Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

T hey’d been traveling for a week when Ormano fell ill. He blamed it on the food they’d bought from the small inn at Portia in western Ermanel.

When he fell off his mount a couple of days later, he could no longer hide his illness.

Croak pulled up Cerberus and jumped off, hurrying to crouch next to Orry.

“You’re burning up!” he snapped after he’d settled his palm on Orry’s forehead.

“What’s the matter?”

Croak turned his head as Rydon pulled up alongside. “He’s feverish,” he said, his lips pulled tight as he looked back down at Orry’s huddled form.

“Let’s get him up.” Rydon dismounted and reached down to lift Orry gently off the cold ground. “We can do nothing for him out here. We’re a few hours’ ride from Nosam. ’Tis small, but it has an inn.”

“What’s going on?” Terena pulled up and hopped off her horse before anyone could respond. When she saw Orry being held by Croak and Rydon and looking like death as he moaned with every step, she shot forward, quickly grabbing her brother’s shoulder as they labored to lift Orry onto his horse.

Croak moved and transferred Orry’s weight to Terena, while Croak mounted Cerberus. They lifted Orry’s mostly dead weight, grunting and shifting as Croak pulled and held the reins at the same time. Cerberus moved, adding to their burden, but Croak handled him masterfully and he settled enough for Croak to heave Orry the last few inches.

“Will a delay hurt us?” Croak asked when they rode off. Orry let out a groan, shifting painfully against Croak’s thighs.

“A day or two would not, although we gamble the longer we are in one place,” Gabriol called out. He rode alongside Croak, Sonah in front of them, while Terena and Rydon led the way.

“I have money to bribe the innkeeper and his staff, if that is the worry.”

Gabriol shrugged. “It is a worry, of course, but it is not the only worry. How ill is your friend? Does he require a surgeon? How many others will notice us traveling through and will remember an ill man and his companions?”

“I cannot know the answers, Gabriol. You know as much as I.”

“My point is, we cannot know the danger until we know those answers.”

“I am not… that sick.”

Croak patted Orry again. “Go to sleep, little one. Let the adults speak.”

“Sleep, cleric,” Gabriol called out. “We’ll see how sick you are soon enough.”

The inn at Nosam was small and could barely be called an inn. It had three bedchambers, and the main hall had only one table with a small bar in the corner. The innkeeper had his fists planted on his fleshy hips as a sleepy maid led them up a creaking staircase at the back .

They settled Orry in the first chamber they came to, Croak and Rydon taking care to be gentle while Orry moaned and panted. Terena pressed a coin into the maid’s hand and whispered something to her. The young maid nodded and bobbed a curtsy before scuttling back down the stairs. Croak pulled the meager covers over his friend as Rydon pulled out a chair from the corner for him.

“Here, mistress,” the diminutive maid said as she appeared once more in the doorway. Terena motioned to Croak, and the maid shuffled in, handing him a bowl of water and several washcloths. As he smiled and thanked her, she ducked her head, her face flushed bright red. She bobbed another curtsy and hurried out as quick as a sparrow.

“You’ve a way with the ladies, boy,” Gabriol said with a smirk. Across the room, Rydon grinned at him.

“It is a gift I am cursed with,” Croak said with a sigh. “Maybe I’m a god.” He dipped a washcloth into the cool water and wrung it out, then placed it on Orry’s head. “Do not be fooled by the long, gangly body and lack of muscles, good sir. I am a madman in the bedroom. And the ladies know it,” he said, turning to Sonah with a wink.

Sonah choked, and Gabriol grinned across at Rydon.

Croak looked up when Terena pushed away from the doorframe. She was still weak herself; the bruises on her face still visible, but she stood as straight as ever.

“I am to bed as well,” she said. “Come, Sonah. You must be exhausted, too.” The young woman sighed and mumbled her agreement as she slumped out of the room. Terena nodded at the men and left without waiting to hear their responses. Croak looked over at Rydon.

“Come!” Croak said with forced joviality and stood. “Let’s leave the weakling to his rest and we will find food, ale, and women. Not necessarily in that order, eh, Gabriol?”