Orphan's Blade (18 page)

A swinging sign of a golden rabbit caught his attention, sparking memories from his past. The Grainvilles had run an inn called the Gilded Hopper. It used to stand back on Baker’s Ave, next to the smithy, but the sign was the same, painted in blue, white, and gold. They were a kind family, although they’d refused to take in the albino who’d stayed at his house one night. The Grainvilles didn’t like strange journeymen, but they took care of their own.

Would they know him? And even more importantly, could he trust them?

He parked the wagon on the side of the road next to a trough of water for their horses. “Stay here. I will not venture far.”

Valoria stood in determination. Even in her servant’s garb, she looked regal. “I want to go with you.”

He shook his head apologetically. “You must look after…Axel and Ardent. Neither one can stand guard.”

She nodded as if she’d forgotten and sat back down. Some people down here might recognize their prince, and they could hardly trust the boy. “Be careful.” Her silver eyes were full of concern and hope. Their quest rested on him finding a private refuge. He wished he could seal their parting with a touch, or a kiss, but he settled for a nod. “I always am.”

Nathaniel walked to the door of the inn and pushed it open. A bell rang, announcing his entrance. He stepped into an antechamber with hooks on the walls and scuffed shoes laid out on shelves. A painting of the old Shaletown hung on the wall. His chest ached when he saw the grey roof of his father’s smithy in the background. A woman with curly brown hair sat at a desk behind a partition.

She finished writing and glanced up. “Can I help you?”

“Perhaps.” How would he go about this? Nathaniel took off his hat and scarf, and bowed his head. “I’m looking for a family who used to own this establishment.”

Her eyes widened. She had a small chin and a pointy nose, reminding him of a fox. “My family has always owned this inn.”

His heart sped. “Are you a Grainville?”

“The last one living.” She stood in astonishment as if his questions were impertinent. “And who, by chance, are you?”

“Nathaniel Blueborough. My father used to run the smithy.”

She laughed in shock and blinked, studying him as if he were a painting coming into focus. “Nip?”

He froze, trying to recollect something about her curly hair or pointy nose. “My apologies. I do not know you.”

“Blanca.” She came around the partition and threw her arms around him. “I thought you were dead.”

He stood frozen for a moment before he started to hug her back. The memory of a chubby little girl who used to stand outside the baker’s shop and pull his hair came back to him. “Blueberry Blanca?”

“That’s right. Although I don’t eat any of those blueberry tarts anymore. I’m taller now, and my freckles disappeared, thank Helena and Horred.”

“You look very different.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She smiled in a flirtatious way he’d not seen in her before. Maybe all of that pulling hair had been her way of getting him to notice her? “How did you survive?”

Her gaze turned angry. “I wasn’t in Shaletown when the wyverns came. My parents had sent me to a boarding school in Innisborough—a dreary, dismal place. Although, traveling there saved my life. I was one of the many who came back and rebuilt.”

Guilt burrowed deep inside his gut. He’d given up on Shaletown because it was too painful to come back. This woman had been braver than he was. “I haven’t been back since.”

“So, you were here when they attacked?”

Nathaniel nodded solemnly.

“I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to have witnessed such a disaster. No wonder you never came back.”

Nathaniel breathed with relief. Finally, someone understood and acknowledged his pain. “You do not know how consoling it is for me to hear you say that.”

She smiled warmly. “So, what can I do for you? How long are you staying?”

“I’m here with some friends. We need lodging for one night, and a reference for a captain and a ship.”

Disappointment settled in her features. “One night, ’tis all?”

“I’m afraid so. If you could manage it.”

“Of course I could for you.” She walked behind the desk and flipped through her parchment book. “How many people?”

“Four, and it has to be two private rooms. I can pay whatever it costs.”

She dipped her quill in ink and scribbled. “All right. And I’ll give you a bargain because we’re old friends.”

“No need for that.” He didn’t want to give her the wrong idea. “My companions would like to remain anonymous. Will that be a problem?”

“Well, aren’t you a man of mystery.” Her face turned sour. “My parents never liked suspicious guests. They used to turn people away all the time.”

His stomach sunk. “I remember.”

