Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
“Bombshells?” He narrows his eyes at me. “What is a bombshell?”
“An unpleasant surprise.”
“It’s not my fault you’re ignorant.” He moves ahead, giving Dingle more lead on the rope.
I let that slide, because I don’t think he realizes just how much I’ve given up to come here and be his companion. Of course he doesn’t know—he hasn’t asked. He won’t, either. I’ve seen depression rear its head plenty of times, and I know the best way to handle it is to support someone even when they’re being unlovable.
I take a deep breath, center myself, and open my eyes.
Kalos is just up ahead, watching me. His expression is impossible to read. “Are you coming or not, my sunshine martyr? This was your idea.”
Nodding, I move forward again. “Yeah. I’m coming.”
Chapter
Thirteen
The town seems rather…festive. Like they’re celebrating a holiday. Everywhere we go, there are excited people in the streets and little girls are selling flowers to excited passersby. I’m tempted to ask what it’s all about, but I’m also afraid to show my ignorance. Luckily, the fact that they’re all focused on whatever is going on means we can blend in fairly well. Despite Kalos’s shock-white hair and tall, imposing form, no one blinks an eye at us.
I’m intimidated by how busy the town is. None of the signs hanging from the buildings look like anything that would be useful to us. This one is a bolt of cloth, that one is a fish. This one has a mug on it. We need weapons, clothes, and somewhere to exchange my jewelry for (hopefully) coin.
I bite my lip and glance over at Kalos, who’s pulling Dingle away before he can eat one of the bouquets out of a street urchin’s hand. “Any ideas on where we should go first?”
To his credit, he doesn’t make a shitty comment. He glances up and down the street as if considering, and points at a distant sign. “There.”
The sign has what looks like a bed hanging on the shingle. “An inn? I don’t know if we can pay for that. We might have to sleep on the side of the road again.”
“We should go to the inn,” he says, striding forward. “I want you to wash me again.”
I sputter at that. Is that what this is about? He wants another bath?
Or does he just want me to touch him? The thought makes my cheeks hot.
“Flowers for the Anticipation,” calls a little girl as we head inside the inn. She shoves a bouquet at us and I wave her off. “Flowers for the gods!”
The interior of the inn reminds me of something from an old movie. There’s a large, rounded hearth set into the wall, made of stone and mortar. A large cauldron hangs from an iron rod set over the fire, and a woman in a dress and apron stirs it. Her hair is pulled back behind a kerchief, and I mentally catalog this, wondering if I need to do the same to blend in. My clothes don’t match theirs. It’s chillier this close to the coast than it was at the swamp, and my linen shift dress is not only thin but also beat to hell.
Okay then. Food. Drink. Weapon. Shoes. Cloak. Warm dress.
If the gods wanted me to succeed, surely, they could have prepared me better? Or is this part of the journey? Part of Kalos’s journey? Is he supposed to appreciate how hard it is to come by things? I eye the god ahead as he pushes through the people inside without bothering to see if I’m behind him.
I don’t think Kalos appreciates anything.
“I require service.” Kalos’s flat, irritated voice carries through the crowd inside.
From the far end of the room, the barkeep turns and glares at Kalos. He slowly tosses the towel over his shoulder and eyes the god. “Can I help you?”
I cringe, moving to Kalos’s side. So much for blending in and not bringing attention to ourselves. I grab his sleeve and smile sweetly. “Remember what we talked about, my love.”
Kalos blinks at me, his gaze going to my hand on his arm.
“Let me do the talking,” I whisper, and turn on my best, most charming, customer-service smile. “We’re so sorry to bother you, but we’ve come a very long way on our pilgrimage. We’re looking for a place to stay and to exchange some valuables for coin.”
The barkeep’s expression smooths out the moment the word “valuables” is spoken. He eyes us, his gaze flicking briefly over Kalos before settling on me. “A pilgrimage, eh? For the Anticipation?”
“Yes!” I hug Kalos’s arm to my chest and pretend to be an excited, devoted wife. “Once we heard the gods were walking the land, we thought that we couldn’t miss this opportunity. We gathered up all of our valuables and set off on foot. We hope to someday see one of the gods in person. Have you seen any yourself?”