Breakfast was quiet, with no one prepared to risk eye-contact with Aris or Jonas. Most of the group were civilians, and it was as though the experienced and highly trained Aris and Jonas were the backbone, providing structure for the rest of them to work from. To feel that support crumble was unsettling.

Llew kept her horse between her and Jonas while they tightened girth straps and tied saddlebags and bedrolls, but as soon as Aris was involved with getting the carriage horses hitched, she stooped under the golden neck to talk.

‘I’m sorry I caused you trouble with Aris,’ she said.

‘It weren’t your fault.’ He didn’t look at her, instead continuing to tie his bedroll in place.

‘But if I hadn’t—’

‘I said don’t, Llew.’

Llew wanted to punch something. She had finally met a man who didn’t make her cringe when he looked at or touched her and for some reason known only to him and Aris he was supposed to do neither. She turned, fists balled, and nearly walked into the shoulder of her horse. The heat of humiliation mixed with her frustration and she raised a fist, but caught herself and instead ran her knuckles up and down the horse’s neck. His head extended and his top lip quivered, and she calmed.

‘Aris would rather Llew rode up front with me,’ Alvaro said as they were taking their places on the road, ready to head out. Behind him, Cassidy nodded and gave Llew and Jonas an apologetic shrug.

Jonas nodded too, and flicked his eyes from Llew to the front of the carriage, telling her to go. Her shoulders slumped, but she reluctantly led her horse to the front.

The clop of the horses’ hooves, the jingling of tack and the carriage’s creaks and groans dominated the morning ride. Llew didn’t know what to say to Alvaro. He turned to her a number of times, even opened his mouth and drew breath as though about to speak, but nothing was forthcoming. Anya pointed out the natural beauty of the passing landscape to those in the carriage, but otherwise even her usual carefree banter was kept in check. Aris’s mood affected everyone.

‘You don’t have any brothers or sisters?’ Alvaro finally found his voice.

Llew shook her head and Alvaro fell silent for a few minutes.

‘I have a sister,’ he continued. ‘But she’s a lot younger, nearly thirteen.’ He turned a knowing smile on Llew; she’d know what it was like to be a girl going into her teen years.

She did. But she supposed it wouldn’t be too bad having a family to go through it with. Finding yourself alone at eleven was something she wouldn’t wish on any girl.

‘Cassidy and I grew up like brothers. When he and his mother came to stay in Kas, anyway.’

‘Where was his pa?’

‘Don’t know. Never had one, as far as I know.’

‘Everyone has a pa.’

Alvaro colored and then rallied. ‘I guess his ma got cold one evening . . .’

‘Nothing happened, Al.’ She didn’t look at him.

‘I didn’t mean— It’s just— Not him, Llew. Just— Don’t do that to yourself.’

Llew frowned at him.

‘He can’t love you like—’

‘You could?’

Alvaro bit back whatever he had been going to say. ‘Just don’t give your heart to him.’

Llew blinked at him. Somewhere in there she got the feeling he was asking her to like him instead, but he hadn’t said it. It didn’t matter, anyway.

‘It’s my own heart, Al. I plan to keep it to myself.’ Didn’t mean she couldn’t play on the attraction Jonas seemed to have for her. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to it, but if things did go badly it wouldn’t hurt to have an ally as powerful and dangerous as Jonas. And his knife. Muscles in her back contracted at the thought of that knife traveling behind her. Perhaps after lunch she would suggest she and Alvaro took up the rear.

It rained persistently for the next few days, making the journey less pleasant. Whether she rode alongside Alvaro, Cassidy or Jonas, they didn’t talk much, just kept their heads down, letting the rain pour from the brims of their hats. Anya and Emylia took up almost permanent residence under the canopy of the carriage.

Llew carried out her tasks like the men, catching fish when possible to break the monotony of their road meals. They stayed in inns whenever their day’s travel brought them to a township for the evening, and Llew now slept with the ladies. On the road she didn’t return to Jonas’s bedroll, despite the growing cold of the autumn evenings, especially after a day being soaked by rain.

They rode into Stelt – Population: 1,550 – just before dinner time. The sun was already behind the Aghacian mountains, though its rays would linger another hour. To make the stop, they had to veer from the main road and cross a bridge not much wider than the carriage. It was the only way into the town, and it made the sojourn feel like even more of a hindrance to their progress. All the other towns had simply been pauses. Still, Llew would much rather take the time to head into the town than sleep outside again. She pondered on that and concluded that she was getting soft.

Entering the saloon, Llew felt as though she had been there before. Like the inns from previous nights, it was predominantly wooden, with fittings supported by heavy steel plates and bolts; it housed a few tables and chairs, and several patrons. A couple of girls wearing little more than under garments fawned over whoever was winning a game of cards at a corner table, and a few lone drinkers were scattered about other tables. One man slouched over his ale, alone in a corner. Another observed the newcomers with brief curiosity before returning his attention to his drink.

One man sat at the bar cradling a sniff of whisky, as many a man had done at the saloons, inns and bars they had previously visited. Only this man seemed more interested in the new arrivals than any before. He was dark, with most of his features hidden behind a scraggly beard and shoulder-length hair. His light brown eyes were surprisingly pretty under long eyelashes.

He continued to watch them as they stood at the bar while Aris negotiated their rooms.

When the rooms were booked and the group was turning to head up the stairs, Cassidy approached the man. Llew looked to Aris for his reaction, but he seemed satisfied that the blond young man knew what he was doing.

‘I don’t mean to be rude, mister, but may I ask what’s caught your interest?’

‘I was just noticing your friend, there.’ The man inclined his head toward Jonas.

Cassidy followed the man’s gaze.

