Mistress of the Night - Don Bassingthwaite [80]
She wished she could hope for the same.
The street opened up ahead of her, broadening into a wide plaza before the keep that hunched over the city gates. Like many of the merchant cities of Sembia, Yhaunn seldom closed her gates, even by night. At so late an hour, though, the guards on duty did take extra care with who they let in-and who they let out. Feena found herself waiting behind a tall riding horse that had been loaded down with bulging saddlebags like a common mule. One of the gate guards was inspecting the bags dubiously while his partner questioned the horse's dismounted rider.
"Hey, Grat," he called forward. "Seems he packed like a half ling in a hurry, too!''
The other guard's voice rumbled off the stone walls of the keep, "Packed in a hurry, riding fast, wanting to get out the gate later than an honest man has reason to-if you don't want to tell us where you're headed to, maybe you want to tell us what you're running from."
"Look," argued the rider, "I swear I haven't done anything wrong. I just want to leave."
His voice was angry, but also frightened. And strangely familiar. Feena stepped around to the other side of the horse. The man who clutched the animal's reins as if they were his mother's apron strings was Keph Thingoleir.
She ducked back and her nose wrinkled. Based on what she had seen from Keph in the Stiltways the other night, she could easily guess at any number of reasons he might feel the need to get out of Yhaunn fast. Whatever it was, with so much stuffed into his bags, it didn't look like the young man was coming back any time soon.
Feena pressed her lips together. It was tempting to simply slip away and let the guards deal as they would with Keph, then come back later. Keph had, after all, sneered at her offer to return his aid. Anything he was running from, he probably deserved.
But what if Stag and Drik had started looking for revenge? He didn't deserve that.
In spite of what the young man might think, she did owe him.
"Moonmaiden's grace," she cursed. "One last time and never again!" She drew herself up and stood tall, then stepped out from behind Keph's horse, carrying herself with the poise that Julith had taught her. "Goodmen!"
All three men stared, Keph most of all. Feena stopped in front of the guards.
"I speak for Moonshadow Hall,'' she said. "I will vouch for this man. Let him pass."
The guards glanced at each other. Annoyance crossed the face of the one that had been examining Keph's bags and he started to speak, but his partner, deep-voiced Grat, slapped him across the gut.
"Your pardon… uhhh… priestess," he said with gruff respect. "Do you have any way to prove your authority?"
He stared at her rough country clothes with some uncertainty, but Feena caught his eye and held it.
"I am Feena Archwood, Moonmistress-Designate of Moonshadow Hall." The words slipped off her tongue too easily. She had to force herself not to tremble at what had become nothing more than a brazen lie. She lifted her chin and held Selune's medallion up for them to see. "If that's not enough to satisfy you, you may call on Guard Captain Manas. I'm certain he will be pleased to come down at this hour and confirm my identity."
Grat swallowed. "Ahh… I don't think there's a need for that, Moonmistress." He glanced at Keph. The young man was still staring at Feena, his eyes so wide they looked ready to pop right out of his face. "This one has the look of someone with something to hide, though."
"He did me a service some nights ago, sir," Feena told him. "If he passes through the gate in my charge, will you let him go?"
"I…we…"
Grat looked to the Other guard. Feena raised an eyebrow and turned to Keph.
"Does the city guard have any reason to pursue you?" she demanded. "Have you broken any of the laws of Yhaunn or Sembia?" Keph blinked and shook his head mutely. Feena looked back to Grat. "In Selune's name, I say that I believe him. Let us pass."
Grat stared at her-then stepped aside. "Thank you," Feena said. "Mount, Keph."
The young man