Free The Raven Ring by Patricia C. Wrede

Eleret said. The bags were heavier than she expected; she was probably holding more money than the whole village of Calmarten would normally see in a year, unless the Imperial Guard paid in copper bits instead of silver. She frowned, then unwrapped her sash and knotted it around the bags. They made an awkward lump when she rewrapped the sash, but it was better than leaving the money in her pockets or the kit bag. She would find a better way of carrying it when she got back to the inn.
    “I’ll detail someone to escort you back to your rooms, if you’d like,” Weziral offered. “It’s a lot of money, even in Ciaron.”
    “No, don’t do that,” Eleret said as he reached for a small bell on the corner of the table. “It would only draw attention to me, and you can’t very well give me an escort all the way back to the Mountains of Morravik.”
    “True.” Weziral’s brows contracted, then relaxed. “Very well, have it your way. But if you change your mind, or if you think of anything else you need, come back and see me.”
    “I will. Thank you very much for your help.”
    “It’s my job; there’s nothing to thank me for. You’re sure you don’t want someone with you?”
    “Quite sure.” Eleret picked up the kit bag and slung it over her right shoulder.
    “Stubborn Cilhar. At least tell me where you’re staying and for how long, so I can send you a message if I need to.”
    “Send it to the school the Island of the Moon runs,” Eleret replied, suddenly wary. “Adept Climeral knows how to find me. I only expect to be in Ciaron another few days.” She expected to leave as soon as she collected her belongings from the Broken Harp, and certainly no later than the following morning, but she wasn’t going to admit that to anyone. Not after what the Commander had said about the ambush and the attempted break-ins.
    “Cautious as well as stubborn.” Weziral shook his head. “Under the circumstances, I can hardly fault you for that, can I? Very well, very well. Good luck to you, Freelady Salven.”
    “It’s under the raven’s wings,” Eleret said with a shrug as she opened the door to leave. “But thank you for your good wishes.”
    The Commander nodded, and Eleret left. To her relief, only one man remained in the outer room, the silent one, and he did not even look up as she crossed to the other door and let herself out into the hallway. The boy who had brought her to the office had disappeared, but Eleret was not concerned. The building might be a maze to a Ciaronese used to straight lines and right angles, but the route had not seemed difficult to her.
    She started down the hall and turned right at the second intersection, almost without thinking. The strap of the kit bag felt heavy and strange on her shoulder; the raven seal-ring was an awkward, constricting lump against her fingers; the knife lay large and unfamiliar against her thigh. Carrying Tamm’s things somehow made her absence, her death, seem less real instead of more.
    “Lady Salven!”
    Startled, Eleret whirled and stepped back a pace while her hand went automatically to the raven’s-feet in her pocket. The door to one of the side rooms was open, and the man called Maggen stood just inside, beckoning.
    Eleret took hold of one of her throwing weapons but did not bring it out into view. “What do you want?”
    “Just a chat,” Maggen said. “Come in, please; you’ll be more comfortable.”
    “I’m comfortable where I am.”
    “Look, I said I was sorry about that business earlier.” Maggen smiled. “But I understand. If you want to stay there where anyone can overhear, go ahead.”
    “Why should I worry about someone overhearing?” Eleret asked. “Just what is it you want, anyway?”
    “I thought that since I, ah, made a bad impression at the beginning, I ought to do something to make up for it,” Maggen said.
    “Such as?” Eleret doubted that she would be interested in anything Maggen was likely to suggest, but his odd