‘I don’t know why. He’s not much to look at, and I don’t think he would reciprocate your interest.’ He turned back to the bearded man, his piercing blue eyes warning that the man should lose interest. Quickly.

The man didn’t laugh, but a few whiskers at the corner of his mouth lifted as he appraised Jonas, who stared back with an unreadable expression. The man pulled his gaze away from Jonas and took in the rest of the group, lingering on Llew. She felt uncomfortable being scrutinized, and looked away.

‘Surprising company you keep.’

Llew turned back. He was looking at her. He was talking to her. ‘What?’

‘I said, “Surprising company you keep.”’ The man smiled at her confusion. ‘A fan of the great Syakaran of Quaver, are you?’

Jonas went to lunge at the man, but Aris’s hand on his arm kept him in check. The bar fell silent, though an under-current of murmurs continued.

‘Oh. You didn’t know. Interesting.’ He took a sip of his whisky.

‘I suggest you finish your drink and move on, friend.’ Aris gave the word ‘friend’ an ominous tone.

‘Friend, is it, Aris?’ The man sneered. ‘No love for a long lost son? Oh, but I was never your son, was I? Not once my brother came along.’ His eyes shifted to Jonas. ‘You’re a long way from home, brother. I trust you’ll keep out of trouble. Wouldn’t want you flying off the handle. Again.’ The man threw back the last mouthful of whisky, then stood, patting down his leather coat as if checking he had everything. He had an easy manner and seemed unconcerned by Jonas’s glowering; Jonas seemed unable to act.

The man scooped his hat off the bar and his sleeve pulled back, revealing a chunky metal bracelet with tubes that seemed to dive beneath his skin – but that couldn’t be possible. He afforded Llew a wink as he pressed the hat onto his head.

‘Good to see you, Jonas. You’d be proud of your brother’s achievements. I’d love to tell you about it, but it would be so much better to show you. Why don’t you come find me later tonight? I’ll wait for you by the bridge.’ He turned for the inn door. ‘I’m sure I don’t have to tell you to come alone.’ He took a step toward the door and then backtracked, one finger in the air. ‘On second thoughts, bring the girl.’ He looked at Llew.

Her hand flew to the hair at the back of her head. She looked down at the front of her shirt. There was barely the hint of breasts.

The man laughed.

‘Your costume is fine. But you are the spitting image of your mother.’

Something in his demeanor changed when he said it. Some hint of emotion. Llew shrank back from the over-familiarity. Something about him scared her to the core, and when he looked at her, he seemed to know her.

‘No wonder your father was so protective.’ His voice was filled with a sorrow Llew couldn’t understand. She was too rattled to make a move. She had to pull herself together before Jonas took her to the bridge.

Aris continued murmuring to Jonas under his breath. Only the respect he had for the older man kept Jonas under control.

‘I’ll let you folk settle into this fine establishment. But I do hope you’ll find time for family while you’re in town.’ This time, the man made it to the inn door. He gave them one last smile and a friendly wave before pushing his way through the door and disappearing into the night.

The atmosphere of the inn relaxed, though only slightly. The innkeeper watched Jonas warily, as did several of the bar’s patrons, those still sober enough to be paying attention, anyway. But slowly card games were resumed and the piano struck up again.

The group closed ranks around Jonas as Aris hushed the questions about the man who had known far too much.

‘You two go and see to the horses.’

Alvaro and Cassidy did as Aris ordered and headed for the stable.

‘Do you mind settling the girls in?’ Aris turned to Emylia. ‘Jonas and I need to have a word.’

‘And me,’ said Llew, then continued before Aris could object. ‘He knew about me. I think you should talk to me, too.’

‘No, Llew. This is family business,’ said Aris.

‘Exactly. He knew about my ma—’

‘No!’

Llew jumped back half a step and the whole room fell silent again.

‘Llew. Braph is a magician. He could pick your thoughts right out of your head,’ Jonas said in a husky whisper.

‘But I wasn’t thinking about my parents.’ Magician?

‘A bath will be brought up to your room,’ said Aris, as if Llew hadn’t spoken. ‘I suggest you use it. We will meet down here for a meal later. No one,’ he looked pointedly at Llew and then Jonas, ‘no one will be going anywhere tonight. Do I make myself clear?’

Jonas and Llew nodded to each other, neither looking at Aris.

‘So, there is nothing further for you to discuss tonight. Emylia.’ Aris motioned for Emylia to take over from there. She nodded and rounded the two girls up.

‘Aw, but things were just getting interesting,’ said Anya, turning to the stairway.

‘Ladies don’t whine, Anya,’ said Emylia behind them. ‘And young ladies do as they’re told.’

Anya didn’t reply as she headed up the stairs. Llew followed, ushered by Emylia.

After a bath and a meal in strained silence, Llew lay in her bed waiting for Anya and Emylia’s breathing to change, indicating that they had crossed the threshold into sleep. When she was sure she was the only one awake, she eased her blankets back and swiveled from the bed. She hadn’t stripped, so only needed to pull on her shoes, her jacket, and then it was the simple matter of slipping out the door. Simple, if its hinges weren’t in need of a little oil. She opened it inch by inch, cringing at every creak and freezing at each shuffle of blankets behind her. When the opening was just wide enough for her thin frame, she slunk through, and then began the painful process of closing it again.

She tiptoed along the corridor, opened and slid through the next door quickly to avoid the racket from the still crowded bar waking those above, then scurried down the stairs; she scooted around drunk men and corseted women, who mostly ignored her in her jacket and trousers and short tousled hair, and finally pushed her way into the clean crisp air outside.

A hand covered her mouth and an arm wrapped about her waist and she was pulled into the shadow of the alley by the inn.