Sworn To Transfer by Terah Edun Page A

tonight; she had no doubt about that as she fingered the locket in her pouch.
    Before an hour had passed, the inn and tables had filled with patrons. Ciardis hoped Terris wasn’t too worried about her. She’d have to fill her in later on why she’d left the gathering earlier than planned.
    And then he came on stage. With curly black hair and a small goatee, he looked like many of the minstrels who’d come to Vaneis in traveling caravans. They’d played in the village inns, accepting coins and a free meal for their performances. As many of them did, he carried a lute, a small string instrument with a melodious overtone. But as he began to sing, Ciardis saw why he performed every night, regardless of the fire-tossing jugglers. His voice enraptured the crowd and his ballads brought back memories of times of old.
    As he bowed and came offstage, Ciardis maneuvered herself so that she could intercept him on his way to the bar. Coming up to him, she said, “Good sir, may we speak just for a minute?”
    “Now for pretty young woman such as yourself, I have quite a few minutes,” he said with a lecherous wink.
    Ciardis decided to ignore the lecherous look and speak plainly.
    “You knew my mother,” she said simply.
    “Your mother, aye?” he said, continuing on to the bar, “I’ve known a lot of women.” Taking a glass of water from the bartender, he said, “And a lot of women have known me. What’s it to you? You my daughter?”
    Ciardis grimaced. “I hope not. But I was hoping you could help with some information on her.”
    He snorted. “Well, who was this mysterious woman?”
    “Lily,” Ciardis said quietly. “Lily Weathervane.”
    He turned as pale as a sheet. “You...you cannot be here.” With urgency in his tone, he turned his full attention to her. “Be gone.”
    “I can’t,” Ciardis said. “I need to know what you know.”
    Ignoring her protests, he opened his instrument case and reached in for a cloak. “Take this and go. I’ll be in my room, number five, in a half hour. Meet me there.”
    “I’m not meeting you there,” she protested. “Tell me now.”
    “If you truly want to know about your mother,” he said grimly, “you’ll do it.”
    Then he walked back onstage without another word.

Chapter 10
    C iardis had no choice. She was not going to miss a chance to get answers from him. But she wasn’t foolish enough to meet him alone. She stepped outside The Blue Duck Inn and took out the mechanical lighter Stephanie had given her. Holding it down by her waist and shielding it from view, she flicked it open and closed it, hoping the girl would come.
    Ten minutes passed, then twenty, and suddenly a cloaked figure emerged out of the evening fog. Walking toward Ciardis with a confident stride, the figure pulled the hood back and Ciardis could see her clearly. It was Stephanie in tight pants, a white shirt, and, oddly enough, with a sword at her waist.
    “Thank you for coming,” said Ciardis.
    “Let’s go inside,” said Stephanie, looking around the street quickly.
    Going in, the two grabbed the nearest table. A waitress came up immediately and asked for their order. As she was preparing to go back to the kitchens, the waitress snapped her fingers at Stephanie to get her attention, “No hidden magical weapons. Tavern rule.”
    Stephanie didn’t comment. She simply took out the dagger out of her sleeve and placed it on the table. The waitress didn’t seem interested in making any further fuss and left to get their order ready.
    Stephanie traced the edge of the blade with her fingertip. “Why’d you call me here?”
    “There’s a minstrel here. He knows my—”
    “A minstrel? Is he trying to kill you?”
    Ciardis lifted a brow. “Well, no, not precisely.”
    Stephanie sheathed her dagger and got up to leave.
    Rising quickly, Ciardis latched a desperate hand on her sleeve. “Wait!”
    Stephanie looked pointedly at her grip and Ciardis released her quickly—she might lose her hand