Amelia was another story.
On the ground behind them she stirred, hearing their conversation. She yawned. “Is it time to go?”
Her brown waves had grown crazier during her sleep, but still Lex felt his heart contract as she blinked and stretched, her mouth scrunching up into a sleepy frown. They’d been through an explosion, run for their lives, slept on the ground all night, and the pink dress she still wore was so dirty it was barely pink anymore, yet she somehow made the dirt and crazy hair look beautiful. She’s a liar, he reminded himself. And maybe a spy. He looked away.
A hot buzz shot up his arm and he jumped.
“Hey,” Amelia said. She was right beside him, her hand on his wrist. “Are we okay?”
Lex pulled his arm out of reach. “I don’t think we are,” he said.
She blinked. “Oh,” she said, stepping backward.
Something painful twisted in Lex’s chest. “Let’s talk later, okay?” he sighed. After I’ve had time to think. Thinking with her staring at him was almost impossible.
“Okay,” she said. She turned and walked toward Acarius, handing him her blanket.
Acarius shoved the last few things back into the saddlebags. “Everyone ready?” he asked, turning toward them. “We’ve still got a few hours to ride before we reach Merik’esh.”
If he noticed the tension between Lex and Amelia, he didn’t show it. Lex wondered if he’d overheard their conversation.
Amelia climbed onto the brown horse. “Ready,” she said. The usual lightness in her tone was gone.
Lex felt another wave of guilt, though he knew it wasn’t really his fault. She had brought his distrust upon herself. So then why did he feel so terrible? He avoided looking at Amelia, breathing through the pressure in his chest. “Yeah, sure,” he said. “I’m ready.” He approached the black horse and mounted.
“Great,” Acarius said. He swung up onto Mare’s back, and she shook her mane out and sidestepped, eager to ride. “Let’s go, then,” Acarius called out.
Mare lurched forward, not even waiting for a command. She headed for the road.
Amelia urged her horse forward to catch up and then turned onto the road, too, settling into stride just beside Acarius and Mare. “So what’s my horse’s name?” Lex heard her asking Acarius. Her voice sounded bright again, though it seemed a bit forced.
Acarius’ answer faded beneath the sound of the horses’ hooves as they moved ahead down the dirt road.
“Ride,” Lex murmured to his horse. The black horse surged forward, but as soon as it closed the gap Lex pulled back on the reins, falling in step a horse-length behind the others. It was going to be a few hours’ ride, but he didn’t plan to spend it making conversation. He needed to think.
The late afternoon sun shimmered on Morrow’s Lake, nearly blinding Lex as Merik’esh spread out before them in the distance. It was a sprawling waterfront city – or more of a town, really. It wasn’t huge, but it was certainly larger than Dalton had been. Merik’esh framed the edge of the lake in a semi-circle, open on the lakeside but surrounded by a stone-and-mortar wall on all other sides. Lex slowed his horse to a stop and raised a hand to shield his eyes. He could just barely make out a large, wooden gate in the stone wall, facing their direction. The lake spread out to the left of the city, and a dock stretched out toward the lake’s middle. A few flat-bottomed boats floated out in its center, with men, barely visible from this distance, sitting inside them. Probably fisherman, Lex thought. Other than the boats, he couldn’t see any activity; the city’s wall blocked everything else from view.
Lex tensed as the hoofbeats of Amelia’s and Acarius’ horses grew closer behind him. Lex had pulled in front and ridden at least a few yards ahead of them for the past few hours, following the road and avoiding conversation. As he rode, he thought back through the earlier conversations and only grew more upset. Neither Acarius nor Amelia had been upfront or honest with Lex, not even from the start. One of them had lied to him and the other was clearly hiding something. And here he was, clueless and completely at their mercy for what to do next. He felt like a fool.
Amelia and Acarius seemed to sense his desire to be alone; they hadn’t even tried to catch up. At one point, Lex even had to reprimand himself for feeling a twinge of jealousy as he heard a murmur of conversation float up toward him from behind. After all, he was the one who’d pulled away, so it shouldn’t bother him if they talked without him. But since when were Acarius and Amelia so friendly?
