“Sure. If you can get enough force into it.”
For once, Tich’ki didn’t argue. “Right. It’s not the sort of thing I want to do too often.” But then her sharp grin returned. “It’s so much easier lifting purses!”
“I’m sure that’s true,” Eliathanis cut in coolly. “But rather than discuss thieving triumphs, don’t you think we had best find shelter before one or another of our enemies returns?”
“Excellent idea,” Lydia said with a wry little bow. “I need to repair my bowstring anyhow, curse that filthy excuse for an elf.”
Eliathanis stiffened indignantly, plainly torn between the evidence of his own eyes and his refusal to accept that one of his people could sink so low. “Have you any idea where we should be heading?”
“Yup.” Lydia pointed. “North, guys—The inn’s called the Flying Swan. You’ll know it by the sign. Innkeeper doesn’t ask awkward questions of his guests and keeps the beds vermin-free.”
“What more could we possibly want?” Naitachal asked wryly.
Lydia shrugged. “Kevin and I will register as ...” She glanced the bardling’s way, mischief in her eyes. “As friends. Good friends. Very good friends. Right, my lover boy?” She grinned as he reddened, and took his arm. “See you later, everyone!”
Ah well, the bardling told himself resolutely. Let her have her fun. Not much you can do to stop her, anyhow.
Lydia’s teasing aside, it would be wonderful to be in a nice dean room again, with a nice hot meal and maybe even—oh miracle of miracles—a soft bed’
A half-turn of the hourglass later, Kevin wasn’t feeling quite so smug. Lydia, the bardling’s cloak draped not quite concealingly about herself and her scanty garb, was clinging to his arm, giggling all too convincingly as he signed the register and tried to act as though “Estban Eitar” checked into inns with attractive older women all the time.
He was still blushing even after they had settled into their room—particularly when he saw that the furnishings consisted mostly of one large bed.
“You could hardly have asked for two beds, sweetie,” Lydia cooed. “Not and keep up this cuddly-wuddly pretense.” To his utter mortification, she snuggled up against him, fluttering her eyelashes elaborately, and pinched his cheek. “Cute li’l lover boy!”
“Stop that!’’
“My, my, you do blush prettily!
“Aw, don’t—”
A sharp rap on the closed shutters of the single window interrupted him. With a silent sigh of relief, Kevin unlatched the shutters and let; in the rest of their party. Lydia might be a warrior, but she was far too attractive for his nerves!
“And you complain about clumsy humans, do you?” Naitachal was murmuring to Eliathanis as they climbed into the room.
The White Elf glared.” How was I to know the drainpipe wasn’t secure?”
“You did make a most convincing spider, clinging to the wall with every digit,”
“You could have helped me!”
“What, and spoil your acrobatic demonstration?” As Naitachal removed and neatly shook out the folds of his black cloak, he gave Kevin a secret but undeniable wink. “A pretty thing it was, too.”
Eliathanis straightened. “I don’t think—”
“A pity.”
“Uh, fellows?” the bardling cut in. “I know you’re enjoying this bickering, but can we please leave it for some other time? We’ve had a rather busy day, agreed?”
“Oh, agreed.” Naitachal raised an eyebrow. “I think we’d best keep watch tonight. If Eliathanis and I could climb up here, so could someone else.”
