Ch 3 Inn too Deep
The mayor began to tell him about the people of Newhaven as they made their way beyond the nearest buildings. He learned about Lorimal the Baker, who depaired of ever getting decent ovens in the wilderness. The widow Meirin who watched the children while their parents did errands.
The mayor's children Raver, who he had met. Carra, the one who Ancar had tried to take. And the oldest Gherin, who was out on patrol with another group.
"Why are you telling me these things" he asked.
The mayor looked at him and said "You need to know those you are helping".
"One thing though, I have never known Ravel to be wrong, but he thought you were a Herald".
"Herald"? Lysander thought for a minute until he remembered about Valdemar's Heralds. "You mean the group of white rider's from the next country, Valdemar I believe it's called"he asked.
The mayor nodded and Lysander shook his head. "I've never been to that land".
"Then where did you come from" the mayor asked him.
"The empire actually, from almost the other end of it" he answered.
"Like Tremane" the mayor exclaimed.
"Not exactly, he comes from another part" he said.
He saw the mayors alarm and hurried to reassure him "don't worry we're not together". "I know that Tremane wouldn't welcome me, He'd probably think I was sent to spy on him".
Lysander wasn't about to tell the mayor and his people about his training, he'd rather they thought him a spy. People had the wrong idea about assassins, they assumed that everyone was in danger. But guild assassins prided themselves on limiting the kill to the target.
Not that he was actually an assassin he thought to himself. Soon they passed the last of the other huts and came to a part of the clearing that was freshly made. A hugh (at least for this village) building filled most of the new space.
Lysander shook his head" Are you opening an inn now" he asked in surprise.
"No" the mayor said "this is for you".
"What use would I have for so much space" Lysander asked in confusion.
"Don't worry, you will need it before too long" the mayor grinned at the look on his face.
He looked up as a young woman came around the corner. She caught his attention immediately. There was something about her that appealed to him, it wasn't her beauty.
He had seen beautiful women before when he had visited the court in the seasons before he had been taken by his master. As his father's son he would have been a good match and they had always been willing to make his aquantence.
No, there was an innocence about her that the ladies at court had never had. Her golden copper hair had come loose from her braid and she was brushing it from her eyes as she came up to the mayor and himself. "Is this the man Raver told us about"she asked. "Yes" said the mayor.
Her green eyes flashed as she looked him over. Once again Lysander was aware of an undercurrent between the two, something unsaid that everyone but he knew. For someone of his training and his experience in the court of the wolf throne that was an uncomfortable thought.