Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Thane’s eyes widen, and the blade at the man’s neck slacks as he studies his features. “Are you seri— Algar?”
Algar?
The man cocks his head, confused, until Thane steps back and pulls his mask down. When Algar sees his whole face, his eyes light up.
“By the Crystal, I don’t believe it! Thane Valkor? Is that really you?”
“Yes, it’s me,” Thane retorts, sheathing his sword. “What the shadows are you doing in here? I almost killed you.”
Okay. What is happening? I hold my breath as I watch this strange reunion unfold.
“Where were you?” My voice comes out shrill, nearly hysterical.
“I was finding water for the horse. I was only gone for a few minutes.” Thane points a finger at Algar. “Were you spying on me?”
“Well, yes. I couldn’t tell who you were with the mask and all. And look at you! There was no way I was about to take a man your size down on my own. I wanted to see if you’d left anything behind, and it turns out you did. A whole woman.”
“Give the whole woman her coins back.” Thane huffs.
“Oh, right.” Algar shoots me an apologetic grin as he tosses the pouch my way. I scramble to catch it. “My apologies if I scared you, princess. If I’d known such a pretty lady was with this twit, I wouldn’t have tried to rob you.”
“It’s fine?” I look from him to Thane, positively baffled by what’s happening.
Algar marvels at the sight of Thane.
“I can’t believe it’s you, my friend!” Algar releases a hearty laugh. “Holy Orvena. You’ve gotten taller, yeah?”
“Who is this, Thane? How do you know him?” I ask.
“Old friend,” Thane answers, raising an eyebrow at Algar.
“Old friend? Please,” Algar scoffs. “We’re practically family! We go way back. To wee little children whose heads used to be too big for our bodies.”
Thane sighs. “You’re still thieving, I see.”
“More like thriving,” Algar replies, puffing out his chest.
Thane glances at Zephra, who is snarling in her bubble with her claws up. She slashes at the bubble, but it doesn’t budge. “What in the shadows are you doing with that thing?”
“Oh, Zephra? She’s my partner. Assists me in the thieving, as you like to call it. Set her free, though, yeah? She hates being trapped.”
Thane makes a throaty noise of disapproval and waves his hand, removing the bubble. Algar reaches for Zephra, and she hurries to him, climbing up his arm until she’s settled on his shoulder.
“Don’t those things carry diseases?” Thane looks from him to the pink creature.
“Not my Zephra,” Algar says. “I found her in some bone merchant’s shop. He was going to kill her and drain her blood, sell it to the beastials.”
“Hm.” Thane puts his attention on me. “All right, grab your things. Let’s go.”
“Wait—now hold on,” Algar calls as I collect my quilt, shawl, and rucksack. “Aren’t you going to tell me what you’re doing? Or where you’ve been for the last couple of years?”
We follow Thane down the wet, creaky stairs and out of the building and don’t stop until we’re close to the awning where Pearl is tied up. While we walk, I notice a limp in Algar’s step.
“I’m sorry.” I throw up a hand to pause the situation as the sun warms my skin. “Algar, how did you even notice us?”
“Well, that’s a story, isn’t it? I was on my way to Meriva—figured I’d try my hand at the gambling tables for some coin. Gotta feed Zephra and all. Right, girl?” He gives her furry chest a scratch, and she squeaks. “Anyway, I passed by here and heard the horse. Figured whoever was hiding away in a building this shit and staying so close to Ruvain was asking to be robbed—that, or they have something to hide.” He shrugs. “If it wasn’t me, it’d have been someone else. Best for both of you that I was around, huh?”
Thane shakes his head as he tosses his cloak on. “Last I heard, you were locked away in one of Ruvain’s prisons for cheating their prince out of his coins.”
“Um, two things. One: that was nearly three years ago. Two: their evil little prince is full of himself so, in my opinion, he was asking for it. And as you can see”—he raises both of his hands in the air—“I broke out.”
“Broke out?” Thane arches a brow. “From a Ruvain prison?”
“It’s easier than you think when you’re fooling around with one of the lady guards—especially one who doesn’t make you take your assigned muting elixir.” Algar winks at me.
“Muting elixir?” I whisper to myself. I’m pretty sure those are only used for sorcerers and charmers to dim their magic. Most elixirs are taken orally, and if Algar was in prison, they probably had a lineup and forced the prisoners who held magic to take it.
Other times, if one wants to be sneaky about it and overpower a person with magic, they can douse an object in the elixir and offer it to them. A necklace, a stone, a cuff—anything, really. As long as the object touches their skin, it’s effective for several hours. The downfall is that it has to be used the same day it’s doused.