Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
“His name is Captain Solyen Terrick. He owns a speedship. He lives here, but right now he’s likely on his way to Junsho ports. He handles many of our overseas trades.”
“When will he return?” Thane asks.
“That depends.” Enver drags the pads of his fingers over his forehead like he’s riddled with unfathomable stress. “Sometimes Solyen makes stops at other cities for leisure before he returns. Could be within a few hours. Could be a day or two. I’ve not known him to be away from Gadonia longer than three days at most.”
“Damn it,” I mutter as Rynthea curses under her breath and Algar sighs. “Three days is a long time, Enver.”
“I’m not understanding the rush, Zaira.” His face is drowning in concern. “No one is ever this eager to go to The Shallows. Literally, no one.”
“Never mind.” I step closer to him, sighing. “We’ll take a room for the night. If the captain isn’t back by morning, we’ll find another way.”
Enver raises his chin with a mild flare to his nostrils. “Very well,” he says tightly. “This way.” He walks away from the boisterous inn, leading us to a smaller one that has potted plants and rocking chairs on the porch.
Entering the building, he greets an older woman with blond hair who stands behind the front counter. She blinks at all of us, surprised. Mostly by Rynthea, of course.
After a few minutes, Enver returns to us with three keys in hand.
“If you truly want rest, this is the best place to stay.” He blows out a weary breath. “The other inns closer to the city are loud and usually packed with travelers. Irina has three rooms available for the night. Will that be enough?”
“It’s fine.” Rynthea takes one of the keys from him. “But just for the record, I don’t share rooms,” she says, eyeing our crew. “I need my privacy.”
“What?” Algar’s mouth hangs open. “Well, if you need privacy, so do I!”
“No. No fucking way,” Thane growls, grabbing both keys out of Enver’s hand before Algar can. “It doesn’t make any sense for me to share a room with Zaira.”
“I agree,” I add rapidly. I couldn’t even imagine that. My stomach flutters at the mere idea of it. “If anything, the men should share, and the women should have their own rooms.”
“Let me tell you something. Zephra will literally bite through or burn those fancy swords and weapons of his if Thane is in the room with us. I’m telling you, she hates other people in her space for too long, and she especially doesn’t like him. She won’t make it comfortable for him.”
“Then let her sleep outside where she belongs,” Thane says with a smirk. He’s trying to rile Algar up.
It works, because Algar’s jaw drops as he pulls Zephra from his shoulder to cup her head and shield her ears. “How dare you! She is an indoor sleeper.”
“I also beg to differ about Zephra’s tantrum. She’s starting to adore me.” Thane reaches forward to scratch Zephra’s chest with a finger. “Right, girl?”
Zephra chitters a noise of pleasure.
Algar raises her in the air to look her in the eyes. “You little traitor.”
“Okay, you know what?” I sigh. “We don’t have time for this. I’ll just hang out with Enver around the city. I’ll take a quick bath here and then properly catch up with him.” I turn to Enver for approval. “If that’s okay.”
Enver eagerly nods his assent. Thane looks between me and Enver before gesturing to the lounge area. “You can have the room, Zaira. I’ll stay in the lounge, sharpen my blades, or have a drink at one of the taverns. Doesn’t matter.”
“No.” I wave a hand at him, dismissing the offer. “You need rest, too. It’s fine, really.”
Algar plucks one of the keys out of Thane’s hand and hobbles after Rynthea. I watch both of them disappear around a corner before putting my attention on Thane again.
“We can share the third,” Thane says suddenly, shifting on his feet. “I’ll take a spot on the floor. Shouldn’t be any different than the time we stayed in that shabby hut bordering Ruvain. Just promise you won’t snore this time.”
I can’t help smiling as I playfully bump against his arm with my shoulder. “No guarantees.”
“Z, can I have a word with you outside really quick?” Enver steps forward, slicing through our conversation.
“Sure. Be there in a second.”
Enver smiles at me before glancing at Thane again. His features harden for a split second, then he presses his palms together, nods, and strolls out of the inn.
Thane sits on a worn brown couch across from a hearth, dropping his rucksack on the floor between his feet. “I don’t like him.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t like anyone.”
“Well, I really don’t like him.” He plucks a dagger out of his bag, then takes out an angular rock. “Who is he to you?”