Prince of Spies - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,20
darkening stalks of corn.
Chapter Five
Leaving Riki in that cornfield was one of the hardest things Nico had ever done, but he could see no other way. Backtracking quickly, he headed for the road, glad full dark was almost upon him. Nothing could delay him with Riki waiting in the cold, dangerous gloom of a Skithdronian eve. He had to move fast.
Nico offered up a silent prayer to the Mother of All for Riki’s safety and his own as he took the path to town, out on the road in the open for the first time in days. Nico was taking a very great risk, going into a town where he knew Lucan’s soldiers had already, no doubt, spread word of their escape.
Gates and walls around towns were standard in Skithdron to keep out the skiths. Unchecked, a skith could ravage a town like this in short order, but the resourceful people of this land had learned to build their homes in clusters, leaving strong, blank walls around the place, composed of the backs of buildings with tall fences in the spaces between. They were uncommonly good at keeping skiths out and people in, hence the need for a gate. The gatekeeper was supposed to watch for skiths and drop the heavy door at first sight, sealing the town and raising the alarm. The side effect, of course, was that a nosey gatekeeper could also regulate who went in and out of the town.
This gatekeeper, however, seemed more interested in watching the insides of his own eyelids than the road or environs. He was snoring softly as Nico passed, sprawled in his chair next to the rope and pulley system that would lower the gate swiftly if danger threatened.
Moving unobtrusively, Nico found a likely tavern in short order. The innkeeper was a rotund man with red cheeks and an overall jolly look to him. He eyed Nico suspiciously at first, but brightened when he saw the silver coin Nico offered for fast, efficient, discreet service.
Nico ordered a large basket of food. He surveyed the room, spying a worn, black, woolen cloak hanging in a corner behind the counter.
“That looks to be a warm cloak.” Nico kept his voice low so as to not be overheard. “I lost mine on the road and was hoping to find a replacement. Is it for sale?”
The man’s gaze shot to the bar across the room and Nico’s followed. Two young men manned the long bar, both sharing the innkeeper’s strong features. Undoubtedly, they were his sons and the cloak probably belonged to one of them.
“Losing one’s cloak is a sorry thing,” the man said, pursing his lips for dramatic effect as he frowned. Nico palmed another coin, allowing the innkeeper to glimpse the gleaming gold in his hand. “But I believe we could come to an arrangement, seeing as how the days are growing colder.”
“Do you have any sturdy rope? I could use some of that as well.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “I have some in back.”
The man was not only shrewd, but a bit opportunistic. Nico didn’t want to risk asking for clothes for Riki. He’d done well enough for now. He watched the room as the innkeeper bustled around behind him, packing the basket with food and the other items.
The innkeeper seemed more than happy to earn such a large sum for comparatively little and hustled everything together in record time while Nico tucked into a hot bowl of stew. He was about halfway through with his meal when two of Lucan’s castle guards came stalking through the door, taking seats at a table just a few feet from Nico.
He took the opportunity to listen in on their conversation, doing his best to appear calm and nonchalant. When the door had first opened, Nico thought he had been spotted—or given away by the avaricious innkeeper—but the guards seemed more interested in eating and drinking than rousting the patrons of the tavern. Thank the Mother of All.
Nico breathed a sigh of relief when the guards started eating their own hearty meals and the landlord returned with the cloak and basket. Beating a strategic retreat, Nico calmly left the tavern, one gold coin poorer but richer in both provisions and information. He’d heard quite a bit of the guards’ grousing and knew with certainty now the alarm had been sent up from here to the border.
Lucan’s fast action spelled trouble for their ability to cross the border easily, but Nico decided to take things one step