Ara watched him from where she’d tucked herself at one corner of the platform. She could hardly believe what she was seeing. Teth was obviously in his element. He looked so relaxed and natural. So happy.
She didn’t understand how he could so quickly alter his persona after what had just happened between them. She still felt the tremors left by his touch.
Should I go to him? Ara knew she was meant to be helping, but that last look he had given her . . .
She felt sick again. It was hard to believe that he’d want her anywhere near him. She didn’t blame him. But she couldn’t let herself be overwhelmed by her feelings. No matter the discomfort between her and Teth, they had to focus on finding the hidden shrine and getting the answers they needed.
As if he’d sensed Ara watching, Teth turned and waved to her.
“Ara! Come here!”
When she joined him at the table, he didn’t spare her a glance. “You’re going to be my runner.”
He shoved a slip of paper into her hands.
“I don’t—” Ara frowned at the paper.
“You don’t actually have to run,” Teth said with an impatient sigh. “But when I give you an order slip you need to go to the wagon and get the required items from Lahvja and Nimhea. Then bring them back here so I can sell them to the customer.”
Ara nodded, deciding that he’d also determined they needed to put aside their emotions and focus on the work at hand. After explaining her task, he’d returned to engaging with the customers, using his wit and savvy to make sales.
Committing herself to her role, Ara fetched the first order. When she returned, another slip was pressed into her hand. Then another. She made her trip to the wagon and back. A pile of slips was growing beside Teth, and soon Ara was running.
Demand kept her hurrying from table to wagon for the better part of three hours, when at last the stream of customers slowed to a trickle.
She’d barely had time to catch her breath when an imperial patrol arrived—half a dozen soldiers led by a keg of a man with a heavy brow and thick beard.
Ara turned to glance at the wagon. Nimhea and Joar had made themselves scarce. Lahvja appeared to be completely focused on her craft, not even glancing toward the table.
“Stay calm,” Teth somehow murmured to her while wearing a broad smile for the benefit of the soldiers.
Ara tried to mimic the smile he wore, a feat when facing off with the approaching patrol leader, whose glower resembled a thundercloud. The leader held up his hand, and all but one of the soldiers stood in flanking positions while their commander came to the table and snapped his finger.
The soldier who’d stayed at his side looked at Teth. “Sergeant Braun requires your papers.”
Ara managed to keep a straight face despite the boorish sergeant’s refusal to speak for himself.
“Of course,” Teth said smoothly, drawing a folded sheaf of paper from his pocket. He offered it to the sergeant, but the other man snatched it from Teth’s hand.
Teth didn’t lose his easy smile as the sergeant stared him down and the soldier scoured the proffered papers.
“All seems to be in order, sir.”
Sergeant Braun’s thick brows drew together. “You’re certain.”
He regarded Teth with open hostility. Teth didn’t flinch.
“I assure you, Sergeant,” Teth said. “All the requisite permissions are there.”
“Let me see that.” Braun grabbed the papers, making his second quail and go red as a beet.
Braun pored over the documents, his frown deepening. As his frustration grew, Ara’s stomach clenched. It was clear this man not only wanted to find something wrong with the papers, he expected to find a problem.
But how could that be? Was it simply that the Vokkans were accustomed to finding forgeries among new traders, or did it have to with the empire’s search for the Loresmith and Princess Nimhea?
She was finding it more and more difficult to maintain her composure. When Sergeant Braun shifted his glare from Teth to her, she lowered her gaze and dropped into a curtsy, hoping he’d take her for a shy young girl.
When she rose, Braun was shoving the documents back into Teth’s hand.
The sergeant jerked his chin at his second and turned away.
“As you were,” the other man told them, then followed his commander.
At another sharp word to the rest of the soldiers, the patrol moved off. Only when they were out of sight did Teth’s smile vanish.
“I didn’t like that,” he said, staring after them.
“The sergeant was unpleasant,” Ara agreed. The brief encounter left her skin crawling and with the lingering sense that something wasn’t right.
Teth shook his head. “Not that. He was looking for something specific in the documents I gave him. I don’t know what, but the fact that he anticipated finding something is more than a little troubling.”
“What can we do?” Ara asked, wishing he hadn’t confirmed her suspicions about the patrol’s visit.
“Nothing,” Teth grumbled. “All we can do is hope our business here can be concluded swiftly. I don’t want to linger a moment more than we have to.”
* * *
The following day passed without incident. The Potion Palace continued to draw customers, and work at the stall kept them busy until they closed for the day. Teth had been nothing but polite to her since she’d broken her own rules about their relationship. Too polite. She would have preferred his anger over the cool indifference he offered. Ara knew she had no right to complain. She could blame no one but herself. She’d earned this misery of her own making, and she hadn’t been afforded the chance to fix things. During the day, managing the stall was all-consuming. At night, Teth disappeared into the market, searching for information about Nava’s hidden shrine.
The third day progressed much like the second until the early afternoon. Among the small group of perusers at the table was a man with a grizzled face and skin like leather. His clothes were well worn and suited for travel, as the gnarled walking stick he bore also indicated. His eyes darted about as if uneasy to settle in one place for too long.
