Total pages in book: 204
Estimated words: 193124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 966(@200wpm)___ 772(@250wpm)___ 644(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 966(@200wpm)___ 772(@250wpm)___ 644(@300wpm)
He steps in close to me just as a number of pub patrons peek out of the doors on the porch—and that’s when I notice that windows on the second floor have been cracked open as well. It reminds me of when Merc and I arrived here.
As if Thale reads my mind, he murmurs, “I do not know where your husband is.” There’s a pause, as if he expects me to fill him in. When I don’t, his lips press into a tight line of disapproval. “He should take better care of you.”
Before I can respond, he snatches my hand and I feel something so cold against my palm, I recoil—
The only reason I don’t drop the ice is because he forces me to hold on to it.
“Take this,” he says quietly. “Sneak it into your pocket. Use it if you need to.”
I open the grip he’s curled my hand into. It’s not ice. It’s some kind of octagonal crystal that’s been fastened into a—
I know exactly what this is, and my eyes nearly meet Thale’s.
“You grip the blade this way.” He pushes the shank part through the fore and middle fingers of my hand, then secures a right-angled hilt into the meat of my palm with my thumb. “Lightweight, very deadly. I believe you’ve seen it before.”
Yes, indeed. It’s the weapon his bearded guard was going to kill him with.
“There are a lot of ways to use a dagger like this, and as I said, you’re going to keep it in your pocket. If you need it, you’re going to grip it out of sight, and use the element of surprise in your favor. You’re going to drive it in like a punch to the gut and put your shoulder into the stab when you do it. It’ll cut through a man’s stomach like a piece of fruit.”
The sunlight gleams through the transparent stone. Each of the angles of the crystal core are sharp as a blade, but the flat faces fit perfectly against the V of my fingers—and the tip rivals any knife’s point.
“A gift, to you.” He points at the beautiful weapon. “Very expensive. Worth as much as a house—you can also sell it if you have to.”
“I … thank you.”
“It is, quite literally, the least I can do.” I feel his eyes traveling over me. “And you … you will call on me. If you get into trouble, you send a messenger for me and I will come. No questions asked, and I’ll even pay for the courier.”
Frowning, I find myself wanting to meet his eyes, but I stop at the hard line of his jaw. “You don’t strike me as a man who’s interested in being a savior. Why would you—”
“I am in your debt.” Thale steps back. “As long as my heart beats. And we can discuss this further when you return after you assess the flooding with your own little eyes. You aren’t going to get far, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ride on your new horse—”
“What about the other way? The barrier … the Crystal Gate. Everyone talks about it, but no one’s told me what it is?”
“Ah, now, there would be another trick for you to pull off. In all of known history, no one has ever been able to get through it.” His smile is wide—and were he a different sort, I’d say it’s warmly fond. “Go see for yourself. The cutoff is quite clear. And then tell me what you think when you come back here.”
I give him a nod, and gather my reins.
“Sorrel.” His tone becomes urgent. “Be back well before dark, yes. Your husband isn’t the only deadly thing out in the night around here. Unless you already know your own grave?”
“I wouldn’t want that information, even if I could have it.”
He chuckles a little. “Care to let me in on mine own, again? It has for sure changed.”
I shake my head. “You don’t want to be on that carousel. Besides, your wits and strength have kept you alive this long. They’re the only second sight you require.”
“That’s not what you first told me, is it. And I did need you, as it turned out.”
“I think you would have figured it out.” I shrug. “In any event, you go forth from here. As do I. Goodbye, Thale.”
“Call on me. Anytime.”
Mindful of the sun’s position in the sky, I give the stallion only the most minute of cues and we are off at a jog. As I proceed down the muddy lane, there are many more open shutters with faces staring out at me, but they are not hostile.
They seem … mesmerized.
Sixty-Three
The Compass Comes Alive.
Just as Lalah said, the lane takes me away from the Outpost and into rolling fields similar to what Merc and I encountered after we came out of the Lake of Lost Souls. I’m grateful that I can see in all directions, but I feel like I have a target on me and there are weapons of unknown descriptions and far-off locations trained on me as if I’m a threat.