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As they approached the open marketplace, Wy
"In there," she said.
They took a table at the back corner. Leesil sat to one side, hood pulled forward around his face, and studied the other patrons. Wy
Wy
Magiere pulled her hood back and shook out her hair. "What do you mean?"
"You saw the drawings," Wy
Magiere closed her eyes and sighed. Leesil rubbed his face and looked away.
"What?" Wy
She was reluctant to say "Darmouth" or "assassination," even in a hushed voice.
"When could we, with Byrd hovering about?" Leesil returned irritably.
Magiere frowned at him before turning to Wy
Leesil remained silent, head hanging, and Wy
"We have to stop it," Wy
Leesil lifted his head. Magiere's pale face grew astonished.
"Save a despot?" Magiere growled too loudly, then lowered her voice. "This has nothing to do with us. What new madness have you got ru
Chap growled from under the table, his agreement clear.
"What happens once his death is known?" Wy
"To take control of the province," Leesil finished. "It still has nothing to do with us. I came here to learn what happened to my parents, and Byrd has been little help."
Magiere's brow wrinkled and she sadly closed her eyes. Wy
"We will not abandon the search," she said. "But think how many villages will be devastated by a civil war… how many people will die."
"Inside or out, it's the same," Leesil snapped. "Conscriptions are up. People flee for the border, as if military service were a certain death sentence. Why does Darmouth build up forces in such a reckless ma
"Do you not see?" Wy
Leesil turned slightly toward Wy
"Why would the anmaglahk get involved in this?" she asked.
"I don't know." Leesil remained silent a moment. "Perhaps that's not their only purpose here."
A dull-eyed serving maid in a filthy apron pressed through patrons to their table. She thunked down four small bowls and rough clay cups, and a tin pot of brown water that was presumably the tea. Unfortunately, Magiere paid the woman before she looked into the bowls and saw what passed for porridge. When they were alone again, Magiere glanced sidelong with concern at Leesil and took a deep breath.
"Do you think Wy
"Yes," Leesil answered, and set his own bowl under the table for Chap. "You heard me question him last night. He didn't answer, and that told me enough."
"And why is he so willing to let us study the drawings?" Wy
Leesil shook his head. "Some nonsense that it might help in my search."
"He works for Darmouth, yet he plots against him," Wy
Magiere raised both pale hands. "All right, we hear you."
Chap let out a vicious snarl from under the table, and Wy
Other patrons glanced toward them and then down beneath their table. A few quickly got up and left, and a half-breath later, Leesil jerked up a foot as if struck.
A pottery bowl shot across the dirt floor and bounced between table and stool legs, splattering porridge all about.
Leesil twisted away, ducking his face, as Magiere shrank down, casting glances about at the other patrons staring at them. She turned a glower downward to beneath the table.
Wy
"I have seen you eat worse," she whispered harshly. "Now stop it!"
"Will we ever eat in public," Magiere whispered with bowed head, "without causing a spectacle?"
No one answered her.
"I say we keep looking into the fate of Leesil's parents," Magiere continued, "until we uncover more of Byrd's scheme… and how to stop it without getting hanged from the city walls."
"Yes, good," Wy
This time he remained silent for so long that Wy
"Back to Byrd's," Magiere said. "No matter what else, at least he can cook."
No one smiled at her joke. She grasped Leesil's hand, and his fingers slowly gripped down on hers.
"We should purchase a few supplies," Wy
They left the eatery, which was now half-emptied, thanks to Chap's tantrum, and headed back to the open market. Wy
Chane awoke that evening to Welstiel once again murmuring in his dormancy. He sat up and swung his legs over the bed. His robin drank from a small tin cup on its cage floor, the cage placed securely on the little table in the room.
The Ivy Vine i
Chane did not care. It was still preferable to another day in their makeshift tent covered over with brambles and branches. He wondered where Wy