As the horses slowed to a stop behind him, he heard conversational tones once more, though he couldn’t make out what was said, followed by laughter. At least someone is having a good time, he thought, then instantly berated himself for being childish. Why shouldn’t they laugh? They were traveling together, bonding… this was a good thing. A day ago, Lex would have been glad to see Acarius and Amelia acting as though they were friends. Now it made him want to hit something. It was a little jealousy, but it was also more than that – a day ago, he hadn’t yet known Amelia had lied to him, or seen Acarius clearly tell half-truths about something as important as Lex’s own past. A day ago, he had been starting to think they were both his friends. Now, they were bonding while he realized he barely even knew them at all.
Acarius halted Mare beside Lex. “Let’s head in,” he said.
Lex glanced over in time to see Acarius’ face as he led Mare past him and took the lead. It was pale and coated with a sheen of sweat. It was warm outside, but not that warm. He must be in pain again, Lex thought. No wonder he seemed in a hurry to get inside the city. Lex fell in behind Acarius, hoping if there were any secrets to getting through the gates or any guards to appease, Acarius would take care of it.
Amelia pulled her horse up beside Lex. “So,” she said. “We’re here.” Her voice lingered on the last word.
“Clearly,” Lex said.
Amelia sighed. “How long are you going to be mad at me?”
Lex turned toward her. “How long are you going to not be the person you said you were?”
Amelia’s expression was as though he had slapped her.
Lex felt a pang of regret. But then, she was the one who had lied to him, so why should he feel sorry for her? He met her eyes, feeling a strange mix of anger and embarrassment – was he being childish?
Amelia’s whole face went suddenly blank. “Fine,” she said. “I won’t bother you again.” She urged her horse into motion.
As he watched her settle into pace beside Acarius, Lex wondered if he’d been too harsh… but then again, maybe the problem was that he’d been too soft before. His lack of memories left him vulnerable, and with at least one group of people out to kill him, he couldn’t afford to be sentimental or gullible. Even with the gaps in his knowledge of his past and present, his glimpses and instincts had guided him well; they had saved both his and Acarius’ lives. The glimpses might be coming from his brother, somehow, but the fighting instincts… those were ingrained in Lex; Acarius had known that even from how Lex moved. Though Lex knew little about himself, right now himself seemed to be the only person he could trust. Sometimes Lex could feel the edges of his past whispering to him – in the itch for a weapon against the panther, the split-second reactions in battle – though he couldn’t control when or how it surfaced, his body had knowledge Lex didn’t. He just hoped it was enough to keep him alive.
The gates of Merik’esh swung open as they neared, the hinges groaning beneath the weight of the heavy, wooden doors. The doors were as thick as Lex’s shoulders were wide, and seemed solid. Two guards stood just inside the gates, armed with spears and clothed in simple armor – a brass chest-guard over chain mail, shin guards, and an open-faced helmet. They nodded to Acarius as he entered, and all three of them rode into the city, their horses’ hooves clacking against the cobblestones.
Lex’s curiosity was beginning to outweigh his desire to remain aloof when Amelia voiced his own question.
“Why did they le
t us in so easily?” she asked.
“My parents were merchants; my family is known in most of the towns and cities in this area,” Acarius responded.
“Oh,” Amelia said with surprise. “I thought they were horse ranchers.”
“They were both,” Acarius said. He gave her a quick smile before turning his horse away. “If you don’t mind, I need to find the healer.”
“I’ll come with you,” Amelia said.
Acarius shook his head. “It will probably take some time. The inn is just up ahead; go on and stable the horses – the innkeeper will show you where – then get yourself something to eat and rest for a bit.” He handed her a money pouch. “I’ll meet you there once I’m feeling better.”
He turned Mare down a side path, leaving Amelia and her horse standing in the street.
She turned to Lex. “To the inn, then?”
