Jack shrugged, “I’ll find some excuse.”
I fell silent and watched my feet as we walked. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but I thought the tree’s were finally beginning to thin out.
“Almost there.” He promised.
I didn’t know about Jack but I was absolutely exhausted after this action packed day.
“Where am I going to go?” I whispered.
“Don’t worry.” Jack insisted, “I have a plan.”
After another couple of minutes the tree’s thinned noticeably and we came to a clearing of mushy, dirty snow as though hundreds of people had trampled over it during the day.
“During the day this space is full of people, selling god knows what.” Jack muttered.
“Like a marketplace?” I asked.
“A Black Market.” He smirked.
I edged around what looked like a blood splatter in the snow.
“Is it dangerous in this part of Frost Arch?” I asked.
Jack shrugged, “We’re safer here than at the manor.”
We walked across the clearing to the opposite side where many tiny, dilapidated, run down, homes sat on top of each other, with sheets and cardboard for doors and windows. I could hear babies crying inside, people arguing, and dogs barking. I cringed into Jack’s side and he held me close as we passed through the poorest part of Frost Arch. The half-humans. Scum in the eyes of Mages, forced to live in poverty or slavery. Many people huddled around a fire which had been lit in the lid of a trash can. They glared at us reproachfully as we walked by. I feared that I might actually get stabbed by a complete stranger for no good reason at all.
“Almost.” Jack whispered reassuringly out of the corner of his mouth.
A man from the fire yelled something at us, but it was incoherent and it only made us walk faster.
“I feel so useless without my Power.” I grumbled, “I wouldn’t be so bloody scared if I had a way to protect myself.”
“I’m here.” Jack frowned.
“Great, what are you going to do? Heal them to death?” I whispered sarcastically.
Jack frowned, “I’m trying to help you.”
“Sorry.” I muttered.
Several minutes passed and we came to a more promising looking place. There were streets and shops which I had never seen before. There were no people around because it was so late, and all the shops were closed, but at the end of the road there was a light shining in a tavern.
“Is that where we are going?” I asked Jack.
“Yes.” I nodded, relinquishing his hold on me, “The Inn is always open, and they have rooms.”
“What if the Master comes looking for me?”
“The owner of the Inn is a very secretive man, so he won’t give you away, don’t worry. His name is Samuel Bludvok.”
“What if they bribe him?” I fretted.
“Trust me, Bludvok is a tough piece of work. He hates the rich gits who pretty much run the city. He’d rather run the Forsythe and Arthfael family through with a blade than take their dirty money.”
“I hope you’re right.”
We approached the Inn at a fast pace, dying to get out of the cold. The flickering light in the window looked very cosy and welcoming. A sign above the door read ‘Bludvok’s’.
When we entered a bell above the door clanged, announcing that we had arrived. Behind a bar was a big, burly man over six and a half feet tall, with enormous arms and a wide chest. He had a mop of thick blonde hair with a receding hairline. His nose was slightly crooked, suggesting it had most likely been broken in a fight before.
Jack led me towards the bar and I looked around the room. To the right there was a mass of bar stools and tables. This area was empty except for a lone man with short, curly hair, drinking a pint with his back to me. To the left was a flight of stairs which presumably led up to a number of rooms where I could stay a couple of nights if needed.
Samuel Bludvok watched us approach, and I was quite intimidated as he towered over us.
“Hello.” Jack said in a rather strong, deep voice. Testosterone, I presumed. “I was wondering if my friend here could book a single room for a couple of nights.”
Samuel Bludvok’s eyes slid from Jack to me as he looked me up and down, “She cannot ask for herself?” He said in a strange accent which I did not recognise.
Jack nudged me.
“Hello.” I said in a very small voice.
Samuel Bludvok cracked a smile showing a large gap in between his font teeth.
“Okay.” He shrugged, and I recognised his accent as German, “The lady may take a room. What about you, boy?”
“No, not for me.” Jack shook his head.
I snapped my attention to him, “You’re not staying with me?” I breathed.
“I can’t.” Jack whispered apologetically, “I have to go back to the manor before they start a man-hunt for me too.”
“You are in trouble?” Samuel Bludvok butt in.
I bit my lip and looked at the large man fearfully. Would he deny me a room because of what he had just heard?