Mirelle disappeared into the kitchen before Eldrin could protest.
He stood awkwardly in the middle of the room for a moment, unsure whether he was supposed to sit or wait.
A few minutes later, Mirelle returned carrying a bowl and a plate of freshly baked pastries.
She placed them in front of him.
"Eat."
Eldrin picked up the spoon.
He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until the first bite.
Mirelle watched him for a moment.
"Better?"
Eldrin nodded while chewing.
She smiled.
"Good."
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Eldrin ate quietly.
He still hadn’t figured out what connection this woman had with Ennessa.
Mirelle hadn’t explained it.
And he wasn’t going to ask.
The sound of a door opening came from the hallway.
Mirelle immediately looked toward it.
"Careful."
A faint voice answered.
"I’m fine."
Footsteps followed.
Uneven.
Mirelle stood at once.
"Let me help."
"I said I’m fine."
"And I said you’re not."
She disappeared into the hallway.
A moment later, she returned with a man.
He looked considerably older than Eldrin had expected.
His frame was thin, almost fragile beneath his loose clothes. One hand rested against Mirelle’s shoulder as she helped him toward the table.
The man glanced at Eldrin.
For a moment, neither said anything.
Mirelle pulled out a chair.
"Sit."
The man lowered himself carefully.
He breathed out once before looking at Eldrin again.
"So..."
His voice was quiet.
"This is the boy?"
Mirelle nodded.
"I see."
Eldrin set his spoon down.
"I only came to deliver the letter."
The man gave a small smile.
"Then thank you."
Eldrin shook his head.
"No need."
He glanced at Mirelle.
"I was only doing my work."
Mirelle looked amused.
"That’s a very serious way of putting it."
.....
The walk back to House Korrandis was uneventful.
Eldrin glanced at the empty pocket of his coat.
That went surprisingly well.
Mirelle had been strange, but kind. She hadn’t asked many questions, and Eldrin hadn’t needed to explain himself.
He turned onto the main road leading back toward the estate.
The crowd had thinned.
A few merchants were closing their stalls. Carriages passed occasionally, and several pedestrians moved along the edges of the street.
Eldrin kept walking.
Then he noticed.
A man on the opposite side of the street.
He wasn’t doing anything suspicious.
That was the problem.
He was simply watching.
Eldrin looked away.
A few steps later, he glanced back.
The man was still there.
And now he was walking toward him.
Eldrin kept his pace steady.
The man increased his.
Eldrin crossed the street.
The man crossed too.
His stomach tightened.
He turned down a narrower street.
Footsteps followed.
That was enough.
Eldrin broke into a run.
Behind him, the man’s footsteps immediately quickened.
"Damn it."
House Korrandis wasn’t far.
If he reached the estate gates, he would be surrounded by guards.
Whoever this man was, he wouldn’t dare make a scene in front of a Duke’s household.
Eldrin pushed himself harder.
Then....
He stopped.
Someone stood in the middle of the road ahead.
Another man.
Eldrin’s heart dropped.
The first man was behind him.
The second blocked the road ahead.
He looked left.
A row of buildings.
Right.
A narrow alley.
Neither gave him a clean escape.
The man ahead took one step toward him.
Eldrin forced himself to stay calm.
Think.
He couldn’t fight two grown men.
He needed to get past one.
His eyes moved over the man in front of him.
Then the street.
Then the trees planted along the roadside.
An idea came.
Eldrin suddenly raised his voice.
"Behind you!"
The man instinctively glanced over his shoulder.
Eldrin lunged.
His shoulder slammed into the man’s chest.
For half a second, he thought it had worked.
Then the man’s hand caught his arm.
Eldrin twisted away.
The grip loosened.
He struck.
His fist connected with the man’s ribs.
Once.
Twice.
The man barely moved.
Too strong.
Eldrin stepped back.
The man’s expression changed.
His fingers curled.
A tiny flame appeared between them.
Eldrin’s eyes widened.
The man flicked his hand.
The flame shot sideways and struck the tree beside the road.
WHUMP!
Fire spread across the dry branches.
People screamed.
Someone shouted for water.
Heads turned toward the sudden commotion.
Eldrin didn’t wait.
He ran.
The man came after him immediately.
Eldrin glanced back.
Too close.
He turned sharply and threw a punch at the man’s face.
The man leaned aside.
Eldrin followed with another.
The second punch landed against his shoulder.
The man caught Eldrin’s wrist.
Eldrin twisted violently, trying to pull free.
The grip didn’t move.
Then the man seized his other arm.
Eldrin’s heart sank.
He was caught.