Elven Legacy

Chapter 42

Day 8

Jaden

When he woke up at first light to find the other cot unused and still impeccably made, Jaden knew with gnawing certainty that something was amiss. It simply wasn't like Dharkan to get up so early. Or make his bed, for that matter.

And sure, there was the possibility that Dharkan had slept with Kitera after all, but . . . with Moira there, in the same room? Jaden strongly doubted it.

Worry chomped down on his nerves.

Jaden fetched a hair tie from the nightstand, gathered the thick blond strands back into a messy ponytail. Slipped in his black clothes and riding boots, scooped up bow, quiver, and saddle bag and shouldered the door open, stepping into the corridor. The wooden door next to his, which gave to Kitera's and Moira's room, had been left ajar.

He pushed it further open and glimpsed inside – empty, but here both beds were unmade and clearly slept in.

Jaden hurried the rest of the way to the stairs, climbed down and emerged out into the common room, with its obnoxious wolfish décor. Unoccupied, save for Kitera and Moira, who were eating breakfast at a small table near the serving counter. Behind the counter, a brown-haired Azurian waitress was placing a new coffee pot on the stove. And from the kitchens behind her wafted the pleasing aroma of baking bread.

"Coffee?" the woman asked him as he passed. "It's from the Tortoise Isles, one of the best in the empire."

"Sure," he said with a smile. "Thank you."

He went to sit beside Moira, and facing Kitera, who was gazing down at her parchment map. She'd spread it out on the table beside her, flattening its ends with coffee mug and glass of water.

Both women had traded dresses for their more practical riding garb; calf-high leather boots, tight cotton pants and long blouses. Kitera had added a jerkin, and Moira a corseted vest over the blouse. They were devouring a breakfast of omelet, cheese, and bread with raspberry spread. Moira looked up as he dropped his things at the foot of the table, whilst Kitera didn't glance away from her map, simply waving a hand.

"Morning," Moira said.

"Where's Dharkan?" Jaden asked, at which Kitera instantly perked up.

"Thought he was with you," she retorted.

Jaden shook his head, increasingly concerned. The waitress had been close on his heel, and she now leaned over his shoulder to set down a mug before she poured steaming dark brown roast inside it.

"Thank you," Jaden said in Azurian.

"Breakfast?" she asked sweetly.

"Um, not yet. Give us a moment?" he said, and with a submissive nod she moved away. Underneath the polite façade and smile, Jaden thought she looked tired.

Behind Kitera and along the paneled wall, curtains were drawn back from square windows to let in the morning light. From the slivers of blue sky he could see above the squat houses and shops across the street, today would be a clear, sunny day. At least in the town of Tensei.

Moira dropped her fork and knife with twin clangs, frowning. She cast a glance about the mostly empty room as if Dharkan might suddenly appear from some dusty corner.

Which, come to think of it, wasn't too far-fetched a theory.

Perhaps sharing his train of thought, Kitera rose from her chair. "I'll go look for him, you two stay put." Then, she pushed her plate toward Jaden. "You can have mine, I'm not hungry anymore."