The Catalyst

Chapter 8

Rain rattled the inn's windows, and the late hour saw people heading to their rooms for the night. Noah and Kitera were seated at a better table. The few patrons that remained leaned forward, pipes in their teeth, mugs in their fists, listening to Jaden's music. He played the fiddle now, using the instrument Noah had seen earlier on the stage.

A Tale of Two Knights, a special request from the crowd. Jaden slid the bow across the strings deftly, brow drawn in concentration.

And when long sorrowful notes marked the end of the song, a few people raised their mugs, saying, "For Matt."

Noah thought he saw Jaden hurriedly wiping under his eye before turning to place the fiddle back in its case. Picking up his flute case, Jaden leapt off the stage.

Kitera had made sure to order for him before the kitchens closed for the night. Though the food must be cold, Jaden ate like a starved wolf, while Kitera complimented his talent.

"My mother was quite the fervent teacher," Jaden explained between mouthfuls.

"A Tale of Two Knights has always been one of my favorites," Kitera said. "Did you know that the original story was really about two men?"

Jaden seemed impressed. "Few people know that, actually."

Kitera smiled. "My brother told me about it. Bryani's an actor, you see. That happens to be his favorite play, the original, not the modern version."

Noah suddenly remembered something, the elusive detail that had been bothering him before. Just after being cured, Jaden half-woke up and whispered the name Matt.

Could always be someone else. Hell of a coincidence, though.

"I'm hitting the baths," Noah announced, leaving them to their talk about plays and theater.

***

The innkeeper had saved them a room after all, but it only had two narrow beds. Returning from the bath chamber, Noah found Kitera sitting on one of the cots, oiling her sword. Jaden gazed out the window, leaning against the only piece of furniture, a small desk with an oil lamp.

Noah dropped his bags at the foot of the other bed and started rummaging for his map.

"What happened to your hand?" Jaden asked him.

The cut was still bright red across Noah's palm.

After a slight drip of panic, Noah shrugged. "Can't remember. A branch, maybe? World's a dangerous place." Noah found the folded map crumpled beneath some spare clothes. "Ha! There you are."

"How uncanny," Jaden said. "I have a cut in the exact same place. Can't remember how I got it."

Kitera's movements slowed as she ran the oiled piece of cloth across the edge of her long blade.

Noah sat with the map of Fellera in his lap. "People cut themselves all the time."

"Well." Kitera cleared her throat. "I'm going to sleep. I'm not sharing, by the way." She nodded down at her bed. "So you two sort it out."

"I could sleep on the floor," Jaden offered.

Noah was surprised, but he wasn't about to argue. "Suit yourself."

Kitera sheathed her sword and put it away, then asked Jaden to help with the corset of her dress. He seemed quite skilled at it, unlacing the tightly bound strings like it was second nature, leaving her in her thin undergarment.

Noah found he couldn't concentrate on his itinerary for the next day when Kitera was sighing in relief and massaging her chest. Catching Noah's staring, Jaden killed the lamp's light, plunging the room in darkness.