“I was about to think you were not coming.” He said.
“I got hung up at the inn. I had to help a nice couple find their room.”
“It’s okay. It gave me time to plan where I wanted to take you for that meal.” He held out his hand and Thessa took it. He led her around the cat man stand. It was closed now and boarded up. But, as they strolled down the marketplace, people recognized her and gave her a big, approving smile or a wave. She cringed at the attention, especially since she found the man and what he was selling repulsive. Still, there was part of her that enjoyed the spotlight for a change. She didn’t feel as though everything she did was a mistake or an ill-timed blunder.
“Here we are.” Gaelyn pointed to a small booth with four wooden tables arranged in front of it. “They say this place has wonderful food.”
“It isn’t cat or rat or dog, is it?”
Gaelyn looked quizzical, “I don’t think so.”
“Or any other disgusting food from under a rock or up a tree or something.”
“I guess we will find out. What is it you like?”
“Right now, vegetables!”
Gaelyn laughed and led her to the booth where a man in a food stained apron was stirring a pot of something.
“May I help you?” The man asked.
“What is your best meal?” Gaelyn asked.
“No, no, no, friend.” The man began. “Let me take care of you two fine young people. You cannot walk up to a booth on this marketplace and ask what is the best meal. They will give you whatever concoction they are trying to get rid of before it goes bad. You ask what is their freshest meal.” He winked at Thessa, “And they will probably give you whatever is about to go bad, anyway.” He laughed uproariously.
“What will you be eating from your place tonight?” Thessa asked.
“Ah, now this is a smart one. You had better hold on to this one. I have a specialty that I like to enjoy. I take two slices of bread and put between them roasted chicken, crispy bacon, and aged cheese and bake it in the oven a few minutes until the cheese melts. I call it a chicken bake.”
“Oh, I’ll have one of those.” Thessa said.
“Make it two.” Gaelyn interjected.
“Coming right up. I will make it three! One for me, you know. Sit, sit, and I will serve you with some nice wine to go with your food.”
They picked a table and sat. “What a nice fellow.” Gaelyn said.
A few more people arrived and the man behind the booth served them the stew he was staring. At least Thessa imagined it was stew. The man winked at her when ladling it into bowls.
“Tell me about yourself.” Gaelyn asked her.
She knew he was trying to start a conversation, but he was treading in an area she didn’t want to go. “Oh no, you don’t. Tell me about yourself first.”
“All right. I am a dockworker here in Emlestra. It doesn’t pay a lot, and it’s hard on my hands, but it’s steady work.”
“That explains your muscles.” She blurted out and then immediately blushed afterward.
Gaelyn fixed his arm muscle, “You think so, huh? Well, I am scrawny compared to some men who work there.”
“Here is your food and wine.” The booth owner said as he placed two wooden plates before them with the chicken bake on them, and a bottle of wine with two glasses. Gaelyn paid the man, and he walked away satisfied.
“This looks delicious.” Thessa observed.
“It does.” Gaelyn agreed.
They were halfway through their meal when Hana and Asleth arrived at the booth. The man gave them the same treatment he gave Thessa and Gaelyn, and they turned to find a seat.
Hana spotted Thessa. “Hello again. Small world isn’t it.”
“Yes, it is.” Thessa said. “Gaelyn, this is the woman I helped find her room earlier.”
“Oh, so you are the reason she was late.” He stood and kissed Hana’s hand.
“I was. I am so sorry.”
“He is attempting a joke, miss.” Thessa said.
“Absolutely, I meant nothing by it.”
“Oh, good. You two are such a nice looking couple. Is the food good here?” Hana asked.
“It’s depends on what you ordered.” Gaelyn said.
“We were talking into something called a chicken bake.”
“Good, that we are having. It is delicious.” Thessa assured her. She noticed Asleth said nothing and stared at her intently.
“Do I have something in my teeth?” Thessa asked him.
“Hmm? Oh sorry, you just seem so familiar. I am certain we have met before.” Asleth said.
“I guess I have one of those faces.” Thessa said uncomfortably. She was thankful when the man brought them their food and their focus was taken off her. She hurried through the meal and then beckoned Gaelyn for them to leave. He got the hint. They said their goodbyes and exchanged a few other pleasantries and left. Gaelyn never questioned her about why she wanted to leave so badly, and she thought that was one of his best qualities.
Chapter 13: Daggers of the Soul
Tanyth Veridian rode his death steed to a farmstead just east of the city of Tama, at the source of the river Taman. By using the severed hand of the fiend’s victim, he had traced the vampire the Black Mage had created to the main farmhouse. He dismounted and instructed his horse to stand ready in case the blood feeder was present and inclined to flee. Upon entering the house through a door that had obviously been forced, he was greeted with the first victim, a woman of middle age on the floor lying in a pool of blood.
“Sloppy work.” Tanyth said, “You are letting too much of the precious blood go to waste.” He heard a grunting noise and a mischievous smile graced his lips. “So, you are still here, good.”
There came a