The man beckoned to Teth, who moved to the side of the table where he waited.
Ara attended the other customers while Teth spoke with the man, but she was able to overhear their conversation.
The stranger edged closer to Teth, lowering his voice. “I’ve heard you might be in the market for something.”
Teth acknowledged the statement with the slightest lift of his brow.
“Something old,” the man continued. “Something hard to find.”
After taking a moment to casually stretch his arms, Teth replied, “We might be. What do you know about it?”
“We have mutual friends.” The man scratched his beard. “Who specialize in the finding of hidden things.”
He paused to give a meaningful look at the lockbox. “Dangerous work.”
“Perhaps too dangerous.” Teth regarded the man with a cool look.
At this the man let out a dry cackle. “Perhaps.”
He paused for a moment, something like mischief glimmering in his eyes.
“I wonder if you have any bottles of Daefritian red from the Dentroth reign stashed in your stores,” the man said. “It’s getting harder to come by, and I’ve quite a thirst.”
Teth scratched his chin. “I’ll have to check our inventory. In the meantime, is there anything else I can get for you?”
“Sleep comes hard these days,” the man replied.
“Ara,” Teth said, turning to her. “Will you bring our friend two sleeping tonics?”
She nodded, making apologies to the customers she’d been helping, and hurried up the stairs to fetch the bottles, all the while wondering at the odd exchange. She knew for a fact they only had wine for themselves and
certainly nothing of a special vintage. It seemed strange that Teth wouldn’t simply have said so.
When she returned, Teth took her elbow and pulled her aside. “Do you think you’ve got the hang of this?”
He gestured to the stall and the sales table.
“Yes,” she replied with more confidence than she felt. The selling bit was simple enough, but she doubted she’d be able to win customers or haggle prices like Teth had managed.
“Good. Nimhea can be your runner,” Teth said. “I’m going to take a walk, and I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone.”
Ara glanced at the stranger then back at Teth. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
“Definitely not.” One side of Teth’s mouth hooked up. “But this sort of thing never is.”
He must have caught the sudden fear in her eyes, because he added, “You don’t need to worry. Remember, this is what I do.”
His voice lowered. “He used a passphrase that indicates he’s an agent of the Below. It’s an older code, but worth the risk.”
She nodded, smiling weakly. “I’ll take over until you get back.”
“Here are the papers you’ll need if another patrol comes by,” he said. “And don’t forget that Joar will tear the arms off anyone who gives you trouble. He’s so quiet and still as a statue, it’s easy to forget he’s there. But he’s there.”
Teth collected a satchel from the wagon and slung it across his body. After that he went to the lockbox, filled a leather pouch with coins, and dropped the pouch into the satchel. He returned to the man, and they exchanged a few words. Teth turned to give a brief nod to Ara before the pair of them moved off into the crowd.
24
Do you think we should look for him?” Ara paced beside the fire while Lahvja prepared a dinner of braised lamb shanks with herbs and leeks, accompanied by sautéed wild greens she’d gathered as they traveled.
Teth’s “walk” had stretched from the afternoon to sunset, when they’d closed up the Potion Palace for the day. It had been dark for an hour, and he had yet to appear.
“I don’t think there’s cause to worry yet.” Nimhea sat cross-legged by the fire, watching Lahvja cook. “Teth knows what he’s doing.”
Ara bit her lip to stop herself from asking when the princess thought it would be time to be concerned about Teth’s absence. She’d been on edge from the moment he left. The ebb and flow of customers at the stall had kept her occupied, but had not distracted her from speculating about the trouble Teth might get himself in. Patrols had passed by, making her all the more anxious, but none had stopped to question her or ask for documents.
Reminding herself that before she’d met him, Teth had gotten along very well in Saetlund’s underworld, she forced herself to sit beside Nimhea. Her stomach rumbled with a helpful reminder that it was very much anticipating a delicious meal. Lahvja’s delectable cooking would be a welcome, happy distraction.
Spooning liquid over the shanks, Lahvja announced, “They’re almost ready. Joar, I’ll need your assistance in a moment.”
The giant man rose from where he’d been sitting with Huntress, unfolding his limbs until he reached his full size.
Lahvja looked at Ara. “I agree with Nimhea. Teth will be in his element. You need not fret.”
“I’m trying.” Ara laughed wryly.
“Speaking of Teth being in his element,” Nimhea said. “We’ve made a shocking amount of money the past three days.”
Lahvja began to dole out portions of lamb and greens onto plates that Joar had ready. He brought two to Ara and Nimhea and returned to Lahvja, picking up another two plates.
“I find it a bit unnerving,” Lahvja told Nimhea. “I would never charge the prices Teth has been asking, but he insists I’ve been criminally undercharging all this time.”
“Criminally?” Nimhea smirked. “Well, I suppose Teth’s the expert in that area.”
Joar grunted his disapproval. “I do not think we should speak of our friend’s unfortunate past. It mars his character and is best forgotten.”
“His past?” Ara blinked at Joar, hoping the hunter was jesting.
