Bonded to the Rakian Berserker (Rakian Warrior Mates #3) - Elin Wyn Page 0,20
the tavern onto the busy street.
“Sorry about that,” he said quietly. “For a moment I got caught up in business. Forgot a few things.”
“If we come across any traveling merchants,” Esme said, I’ll keep an eye out for anything you might want to add to your inventory.” She flashed a quick smile. “I’m sure I could get you a good deal.”
Declan laughed and sketched a quick bow in her direction. “I’m certain you could.” He lowered his voice again. “Do you think we’ll be ready to leave in the morning?
“Not sure yet,” Gavin said with a quick glance at Esme. “We’ll have to play it by ear.”
“Not a trader’s favorite motto, but I’m certain we can manage.” He stepped away. “If you’re looking for traveling traders, he tilted his head down the street. I found they’re usually set up in the old market Square.”
And with that he faded into the flow of traffic.
“At least he’s not stupid,” Gavin grumbled. “Annoying, but not stupid.”
“He wouldn’t be doing so well in business if he was,” Esme said as they slipped into the stream of foot traffic, heading in the general direction Declan had indicated.
She studied the buildings surrounding them, the people moving all around them.
None of it looked familiar.
None of it explained the sharp feeling in her chest when she thought about going further south.
This was fine.
Busy, too crowded for her taste.
But fine.
She took a deep breath, and instantly regretted it.
“Too many people in one place stink,” she said. “How do they stand it?”
“I noticed,” Gavin growled. “There are times that enhanced senses aren’t a good thing.”
At each intersection they asked a passerby for directions, slowly winding their way deeper into the heart of the city.
Gradually, the buildings became more run down, shutters hanging off windows at odd angles.
The crowd thinned, men and women lounging outside of the buildings, clustered groups of two or three, the noise of the street fading away.
Until the silence was broken with a shout.
“Get back here you little hellion!” a woman shrieked, running into the street, scrub brush in hand.
A remarkably dirty child of indeterminate gender darted between the few carts.
If there’d been as many people as there had been two or three blocks back, the child might’ve gotten away.
But as it was, Gavin easily reached out and snagged the wriggling figure.
“Put me down!” a high voice squeaked, kicking wildly. “I don’t want a bath!”
“Whether you do or not, you definitely need one,” Gavin answered. He glanced at Esme. “Will you be alright while I return this… offspring to its parent?”
She stepped to the side of the road, below the overhang of what looked to be from some type of general store, considering the odd variety of goods in the window.
“I’ll be right here,” she answered. “Have fun.”
Gavin strode down the street, head and shoulders above the crowd, the child still kicking in the air, and delivered him back to the exasperated looking woman.
She grabbed his sleeve with one hand, the other firmly fastened to the young troublemaker’s ear.
Esme smiled. Her giant couldn’t help doing that kind of thing, could he?
“Seems a shame to leave such a pretty lady by herself,” a low voice sounded from behind her.
Startled, she stepped away, spinning around.
A tall thin man, greasy dark hair pushed back from his lean face, stepped out of the doorway of the shop.
His eyes traveled slowly up and down her frame.
Esme’s shoulders straightened, her back ramrod stiff. “It won’t really matter because he’ll be back in just a moment.”
“That’s all right pretty lady,” the man said as he stepped towards her.
She fought the urge to retreat.
Trapped in these ridiculous clothes, it would be hard to fight.
But she wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of seeing her step away.
“Looks to me like you could use a guide down here,’’ the man continued. “There’s all sorts of interesting things to see if you know where to look.” He smiled, and she fought back a shudder. “Let your guard do some more good on his own. Seems like you could use a good time.
Esme wanted to glance over her shoulder, see where Gavin was, if he had noticed her situation.
But there is no way she was going to take her eyes off this creep.
“He’s on his way back now,” she said, suddenly certain. “You shouldn’t be here when he returns.”
The man’s eyes flickered over her shoulder, narrowed.
“I’ll be seeing you, pretty lady,” the man said and slipped back inside the doorway of the store.