There were no open tables at the inn when Will and Astrid stepped inside, heads down, cowls thrown over their faces. On the way over neither had made much noise except for a few snippets of light conversation, and that included walking and breathing, Astrid had been impressed. Now, the warmth of the inn surrounding them, they threw back their cowls and Will quickly located the table Alyss and Gilan had saved toward the door to the kitchen.
"Jenny's got a crowd tonight that's for sure," Alyss mused as they sat down, Will next to her and Astrid across from him next to Gilan. Turning to Will, she said, "George said he might be able to join us later after he finishes his documents."
"I haven't seen him in," Will paused, trying to think of the last time he had seen his old friend, "I don't know. It seems like forever. How is he doing?"
"Like a scribe," Alyss replied with a fondness that said they had known each other for a while. "Overworked, ink-stained, and cheery as anyone has a right to be," she smiled at this statement and so did Will, only because it was all true.
As the two talked, Astrid glanced around the room. It was comfortably warm and well lit and everybody all around them seemed to be having a good time. Everyone was also quite conscious of the delicious aromas of all sorts spilling from the kitchen, sweet, spicy, smoky, sour, rich, moist… meat. Most of the scents wafting over were accenting the main, stronger scents of lamb, pork, venison, beef, chicken, duck, quail, pheasant and even a little rabbit. This, Astrid thought, is why humans are despicable.
The scents intensified as the kitchen door was pushed open and a girl holding four different dishes strode over to one of the tables and placed three of the plates in front of the occupants then made her way to a second table occupied by two women who had apparently decided to share a meal. The girl searched the tables then and, eyes lighting on theirs, hurried her way towards them.
"Hey!" she said cheerily, "Where's George? I thought he was coming too."
"He got caught up at the castle," Will replied, "He should be here soon."
Astrid sat quietly while the old friends happily chatted about what new food Jenny came up with when she noticed an obscure smudge in the corner. Finding she couldn't focus on it, she tried ordering the shadows to part, but they wouldn't obey. Worried, she quickly turned away, her mind racing, who could possibly control the shadows here? She thought desperately, I made sure I wasn't followed… but it seems I didn't do a very good job.
Gilan's voice broke into her thoughts and by the look on his face, he had repeated himself a few times to get her attention. "Astrid," he said, "what do you want to eat for dinner?"
Embarrassed, she looked up at Jenny, whose expression had changed now that she noticed who Gilan was dining with. Astrid tried a small smile after she ordered just steamed vegetables and rice and received a dark scowl and narrowed eyes in return before Jenny swiftly made her way back to the kitchen.
Apparently, Gilan had noticed the look as well and sighed, "She's probably thinking that you're my date tonight. I should probably go talk to her."
Realization dawned on Astrid as she saw Gilan's face heat up, "Oh, do go speak with her then, I wouldn't want her to think as such." She kept her clouding eyes fixed on the table as she spoke.
Gilan was silent for a moment before asking, "Astrid, are— is everything ok?"
She turned her foggy cobalt eyes on him and smiled. "Yes, please go speak with Jenny." Seeing his reluctance, she placed a gentle hand on his arm, "Please," she said.
Gilan stood and made his way toward the kitchen. The shadows in the corner shifted and began to steadily move towards them. After a quick glance at Gilan, Astrid took a breath and put her arm on the table with a muffled clang, drawing the attention of Will and Alyss across from her.
"Astrid," Will said cautiously, "what is it?"
Astrid's grip on the dagger in her hand tightened as the presence in the corner drew closer. Chills shot up her spine when the first kiss of foreign shadows flitted across the back of her neck. "Don't fight it," Astrid whispered tightly, "just relax and let them take you."
Alyss gasped as the cold wind curled around them, blocking out their senses one by one. It eclipsed their eyes first, then plugged their ears, numbed their skin, filled their mouths. Dark tendrils constricted their bodies, pulling them into a void they couldn't even feel.