“When I opened the inn again, I told myself I was never going to be like them. I’d welcome anyone who came through the door, sometimes even if they can’t pay.” Her solemn face broke into a smile.

“That’s very kind of you. And we can pay you very well. I promise we won’t be any trouble.”

She wiggled her finger at him accusatorily. “You were always trouble. But, I forgive you.”

If he remembered correctly, she’d been the troublemaker. But, as a guest in her establishment, he wouldn’t argue. “One more thing. You cannot tell anyone I’ve come back.”

“I won’t say a word.” She pressed her finger to her lips. “Although, there’s not many who’d know you around here now anyway.”

He breathed with relief. The gods smiled upon him in strange ways.

She leaned forward, placing both elbows on the countertop and exposing the curves of two very large breasts. “So what have you been up to all these years?”

Nathaniel coughed and covered his mouth. This conversation had spiraled out of control. He couldn’t leave Valoria unattended any longer. And he couldn’t tell Blanca of his affiliation with the rulers of Ebonvale. Maybe Blanca could keep his presence a secret, but to have the prince of the land staying in her inn may prove too juicy for her restraint.

Just as he set down a pouch of gold, he thought of a brilliant answer that would have no lie in it. “You could say I followed in my father’s footsteps in a way, working with swords.”

Without another word, she handed him the room keys, and he sprinted away.

* * * *

“And who is this woman you’ve entrusted with our secrets?” Valoria whispered as Nathaniel brought the wagon down an alley and around the back of the blue painted inn. Jealousy rose up like wyvern’s breath, and she had to mask it with anger instead.

“She’s a childhood acquaintance. And I did not entrust her with all of our secrets. I told her who I was so we could get private rooms and a reference for a captain and a ship.”

“You do not think she’ll tell everyone who’s staying at her inn?” Truly, Valoria had no right to be jealous at all. Sometimes she was so illogical, she could slap herself.

Nathaniel’s face turned solemn. “Sadly, not many would know me. There aren’t many original villagers living in New Shaletown. Most of them died in the blaze.”

“My apologies.” Guilt heated her face. How could she overlook such a blatant fact? “I just want us to be careful, that’s all.”

“What is this about being careful?” Brax emerged from the wagon with Ardent by his side. He’d put up his hood to mask his face so only his large jaw was visible to passersby.

“Nothing.” Nathaniel untied the boy’s restraints.

“I wouldn’t do that.” Brax warned.

“What do you suppose we do, march him through the inn as our prisoner? Won’t that draw some unwanted attention?” Nathaniel threw the rope in the wagon.

Brax scowled and moved away. “Have it your way.”

“I’m not going to run away.” The boy rubbed his wrists. “I’ve eaten better with you than any other day in my life.”

“He has a point.” Valoria gave Brax an encouraging smile. Maybe she could wear him down over time and show him these raiders were people as much as he was.

“Very well.” Brax gave the boy a hard, skeptical glance as if daring him to disobey, then turned to Nathaniel. “Show us these private rooms.”

They entered the inn from the back door and climbed a rickety stairway up to the third floor. Nathaniel brought out two room keys and opened the door at the top of the stairs to the right. “This is your room, Val.”

“Thank you.” Valoria had to bite her tongue when she heard him say her nickname. Her childhood nickname coming from his lips warmed her heart. A little too much.

Her room was bright with a northern exposure and two large triangular windows. A simple four-poster bed with a pink quilt looked cozy after so many nights sleeping in the wagon or on the hard ground. Then, she saw the ivory washbasin, scented pink soaps, and bathtub and she knew she was in heaven.

“We’ll be across the hall.” Nathaniel called in, and Valoria realized she’d forgotten about them.

“Good. Thank you.” She closed her door and peeled off all of her traveling layers.

Three buckets of warm water sat beside the washbasin. She poured them in, wishing Cadence was there. They’d always talk about their days while she took her bath, and she missed her handmaiden’s responses. There was so much she’d like to tell her and giggle over. How Brax claimed he had no fantasies, how Ardent didn’t like fancy cheese because it smelled foul, how Nathaniel liked to dip his biscuits in his tea. But she couldn’t talk to Cadence about Nathaniel, could she?

Her handmaiden wouldn’t hear of it.