What choice do I have? Lex thought. He had no money of his own, and he was starving. He was truly beginning to hate being so reliant on other people. He sighed. “Sure. Let’s go.” He dismounted, and Amelia did the same.
The inn was not easy to find. They roamed the streets near where Acarius had pointed for quite some time, feeling as though they were going in circles, before stumbling across a building with a huge, wooden sign hanging above the doorway, Aracthea Inn etched into it. Lex wondered briefly why it wasn’t called Merik’esh Inn, after the town, but his thoughts were broken by the approach of a man from the alley beside the inn. Lex glanced down it, wary of an ambush, but no one else was there. The alley dead-ended at a sturdy-looking wooden structure containing several open-air stalls, a few of which already housed horses. The smell of fresh hay and new pine boards drifted toward Lex. Everything in this city seemed surprisingly clean; even the cobblestones were free of grime.
“Rest your horses?” the man asked. “Food and stable for the night; fair prices.” The man’s bushy mustache tipped up in a smile to reveal white but very crooked teeth.
Lex suspected fair prices were rather relative to this man; he eyed Lex and Amelia as though sizing them up.
Amelia was already opening the pouch. “How much?” she asked, her fingers digging into the coins.
Lex tensed. He might not want to talk to Amelia right now, but he couldn’t stand by and see her taken advantage of. She was too trusting.
The man’s eyes focused on Amelia’s hand, still buried in the pouch. “Ten alleans,” he said. “That will cover both horses until the morning.”
Lex couldn’t be sure, but from the man’s expression he suspected the price was anything but fair. He was just about to say something when a shrill voice interrupted.
“Don’t you pay him any more than two alleans per horse!” An old woman hobbled over, her cane swinging violently between quick steps. She was squat and bulbous, with short, sturdy legs.
She reminded Lex a little of a walking mushroom.
“Shame on you, Maxim.” The woman jabbed her finger upward into the air anew with each word. “I know your mother taught you better, I was there to see it! Now take your money and go care for these kids’ horses.” She snatched the coin pouch from Amelia and pressed it against her chest as she dug into it with gnarled fingers, then shoved some coins into the man’s hand.
He hurried toward the stable, horses in tow.
The old woman handed the pouch back to Amelia, and Lex felt suddenly exposed as her eyes raked over the both of them.
“Poor, naïve things,” the woman said. “Follow me, before you get swindled out of every coin.” She hobbled toward the inn door, then turned back. “Come on now, don’t waste time,” she scolded.
Lex and Amelia scurried to catch up.
The inside of the inn was filled with body heat and chatter from the tables of patrons scattered around the room. Hanging lanterns illuminated the whole space, reflecting off polished oak tables and giving everything a golden glow. The air smelled vaguely like meat. To the left, a bar stretched the length of one wall, some patrons seated on stools before it. Beyond the bar, a narrow staircase stretched upward through a doorway. The man behind the bar was busy washing glasses, his unkempt beard hanging nearly to the apron around his waist. The man’s tunic sleeves were torn off, revealing muscular arms. Lex glanced around; there were still several empty tables, but even so, the place was fairly crowded. It made him uncomfortable.
The old woman led them further inside, and shut the door behind them.
“Thank you for your help, ma’am,” Amelia said. “I’m not familiar with Merik’esh prices.”
The old woman gave her a warm smile. “Don’t worry, honey. That’s why I stopped to help. Now sit, and I’ll have some food and hot tea brought out to you. You look exhausted.” She bustled away and began chattering at the man behind the counter.
Lex noticed for the first time that Amelia did look rather worn out. Faint shadows hung beneath her eyes and her skin looked the slightest bit yellow – but maybe that was the lighting.
Amelia took a seat at an empty table, and gestured to the chair across from her. She smiled. “Join me?”
Lex shook his head. “I think I just need some time alone.”
Amelia’s smile vanished. “Okay,” she said. She fixed her gaze on the opposite side of the room.