It became obvious he was not.
“Joar,” Lahvja said gently. “I don’t know that Teth’s . . . unconventional trade is behind him.”
With a scoff, Joar replied, “Surely now that he has been named a Loreknight he will abandon his dishonorable inclinations.”
Ara had to cover her mouth to stifle a giggle. Inclinations?
“Ara.” Joar turned to her. “It is clear you are the closest to him. Do you not think he will reform his ways?”
Her chest burned at his observation of her and Teth’s relationship.
She cleared her throat before answering. “We’ll see.”
“There’ll be no seeing about anything.” Teth strode into the firelight.
Ara’s heart leapt at the sight of him. She wanted to jump up and throw her arms around him, but knew she could not. Instead, she dug her fingernails into her palms.
“Joar, my good, enormous friend,” Teth said, grinning at the hunter. “When Eni named me Loreknight, I was given no stipulation about abandoning my former pursuits. If my god has no trouble with my less honorable inclinations, I see no cause to reform.”
A menacing sound rumbled from Joar’s chest. “It is implicit in your new calling that you should reform.”
“I don’t deal in implications,” Teth told him. “Far too risky. I’d suggest you learn to love me for who I am.”
While Joar stared at him, Teth plucked the plate filled with steaming food from the hunter’s large hand.
“Is this for me? Thank you. I’m ravenous.”
Joar waited as Lahvja served up another plate, all the while muttering in his own language. Ara couldn’t understand a word, but it was obvious the man wasn’t giving Teth any compliments.
Disappointment sank into her body when Teth made himself comfortable beside Nimhea rather than sitting next to her. Resisting self-pity, Ara turned her attention to the hot meal Lahvja had prepared. She sliced into the shank, letting the mouthwatering odor of the sauce and herbs waft into her nose before taking a bite. As usual, Lahvja’s dish was divine. Layers of flavor melted on her tongue and sent a shiver of pleasure through her.
Unfortunately, the sensation called to mind a much deeper pleasure she’d been captured by when in Teth’s arms. She stole a glance at him, only to find him watching her, and quickly returned her gaze to her plate.
He’d been detached with her most of the day, but when she’d met his eyes she hadn’t found anger. What she’d seen might have been regret, possibly longing, maybe frustration—she couldn’t be sure.
Ara continued to eat, but the flavors of the dish seemed to be gone. She wondered how Teth could ever trust her. The thought that she might never feel him close because of her own indecision was unbearable.
I have to do something. I need him.
“Ara?” Teth’s voice cut through the fog of her emotions. His brow was furrowed with concern.
She startled, blinking at him. Blood rushed into her cheeks as she became irrationally convinced that he’d stepped into her mind and heard everything.
Frowning, he asked, “What do you think?”
She shook her head, trying to bring herself back into the present moment.
“I’m sorry. I missed what you said.”
The crease between his brows deepened. “All of it?”
“I—” Her mouth had gone very dry. “I apologize, my mind was somewhere else.”
He started to ask her something, then stopped, as if reconsidering.
Lahvja came to the rescue. “Teth just explained what transpired while he was away.”
Ara groaned inwardly. That was a lot to miss. Just how long had she been drifting in her own thoughts?
Lahvja gave Teth a
meaningful look, and something seemed to pass between them.
“The man who approached us had information about the hidden followers of Nava who are still here,” Teth told Ara. “There’s a secret temple beneath the pavilion, and a priestess of Nava resides there. If anyone can help us find the location of Nava’s trial, it will be her.”
“Then we should go,” Ara said quickly.
“Yes.” His eyes were worried again. “We agreed to that. What I was asking your opinion about is who should go. We need to attract as little attention as possible, which means we’ll go to the temple at night, but someone has to stay with the wagon and be ready to get out of the market. Both roles involve risk. If we’re discovered and arrested, it won’t take long for the Vokkans to identify us as the vendors at the Potion Palace. Those who remain here will need to watch carefully for an increased activity of the patrols and also signs that other vendors might be quickly packing up and leaving. If word spreads that the Vokkans are planning to raid even one stall, it makes all the vendors nervous.”
Ara nodding, trying to process the facts as quickly as possible. “I think you, Nimhea, and myself should go to the temple. Joar and Lahvja can have the horses ready in case we need to make a quick escape.”
“I agree,” Teth replied, and a bit of the concern etched onto his features faded. “There’s a good chance we’ll need to abandon the wagon, so, Lahvja, you should pack up whatever is most needed and leave the rest.”
Turning to Joar, Teth said, “And you need to spend tomorrow finding a destrier. You need a mount, and only a warhorse will be able to carry you. There’s something of a perpetual horse fair that goes on just outside the northern quarter of the Great Market. You’ll be able to purchase one there.”
“I prefer to walk.” The look Joar leveled on Teth wasn’t friendly.
Teth was unfazed. “I know you do. But we need to be able to travel faster. At a gallop.”
“I run very swiftly.” There was a stubborn set to Joar’s formidable jaw. “I have adequate stamina.”
Cast in Secrets and Shadow Page 26