TKC 36
Attis again opens the inn’s back door to us. He proceeds to
lead us through a busy kitchen. The hour is yet early and meals are still being
served. Attis, bless him, has the presence of mind to snag two loaded platters.
Swiftly we are in the same room as before. Clothes we
discarded there sit stacked neatly on the bed.
“Told madam you’d be back,” Attis says on a grin, handing us
our dinner.
I kiss him on his cheeks, take my plate and eat like someone
starving. Damin is more formal. “You are a worthy friend, Attis,” he says with
hand over heart. Attis grins and shoves his plate at him. Laughing, Damin
starts eating.
The boy hunkers before us. “Rumour is that the lower city is
empty. Some laugh and say it’s because everyone drowned, and others whisper
that folk walked to somewhere safe. I can’t go look; the edge is unsafe and
there’s a barrier up.”
“Both,” Damin murmurs. “Half drowned, half left.” Abruptly
he stiffens, spoon in the air. “Wait. Mirlin is your uncle you said.”
Attis shrugs. “Not by blood. We met on the road outside
Normur and made a deal. Looked better to be uncle and nephew, and we’d watch
out for each other.”
“You sister?” I ask.
“She’s much older than me, lives up north.”
“You are quite the liar.” I glare at the tousle-haired boy.
“Why were you so frightened of me the night I arrived in the city?”
“He told me, Mirlin did, of the woman with two eyes, how she
would save people. I didn’t believe him, and then you came. Scared me, it did,
for then his story about the thing in the sky could be real too and …” Attis
lapses into silence, and then, “I’m going with you.”
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