Legends of Dimmingwood 02:Betrayal of Thieves by C. Greenwood Page B

growing accustomed to begging.
    By the time my tale was over and I fell silent, my throat was hoarse from too much speaking. I had no idea how much time had passed, but, during it, the meal had been consumed and Seephinia had disappeared, carrying off the remains of our repast. Flies were droning over the drips of syrup that had been spilled across the tabletop. Fleet, who had already heard my story, displayed little interest in the retelling and was leaning back from the table looking bored and mildly sulky. The latter was, I supposed, due to the river woman’s departure.
    Hadrian looked thoughtful, gazing into the depths of the mug in his hands, and while I awaited his response, I agonized over second thoughts. Had I been mistaken to reveal so much of my plans him? Just because he had once offered to tutor me in magic didn’t mean he wanted to become entangled in illegal activities. After all, he was a priest of the Light and, beyond that, an honest man.
    I looked up from the tabletop to find his eyes on me. “So...” he said slowly, and the word hung in the air until I felt like squirming. “You are asking me to aid you in plucking an arrested criminal from the grip of justice?”
    “No,” I said. “It isn’t as it sounds. I know what you think of the band, and I wouldn’t ask you to become involved in anything to do with Rideon or the rest. But you must believe me when I say Terrac isn’t one of us. Not really. He’s just an innocent boy who would be a priest had he not somehow gotten swept up in things that weren’t his concern.”
    Hadrian appeared not to hear. He said stiffly, “I think you have misunderstood my previous offer to help. I believed you were here for instruction and perhaps council on a difficult point.”
    I grimaced, but he didn’t speak of magic or the bow.
    “However,” he continued, “it now seems that wasn’t your intention. So let me make this very clear—to both of you.” His gaze swung to encompass Fleet as well. “I want nothing to do with any of your dishonest activities. My offer to instruct you, Ilan, was as simple as it sounded. I never meant to suggest I would aid you in endeavors stretching beyond the bounds of the law. I trust we now understand one another.”
    He leaned back, removing his hands from the tabletop and his voice became suddenly brisk. “I had thought to invite the pair of you to stay for a few days, but I think now it would be for the best if you both left right away.”
    I was halfway to my feet before he’d finished speaking.
    “Come, Fleet,” I commanded. “I thought we might find a champion of justice here, but I see I made a misjudgment.”
    I bowed formally to the priest, not caring that the gesture came off clumsy for my having never tried it before.
    “My mistake, Honored One,” I said. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time and mine—and more importantly, Terrac’s, for I’m sure he has little of it left. I bid you good day.”
    I was all eagerness to be gone from the place. It was suddenly unspeakably galling that I had accepted this man’s hospitality and eaten bread at his table, food for which I had no way to pay him. The restricting confines of common decency forbade even planting a knife through his ribs on my way out the door. But I was most furious of all with myself for having let down my guard long enough to trust this comparative stranger in the first place.
    I strode to the doorway and although I heard Fleet nearly upsetting the table in his haste to scurry after me, I didn’t slow for him. We were nearly out when I recalled I had left my bow behind and was forced to make an undignified about-face to march back for it, detracting heavily from the dramatic exit I had in mind.
    As I grabbed the bow, Hadrian cut into my furious thoughts. “You can leave as angry as you please. But I’ll ask you not to insult me as you go by spouting sanctimonious lies about championing justice. I believe I know a thing or two on the