Gravell didn’t reply.
“The innkeeper has asked me twice when you’re going to pay the bill. I suppose I could loan you this money to help out, but then again I could use it to buy my new boots.”
Gravell glared at her and then went over to the washbowl and threw up again. He looked worse than when he’d been killing demons.
“You need fresh air. Water.”
He shuddered. “My head feels so bad.”
Tash rolled her eyes. “You’re such a wimp.”
Gravell went back to sit on the bed and put his head in his hands.
“Are you ready to hear the latest news?”
“So long as I can hear it quietly.”
“Shall I go over what happened the other night first? When I followed Edyon and the sheriff’s man got killed? I wasn’t sure you were taking it all in.”
“I took it in well enough. I’m not stupid,” said Gravell.
“And drinking half a barrel of ale is not at all a stupid thing to do,” Tash said.
“There are times you remind me of my mother.”
She moved to sit by Gravell. “Well, let me tell you a story, young man. The sleepy little town of Dornan has been transformed. There hasn’t been a murder here for as long as anyone can remember. The sheriff’s men are up in arms.”
“They’re always up in arms—they’re sheriff’s men.”
“I mean they’re angry and marching around asking lots of questions. The good news for us is that they don’t know I was there and they don’t know why the sheriff’s man was killed, but they do seem to suspect Edyon was involved. And he’s run away, so it looks particularly bad for him. Though I don’t know why he’d want to go with those two. The older man, Holywell, was really mean. But he obviously planned to; he’d packed his bag and everything.”
But now Tash remembered Holywell pushing Edyon onto his horse, and Edyon definitely didn’t have anything in his hands then. She slapped her palm against her forehead. “That’s how they know Edyon was there. He left his bag.”
“The boy’s stupider than I thought.”
But Tash felt stupid for not remembering the bag sooner. If she’d hidden it, or taken it, the sheriff’s men wouldn’t have any idea who killed their comrade. She said, “Anyway, I followed them. They went north.”
“Then we go north.”
“It was Holywell who took the smoke with them. Edyon was going to give it back to me before the trouble started.”
“You believe that?” Gravell shook his head. “He’s a thief and a friend to killers. He’ll sell it or smoke it himself.”
Tash did believe it, though. And she really couldn’t see why Edyon would go with Holywell. Edyon seemed so naive, whereas Holywell certainly wasn’t. And it didn’t really tie in with her other news.
“I should tell you something else I’ve heard about Edyon. It’s from a very good source—my contact at the pie stall.”
“You like it at the fancy end of the fair, missy? Selling pies to the posh folk?”
Tash shrugged. “It’s clean. People pay you well—and on time.” She looked pointedly at Gravell, but he didn’t react. “Erin, Edyon’s mother, has her own business. A proper business.”
“I have a proper business.”
“Yes, but hers isn’t illegal.”
“She’ll sell you a chair for thirty kroners, saying it belonged to some sultan from the east, and sleep at night happy. That should be illegal!”
“Anyway, the news from the pie seller, who got it from one of the servants who works for Erin, is that a nobleman from Calidor called Lord Regan was with Erin before Edyon left. They had spent all afternoon together, as if they were old friends, and . . . I’m glad you’re sitting down for this bit . . .”
“Get on with it!”
“Apparently Lord Regan was here to take Edyon to Calidor, because Edyon is the son of Prince Thelonius.”
Gravell stared at Tash and then started laughing. He laughed and laughed, until he rolled back on the bed and kicked his legs in the air.
“Our thief is the son of a prince?”
“Yep. Illegitimate son. But son.”
“A bastard in every way then.” Gravell sat up and scowled. “Should have known it. It’s in the blood. Royalty—they’re all bastards.”
“So I have this theory of what Edyon’s going to do.”
“A theory, eh?”
“Yes. He’s going north with the two men. They weren’t Pitorian. I think they were from Calidor too. So I think they’re going to go back to Calidor with Edyon, which means they need a ship. But now they’re wanted men, so they’ll have to be very careful.”
“If Lord Regan was here to take Edyon back with him, why did he go off with this Holywell instead?”
“Well,” said Tash. “I heard he was attacked, robbed, and left for dead, so maybe Holywell works for Regan or something. But that doesn’t feel right, somehow.”
“Your contact in the pie business can’t tell you? I thought he knew everything.”
“Point is, they’ll probably head north to Pravont and then along the river to Rossarb. From Rossarb they’ll get a boat to Calidor.”
Tash knew Gravell loved Pravont. It was quiet and beautiful and had cheap beer.
“Pravont.” Gravell stirred, rolling his head on his shoulders. “Nice place, Pravont. Right on the edge of demon territory.”
“So? Do you think I’m right, about him heading there?”
Gravell stretched. “I think that if you are, then we’re in luck. We could go up the coast road, cut across to the river road, and catch them at Pravont. It’s like demon hunting, only easier.”
“I’m not so sure about that. Holywell, the man with the knives, is dangerous.”
“We’ll be careful. They won’t be expecting us. And I’m not letting people think they can steal from me and get away with it.” Gravell shook his head. “That’ll be the end of me.”
Tash looked at Gravell. While he’d been passed out, she’d half wondered about staying with the fair. She could probably get some good work with the pie seller or even some of the furniture traders. But deep down she knew she couldn’t bear to be parted from Gravell. The thought of him traveling alone, or, worse, getting another girl as demon bait, was horrible.
“And even if we don’t get the smoke back we’ll be in the perfect place for the next hunt.”
“Oh, we’ll get the smoke back. I know that territory like the back of my hand.” Gravell was standing now. “I’m feeling better already.”
CATHERINE
TORNIA, PITORIA
Zalyan Castle stands on a hill in the center of Tornia. It was rebuilt over thirty years in the reign of King Jolyon. The five pentagonal turrets are linked by a high wall of stone and within lie the main buildings, which are arranged about an elegant central tower and decorated with white tiles that shine brilliantly, changing with the position of the sun. It is sometimes referred to as “the height of beauty.”
Pitoria: The Modern Era, Staryon Hove
THE FINAL two days of the progress saw the cavalcade grow even more. On the last morning Catherine’s party stopped at a country house a short distance from Tornia to have lunch and to make the final preparations for her entrance into the city. Catherine’s room was decked out in white: freshly decorated, just for her. Her adoption of a color had clearly been a success.
Catherine was so nervous she could hardly eat, and her maids were anxious about her.
“Have you seen the play, Your Highness?” asked Tanya. “The actors have been rehearsing it all week. Perhaps it might take your mind off things.”
“What play?”
“Your play, Your Highness. It’s the story of your marriage.”