Free Warrior's Dawn (Fire and Tears) by Isabo Kelly Page A

footsteps shuffled back down the hall.
    Althir remained motionless, breathing silently and slowly. His eyes drifted shut and he snapped them open as he listened to the movements from downstairs.
    “Watch the two exits while we search the area,” one of the minions who’d been speaking in the hallway ordered.
    Moments later, silence descended over the tavern, but Althir could still hear the sharp strike of their boots on the cobbled streets. He glanced at Mina. Her eyes were wide, her breath barely audible even though his head was so close to hers, but she didn’t move so much as a lash as she stared at the slice of floor they could see from their hiding spot.
    From his grip on her arm, he could feel her pulse racing. She controlled her body outwardly, though, keeping a careful stillness that wouldn’t alert those below to even a hint of sound.
    It felt like they held their positions under the bed for hours, waiting as outside Althir heard the search move from building to building. There was an argument in the street, one female voice raised in outrage and threat. The male voice of what Althir assumed was one of the patrol leaders carried a calm, almost disinterested tone. Althir could detect a few of the woman’s words but none of the man’s.
    “I will tell her of your failure,” the woman shouted. “They are still there! How could you miss them?”
    A scuffling sound from the front of the tavern sent Althir’s already alert nerves into overdrive. He was too exhausted now to utilize the camouflage spell again, so exhausted only adrenaline and knowing Mina was in danger kept him from dropping into a deep sleep. If the minions searched the tavern again, Althir wouldn’t be able to hide himself and Mina. They’d have to fight their way out. And he wasn’t sure how well he could fight while still suffering the aftereffects of that casting.
    Another argument sounded from just inside the tavern, this one more easily heard.
    “Mistress, we have searched the building thoroughly. There is no one here. They have already left.”
    “It was that elf, that Althir who turned himself over to the Sinnale. I know it was,” the woman hissed. “Do you know how much he’s worth to them? We must find him.”
    “He is not here. He is not in the surrounding buildings,” the same calm male voice from the street assured her.
    “Did you check the closets? Under the beds upstairs?”
    “Yes.”
    “How could they get away? They couldn’t have known I spotted them, couldn’t have known I was watching.”
    “You could not monitor both exits by yourself. They left through the one you weren’t watching.”
    The minion’s voice was so reasonable it was an almost comic contrast to the woman’s rising screech.
    “No! I would have noticed. I would have seen. He’s worth a fortune. She would have ensured I lived as well as they do for the rest of my life.”
    “He is not here.”
    “He’s an elf. He could have used a spell.”
    Althir didn’t move or make any outward sound, but he did feel Mina’s arm muscles flex beneath his touch, just once.
    “We can see through elf magic,” the minion said with absolute surety and no real emotion.
    The woman cursed loudly, her voice echoing through the tavern. “It’s not fair! I know I saw him. I know it was Althir. The woman… She was human but maybe she has magic? Maybe she’s keeping them hidden. Something she got from the elves. The king and queen have started trading in weapons again. Maybe they’re trading in more now.”
    “No spells. Elf magic doesn’t work that way.”
    “How would you know, you mindless slave? Who are you to tell me anything? Take me to the mistress. She will listen to me. She will believe me and punish you for your failure.”
    There was a long silence. Then the sound of a dull thud, like a body hitting the floor.
    “Carry her,” the man who’d been speaking so calmly with the woman ordered.
    More scuffling and grunting and then the same man