from the edge of the field. “So you
want me to stay here in the corn until I sense danger, then sprint for the tree and then the roof. Right?”
He beamed down at her, brimming with approval. “You’re a quick one.”
“Not really.” Riki felt her cheeks flush and ducked her head as Nico cupped her cheek.
“You’re a beautiful, intelligent woman, Arikia.” He spoke so earnestly, she had to look up into his sparkling eyes. “Don’t ever doubt that.”
He kissed her sweetly then, not taking the kiss deeper, just a tender salute to her lips that meant so much to her bruised, battered heart.
Releasing her too soon, Nico stepped back and watched her, his gaze nearly burning her with its intensity.
“I have to go, but I’ll be back within an hour. I promise.”
Fear set in as she watched him backing away. “Hurry back, Nico.”
His expression softened for a moment. “I will. Stay safe and be alert. I’ll be back before you know it.”
And with that, he melted away into the darkening stalks of corn.
Chapter Five
Leaving Riki in that cornfield was one of the hardest things Nico had ever done, but he could see no other way. Backtracking quickly, he headed for the road, glad full dark was almost upon him. Nothing could delay him with Riki waiting in the cold, dangerous gloom of a Skithdronian eve. He had to move fast.
Nico offered up a silent prayer to the Mother of All for Riki’s safety and his own as he took the path to town, out on the road in the open for the first time in days. Nico was taking a very great risk, going into a town where he knew Lucan’s soldiers had already, no doubt, spread word of their escape.
Holding his breath, Nico was pleasantly surprised when he made it past the sleeping gatekeeper with little fuss. People were walking back and forth through the large gate without anyone questioning who they were or what they were doing in the fortified town.
Gates and walls around towns were standard in Skithdron to keep out the skiths. Unchecked, a skith could ravage a town like this in short order, but the resourceful people of this land had learned to build their homes in clusters, leaving strong, blank walls around the place, composed of the backs of buildings with huge log fences in the spaces between. They were uncommonly good at keeping skiths out and people in, hence the need for a gate. The gatekeeper was supposed to watch for skiths and drop the heavy door at first sight, sealing the town and raising the alarm. The side effect, of course, was that a nosey gatekeeper could also regulate who went in and out of the town.
This gatekeeper, however, seemed more interested in watching the insides of his own eyelids than the road or environs. He was snoring softly as Nico passed, sprawled in his chair next to the rope and pulley system that would lower the gate swiftly if danger threatened.
Moving unobtrusively, Nico found a likely tavern in short order. The innkeeper was a rotund man with red cheeks and an overall jolly look to him. He eyed Nico suspiciously at first, but brightened when he saw the silver coin Nico offered for fast, efficient, discreet service.
Nico ordered a large basket of food. He surveyed the room, spying a worn, black, woolen cloak hanging in a corner behind the counter.
“That looks to be a warm cloak.” Nico kept his voice low so as to not be overheard. “I lost mine on the
road and was hoping to find a replacement. Is it for sale?”
The man’s gaze shot to the bar across the room and Nico’s followed. Two young men manned the long bar, both sharing the innkeeper’s strong features. Undoubtedly, they were his sons and the cloak probably belonged to one of them.
“Losing one’s cloak is a sorry thing,” the man said, pursing his lips for dramatic effect as he frowned. Nico palmed another coin, allowing the innkeeper to glimpse the gleaming gold in his hand. “But I believe we could come to an arrangement, seeing as how the days are growing
want me to stay here in the corn until I sense danger, then sprint for the tree and then the roof. Right?”
He beamed down at her, brimming with approval. “You’re a quick one.”
“Not really.” Riki felt her cheeks flush and ducked her head as Nico cupped her cheek.
“You’re a beautiful, intelligent woman, Arikia.” He spoke so earnestly, she had to look up into his sparkling eyes. “Don’t ever doubt that.”
He kissed her sweetly then, not taking the kiss deeper, just a tender salute to her lips that meant so much to her bruised, battered heart.
Releasing her too soon, Nico stepped back and watched her, his gaze nearly burning her with its intensity.
“I have to go, but I’ll be back within an hour. I promise.”
Fear set in as she watched him backing away. “Hurry back, Nico.”
His expression softened for a moment. “I will. Stay safe and be alert. I’ll be back before you know it.”
And with that, he melted away into the darkening stalks of corn.
Chapter Five
Leaving Riki in that cornfield was one of the hardest things Nico had ever done, but he could see no other way. Backtracking quickly, he headed for the road, glad full dark was almost upon him. Nothing could delay him with Riki waiting in the cold, dangerous gloom of a Skithdronian eve. He had to move fast.
Nico offered up a silent prayer to the Mother of All for Riki’s safety and his own as he took the path to town, out on the road in the open for the first time in days. Nico was taking a very great risk, going into a town where he knew Lucan’s soldiers had already, no doubt, spread word of their escape.
Holding his breath, Nico was pleasantly surprised when he made it past the sleeping gatekeeper with little fuss. People were walking back and forth through the large gate without anyone questioning who they were or what they were doing in the fortified town.
Gates and walls around towns were standard in Skithdron to keep out the skiths. Unchecked, a skith could ravage a town like this in short order, but the resourceful people of this land had learned to build their homes in clusters, leaving strong, blank walls around the place, composed of the backs of buildings with huge log fences in the spaces between. They were uncommonly good at keeping skiths out and people in, hence the need for a gate. The gatekeeper was supposed to watch for skiths and drop the heavy door at first sight, sealing the town and raising the alarm. The side effect, of course, was that a nosey gatekeeper could also regulate who went in and out of the town.
This gatekeeper, however, seemed more interested in watching the insides of his own eyelids than the road or environs. He was snoring softly as Nico passed, sprawled in his chair next to the rope and pulley system that would lower the gate swiftly if danger threatened.
Moving unobtrusively, Nico found a likely tavern in short order. The innkeeper was a rotund man with red cheeks and an overall jolly look to him. He eyed Nico suspiciously at first, but brightened when he saw the silver coin Nico offered for fast, efficient, discreet service.
Nico ordered a large basket of food. He surveyed the room, spying a worn, black, woolen cloak hanging in a corner behind the counter.
“That looks to be a warm cloak.” Nico kept his voice low so as to not be overheard. “I lost mine on the
road and was hoping to find a replacement. Is it for sale?”
The man’s gaze shot to the bar across the room and Nico’s followed. Two young men manned the long bar, both sharing the innkeeper’s strong features. Undoubtedly, they were his sons and the cloak probably belonged to one of them.
“Losing one’s cloak is a sorry thing,” the man said, pursing his lips for dramatic effect as he frowned. Nico palmed another coin, allowing the innkeeper to glimpse the gleaming gold in his hand. “But I believe we could come to an arrangement, seeing as how the days are growing
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