Страница 56 из 91
Chane dunked his hair into the basin, scrubbing with his fingers. He dried his hair out, soiling the towel, and then pulled on his shirt and breeches. His hair was jaggedly cut and a few patches were still black, but his own red-brown color showed through.
"When do you think this assassination attempt will occur?" This was at least an intelligent question, rather than mindless muttering about some weeping man.
"Soon," Welstiel answered. "Perhaps in a few days." Chane nodded, and Welstiel began putting the room in order. He stuffed the more usable remains of Chane's peasant attire in a pillowcase and shoved them into his pack, in case the disguise might be needed again. He dumped the basin's blackened water out the window. When he turned around, Chane sat at the table with the blank parchment and feather quill.
He did not write but stared at the wall in front him, quill poised in his hand. Even so, the sight brought Welstiel another moment of relief.
The i
Wy
"Did you find it?" she asked. "Did you destroy it?"
One look at Magiere's face gave Wy
"Close," Leesil said. "I hit him with a quarrel, but then he just vanished."
He looked haggard and sweaty, as if he'd run several leagues. Magiere was worn as well, but her fatigue seemed to come from within rather than from physical exertion.
"Go upstairs and put your things away," Wy
Byrd stepped out through the kitchen curtain, his yellow scarf slightly askew. "Ah, you're back. Did I hear something about food? Come on, Wy
Leesil took the other crossbow off Magiere's back and set them both on the bar. Wy
"Wy
Leesil lifted his eyes, but he didn't look at her. "Yes, hot tea… and sausages for Chap."
Wy
Magiere and Leesil were back downstairs again, out of their gear, and all weapons and equipment from the hunt stored away. They sat at the table nearest the front door, and Chap lay between its legs. Wy
She did not scold him for bad ma
"Are you all right?" Wy
Magiere pulled another mug across to herself. "A woman died tonight. I should have gone out sooner."
Wy
A sharp scratching at the front door made her pause, and Byrd got up. When he opened the door, a dark shape bolted through his legs into the room.
Everyone at the table shifted or tensed. Wy
Across the floor near the bar sauntered a dark brown cat as large as Clover Roll. His eyes glistened like his fur. Everyone relaxed again.
"Another stray," Leesil muttered before taking a gulp of tea. He had not yet touched any of the food.
Byrd's reply was cut off by hissing and spitting. They all looked over to see Clover Roll up on the next table, head low as he yowled at the newcomer. His dirty-cream fur stood on end, and his tail arched forward over his back with the tip quivering.
The few other cats about the common room slinked away in all directions. Only Tomato, sitting with her brother at the bottom of the stairs, stood her ground. Her mouth widened in a hiss, and she resembled a tiny orange porcupine. But Tomato was too small to be heard over Clover Roll's raucous noise.
"Clover, stop that," Byrd scolded. "You know what it's like to be hungry, so mind your ma
Wy
Clover Roll lowered his voice to a grating rumble.
Byrd tore up small bits of sausage and dropped them onto a plate. "Here, boy," he said to the cat. "Come and eat this."
The newcomer strolled over to nibble on the tidbits Byrd offered. At the quick lick of the animal's tongue, Wy
"All right, what happened tonight?' Byrd asked, hunkering down in a chair. "You all look like you've seen the backside of cheer."
As far as the hunt was concerned, they had no secrets from Byrd. Magiere started with the bodies of the woman and servant in the alley. Wy
"This ever happen before?" Byrd asked.
"No, not without leaving some trace," Leesil answered.
"Not only did we fail to protect the people here," Magiere added, "but I took this bargain with Darmouth so we'd have an excuse to get back into the keep. We're no closer to that, either."
Tomato still made a great show of hissing. Wy
"You will find this undead," she encouraged, looking Magiere straight in the eyes. "We can still take its head to Darmouth and reenter the keep. And you must get this vampire, Magiere. It is a terrible danger to the people here."
Magiere remained quiet.
"There may be another avenue we could attempt," Wy
Leesil spit tea back into his cup. "What?"
"Wy
"That's enough!" Leesil shouted, standing up. "All of you stop thinking you can toy with Darmouth."
"Well, then, lad," Byrd put in, his voice rising, "why don't you come up with a way to get inside by yourself?"
Wy
Magiere's tone was low and threatening as she turned on Byrd. "And what exactly are you up to? You think this coy routine-"
"The new cat is gone," Wy
Byrd looked around. "Maybe he was just a neighbor out for a stroll and headed home."
The diversion quelled the brewing fight, and Leesil dropped back into his chair.