Lex made his way to a table back against the wall, far enough from Amelia not to risk conversation, but keeping her in his line of sight. He didn’t trust Amelia, but he trusted the people of this town even less. Amelia’s youth and wide, innocent eyes clearly made people think her an easy target, and they wouldn’t exactly be wrong.
As Lex took his seat, he noticed a group of older men already eyeing Amelia from a table against the opposite wall. The interest in their gaze spoke of a desire for more than just her money. Lex felt something whisper deep inside him and he welcomed it. He wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to consider Amelia a friend again after realizing so much about her was a lie, but the thought of her being harmed twisted in his gut like a knife. He turned his chair so he had a clear view of both Amelia and the men. The whisper stirred, a hot breath across his nerves. The skin on the back of his neck prickled.
Lex was so focused on the men across the room that he jumped when a hand plopped a glass mug down on the table.
“You’re a skittish one.” The old woman chuckled as she followed up the mug with a steaming plate of some kind of stew and rice. “Eat,” she said. “Both of you are too skinny.” She hobbled off toward Amelia’s table, not waiting for a reply.
Lex lifted the fork from the plate and poked at the stew while turning his gaze back to the men. They were huddled over a board game in the center of the table, no longer looking in Amelia’s direction. Lex relaxed, and shoved a forkful of the rice and stew into his mouth – then spat it out immediately as it burned his tongue. He took a sip of the drink – which was also hot. Lex set the mug down, breathing with open mouth to cool his tongue. Amelia glanced over at him and then away again. He was sure she was fighting a smirk.
Lex blew on the second bite for a few seconds and had it almost to his mouth when a man strode past him, heading straight for Amelia. Lex froze, watching. The man seemed a few years older than Lex, maybe close to Acarius’ age, and he moved with confidence. He had a square jaw and dark brown eyes, and his light brown hair was carefully trimmed and combed, as was his facial hair. He wore a simple tunic and trousers but they were good quality, and very clean. There was a towel thrown over his shoulder. Is he the bar-hand? Lex wondered. What does he want with Amelia?
The man plopped down in the chair across from her – the chair she had offered Lex – and leaned across the table. Lex couldn’t hear what was said over the distance and the chatter of the room, but Amelia smiled. She set down her fork and her posture visibly straightened. She leaned in toward the man, and as she did, a lock of her hair swung forward into her face. The man reached up, tucking it behind her ear.
Lex’s chest constricted with a jealou
sy he knew he didn’t have a right to feel.
Suddenly a young woman appeared at the table, about the same age as the man. She was pretty, with green eyes and auburn hair tied back in a loose braid. She pulled a chair over and sat next to the man, giving Amelia a smile. A few words passed between them that Lex couldn’t hear – was the woman angry with Amelia for flirting with her husband? – but no, Amelia was still smiling, seeming at ease with the conversation. Maybe the guy is the woman’s brother, Lex thought. But then the man leaned over toward the auburn-haired woman and kissed her. Oh.
Some more conversation passed between them, then all three stood. Amelia followed the couple a few tables over to the right, where the three of them were greeted by more smiling faces. The five people already at the table shifted, making room for the newcomers. Amelia sat, happily shaking the hand of the man beside her when he offered. He was middle-aged and partly balding, but he gave off a warm, fatherly air. Another woman from across the table leaned in, engaging Amelia in animated conversation, her hands moving wildly like hummingbirds. Amelia nodded and smiled back. She said something, and the table burst into laughter. Amelia beamed as those around the table nodded their agreement with whatever she had said.
“It’s lonely on the outside, isn’t it?”
Lex turned to see the old woman easing herself down into a chair beside him. The chair creaked under her weight as she wiggled, getting comfortable. She leaned back, draping one wrinkled hand across her lap. Lex suddenly realized – she only had one arm. The loose cloak she wore around her shoulders had hidden that fact before, or maybe he just hadn’t looked that closely.
The woman leaned towards him, so close to Lex’s face he had to resist the urge to lean back. “How long have you had a thing for the girl?” she asked.
The Edge of Nothing_The Lex Chronicles_Book 1 Page 11
