Page 35 of Shadows of Winter
Vlerion snorted. “Criminals spend time here regularly.”
“In the catacombs, right? They don’t enter the castle, do they?”
Vlerion hesitated. “I don’t know. I’d assumed those two would be scared away and leave before anything happened to them.”
Kaylina bit her lip, unable to make herself open the door wide and step out. Instead, she leaned closer to the crack, not wanting to miss anything.
“The girl has moxie.”
“Yes.” Vlerion sounded approving.
Because he liked that in a woman? Or because Targon would like it?
Kaylina bared her teeth at the thought.
“Why are you helping them if you want them to leave?” Ghara asked.
“It’s Targon’s plan. He’ll do anything for the good of the kingdom.”
“We want that in a ranger captain, don’t we?”
“Yes, but his plans aren’t always healthy for those who are swept into them.”
“Do you care what happens to those two? If they might be useful to the kingdom…”
“They’re just tourists.” Vlerion stepped into view, leaning against a counter with the cabinet doors long since torn—or rotted—off.
Kaylina's heart pounded. Would he see her if he looked over? The pantry door wasn’t open wide, but the window light might make her outline noticeable.
“They’re barely even kingdom subjects,” Vlerion added. “They don’t have a clue what’s going on up here.”
“Is that why Targon thinks he can use them?”
“They have no affiliations, I gather.”
“Will the rangers enjoy the offerings of this—what is it going to be? A winery, you said?—once it’s open?”
“A meadery. The rangers won’t have anything to do with it except to keep an eye on the customers.”
“Ah, I thought you might want to keep an eye on her. She’s comely under the dust and cobwebs.”
“I’m not shopping for a lover,” Vlerion said.
“Good.” Ghara stepped into view, sashaying toward Vlerion. “I’ve missed you. You’ve been in the mountains so much these past years. You hardly come by anymore.”
“I know.” Vlerion didn’t reach for her or beckon her closer, but that didn’t mean he would stop Ghara if she pressed her body against his. She rested her hand against his chest and gazed up into his eyes. “I think often of the Solstice Moon Festival. For me, it was wonderful, but you… I always wished I could have made it better for you.”
“It was fine.” His words were clipped, like he didn’t want to talk, but his gaze did dip toward her chest.
“Yes, that’s the problem. You were so distant. I was thrashing like a maiden in an erotic poem, and you… I could only assume you weren’t… that I wasn’t…”
“Ghara,” Vlerion said softly and took her hands.
Kaylina swallowed and looked away. She should have stepped out of the pantry as soon as they’d entered. Now, she might get stuck watching who knew what. Relations.
Being caught observing that would be far worse than being caught eavesdropping on a conversation. She glanced toward the window. There wasn’t any glass in it, but with the shelves rotted or missing entirely, she doubted she could climb out without making noise. Was it even wide enough to crawl through?
“You were fine,” Vlerion said. “Good.”