Truly, there were things that Valoria had no right speaking to Cadence about. Perhaps it was fortunate Cadence wasn’t there.

She dipped into the bath, immersing herself in the water. The soap smelled like the roses in her father’s gardens. Valoria breathed deeply, rubbing the soap up and down her arms and legs. She would not think of Cadence’s chastising glares now. Not even the hard truth would ruin her bath.

A knock came at her door.

Valoria stood and reached for a clean towel. “Who is it?”

“Just bringing in your midday, miss.” A woman called from the other side.

“Very well, bring it in.” Valoria covered herself as the door opened.

A curly haired woman entered bringing a tray with soup, a heel of bread and a bowl of fruit. Her eyes widened. “My, my, my. Nip didn’t tell me his companion was so beautiful, and so young.”

Jealousy surged. That must be Blanca, the woman who knew Nathaniel from his past. Valoria didn’t like her calling Nathaniel by his old nickname. He’d been an adult for many years and deserved more respect. If only this inn maid knew how high up the command he’d risen.

Blanca studied her. “You don’t look related.”

“I’m his sister.” Or she would be very soon.

She placed her hands on her hips. “He doesn’t have a sister.”

“When you knew him, he didn’t. But, that was a very long time ago, was it not?” Honestly, wasn’t she supposed to be the guest? As a princess, she’d never been treated in such an impertinent way.

“Hmmph. His sister, eh?” Blanca snorted and turned to the door. “Enjoy your meal.”

“I will.” Valoria waited for the door to close before she splashed back into the tub.

Thank Lyric and his golden lyre they’d only be staying a single night. After second thoughts, she preferred the wagon bench.

Mercy

Nathaniel offered Ardent a glass of water and a bowl of soup. Thank Helena he’d been able to rush Blanca from their room with the excuse of his exhaustion from the journey. The more she asked, the closer she got to his secrets.

Hopefully, Blanca didn’t bother Valoria. She’d always had a fiery tongue, and might rile Valoria up when she beheld the princess’s glowing beauty. Valoria was a rose among wild flowers. Often, he wondered what the princess was thinking when she turned away from him with a melancholy look in her silver eyes, showing her delicate profile and high sculpted cheekbone.

“She likes you.” Ardent slurped his soup without the spoon.

Nathaniel almost dropped his bowl. The princess? Fond of him? How would Ardent have any idea?

“You knew her when you were young?” Ardent chewed a heel of bread.

“Oh, the inn maid?” Nathaniel breathed with relief, and a little disappointment. “She has a strange way of showing it.”

Ardent shrugged. “Strange or not, that’s more than what I’ve got.”

Compassion for the boy overcame any lingering longing over Valoria. How could he be preoccupied with a dead end when a lad needed his support to set him on the right path? “You’re young. You have your whole life ahead of you.”

Ardent shrugged and wiped soup off his chin. “No one will take a shining to a thief.”

“You shan’t be a thief forever, isn’t that right?” Nathaniel handed him a cloth. Ardent could work on table manners after he sorted out his life, but a little nudge in the right direction wouldn’t hurt.

“Once I’m in prison, I shall have a black stain on my reputation for life.”

Nathaniel thought of all the stains on his: orphan, blacksmith’s son, lesser brother. “One black stain is something that can be overcome.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Nathaniel’s heart jumped to his throat. He asked Helena, Horred, and their godly son for it not to be Blanca.

“May I come in?” It was Valoria’s light voice.

“Of course.” Nathaniel stood eagerly and opened the door.

The scent of sweet roses wafted up, making the blood flow through his veins. Valoria wore a simple white dress. She’d let down her braids, so her auburn hair fell in wavy curls around her shoulders. Her porcelain skin was pale and perfect like a lily’s bloom.

He moved from the doorway and she slipped by him. “Where’s Axel?”

“He had business in town.” Nathaniel offered her a seat by the window.

“Business?” She glanced nervously to Ardent.

Nathaniel gave her an apologetic frown. “I could not stop him.”

“Oh.” She sat down and gazed out the window. “I’m not sure I want him to find what he’s looking for.”

That statement could have so many subliminal meanings, none of them good. Unease spread over Nathaniel as he sat down in the chair opposite her. “Perhaps he’s purchasing supplies.”