Alanka as they
walked side-by-side behind her and Bolan.
With the money I made today, he said, I can purchase a room for the two of us for a night. If you
want.
Rhia could hear Alanka s smile in her voice. I d like that.
When they returned to the inn, Filip washed the grime from his face and hair, then went in search of the
proprietor to rent a room.
Alanka watched him stride down the hallway, then closed the door and turned to Rhia. She seemed to be
trying to restrain the joy in her eyes.
I m glad to see you happy again, Rhia said. You finally have someone worthy of you.
Alanka s face relaxed into a grin. And an Ilion, no less.
After all he s done for us, it s hard to think of him as one of them.
True. Alanka drew in a sudden breath. Should I shave my legs? The women here do that, I ve
noticed.
The door swung open, startling Rhia.
Lycas swaggered in, followed by Arcas, Adrek, Koli and Bolan. Sorry about not knocking, her
brother said. We found them both.
Rhia gasped and felt as if she could jump to the ceiling.
Adrek sat on the bed beside Alanka with a self-satisfied sigh. Once it was dark, Koli and I were able to
sneak right up to a window.
It s strange, Koli said. The room we saw was filled with Asermon art carvings, sculptures,
tapestries. Not like this inn, or the other buildings we ve seen in Leukos.
But what about Marek and Nilik? Rhia s heart pounded. How did they look?
We couldn t see Nilik inside the cradle, Adrek said. Marek seems well-fed, with no injuries. But
He stopped and looked at Koli.
He wasn t doing anything, she told Rhia. He just rocked Nilik in his cradle, not singing, not speaking
to him, nothing. He looked& dead.
Until someone passed by, Adrek said. When Marek heard them coming, he jumped up and backed
away like he thought he was in danger.
But nothing happened. Koli fidgeted with the end of her braid. Eventually he sat down at the cradle
again. No one came in, so he must have heard someone in the hallway. Skittish as a yearling.
That s not like him at all. Rhia sat in the chair, trying to calm the storm in her mind. She had to think
clearly. We need to get him out of there.
And soon, Lycas said. Before we lose our powers. My hearing s already not what it was yesterday,
and the run across the city actually winded me. His face contorted in disgust.
Rhia turned to Arcas. What about you?
My Spider powers feel normal so far, he said.
Good. Rhia stood. You ll be needed next.
34
F ilip unlocked the door for Alanka and let her precede him inside. She cried out when she saw the full
tub of steaming water.
This is ours? She dashed to the side of the metal tub. We don t have the wrong room?
I ordered it for us. He looked around the room. It was small but clean. The proprietor had left a lamp
burning on the bedside table. A plate of fruit and bread sat beside it, as well as a pitcher of wine. A bar
of soap and a shaving kit lay on a small shelf attached to the tub.
She dipped her hand in the water and yanked it out again. Too hot. Alanka angled her head to look at
him from under her dark eyelashes. But it s big enough for two.
He gave her a smile he hoped hid his nervousness. It might be. He scratched his chin. First I need to
shave.
I ll do it for you. She drew a chair next to the tub. Sit.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]