“What do you mean?”
She folded her arms. “I’ve known a Shae or two over the years, but never a Silvan lord.” She smirked. “We don’t see them too often on the Sheven-Ingen wharves, but I’m sure they visit Sol now and then. You have the looks of a barter’s son,” she fingered the fabric of his vest. “But maybe you just want to look like one. That’s what I thought at first. But then the Crimson Wolfsmen came looking for you. I’d heard of them but had never seen one fight before. It’s not that easy to cut down a horseman of the Kiran Thall. All of these things make you different. And then there’s the Sleepwalker.” Her eyebrows raised. “Your protector? Your…traveling companion? But I can’t quite put the pieces together. If he’s your protector, why leave to come here ahead of us?”
Thealos saw her frustration and couldn’t help chuckling.
“Why is that so funny?” she demanded.
“Are you always this prying?” he asked.
She arched an eyebrow. “I don’t make a habit of running off with strangers, Quickfellow. I’ve known you only a few days and suddenly I’m sitting with you in a respectable inn miles away from Sol with the strongest urge in the world to throttle the truth out of you.” She smiled when she saw the shocked look in his eyes. “Oh, don’t take what I say too seriously,” she said, shifting the tone of the conversation. Her voice lowered. “What I’m trying to say – and probably not doing a very good job – is that you… intrigue me. And not many people in this forsaken kingdom do.”
Talking with her helped settle the twisting feeling in Thealos’ stomach. He saw the admiration and curiosity he was arousing in her, even though she was only a serving girl from Sol. He didn’t want to tell her the truth, that he was a Kilshae in all but name, that Jaerod had saved him from being killed by a band of Dos-Aralon thieves. He could see the respect in her eyes for the enigma. Even Sturnin Goff offered a grudging respect and had remained silent about Jaerod in front of Allavin Devers thus far. Though Thealos didn’t doubt for a moment whose side the knight would take when a confrontation finally came. He wasn’t as sure of his own decision yet.
Thealos squeaked his thumb around the rim of the goblet. “I hope you’re not too disappointed when you figure me out.”
“Disappointed? You gave me a gown I’d never have spent money on for myself. You’ve put us up at a very nice inn to keep us safe. You’ve treated me like a lady, Quickfellow, and not a stupid human churl. I never forget a kindness.”
“Or a debt or a good cask of ale from swill, I’m willing to barter,” he joked. The street was hidden in the glare of the glass. Nestled in the window seat next to her, it truly felt as if they were alone in the world. “I’m from a different world than you,” he admitted. “I miss Avisahn. I miss my family – especially my little sister. I’m also a long way from home. There’s nothing like a walk through the city at night. The smells that linger in the air.”
“I’ve never even seen Avisahn,” she said, staring down at her hands. “I wish I could say I’d been as far as Dos-Aralon, but I can’t. Flent and I…we live our lives from the memories of others. Sailors tell more lies than Shae barters,” she gave him a wink, “But sometimes it’s nice to imagine going there someday.”
He wasn’t offended. “Do you speak any Silvan?”
She shrugged. “Oh, a few words here and there. Some of the words are a lot like the king’s common, but the words have different meanings. At least that’s what I’ve heard. Like the word ‘fire’ – it means magic or power or light.”
“That’s pretty good,” he complimented. “Words you use like fire or silver or quick have many meanings in Silvan. You’ve paid attention to some of the details. Being close to barters, I’ve known many humans myself. Mostly the cloth traders in Dos-Aralon. You can learn a lot from a cloth trader, though. You learn what people are wearing in the high court of King don Rion, or what colors the Duke of Amberdian fancies these days.” He shrugged. “You also hear about the colors that are important to the Shoreland cities.”