Thirst for Vengeance - Victoria Sinclair (to read list .TXT) 📗

of the connecting dirt roads. "These roads will take you anywhere you need to go." I could see Bryce start to look up toward the giant manor on the mountain top. "That is the kings manor, he almost never stays there but it's there for him if he chooses." Bryce pointed toward the place midway up the cliff. "Those are for the rich traders, so lucky for you we will not be staying up there." He chuckled slightly as we started to make our way into town. "And over this way, he pointed to a little haunt near the bottom edge of the cliff. "That is where we will be staying. Easy to hide, easy to flee, not too many people know of it. The people there keep to themselves and," he said looking over towards me. "That is where you find all your contracts for vampires, werewolves, griffins you name it." 

"I take it you've been here plenty of times before?" I looked over at him with a smile. "Seems like you know this place like the back of your hand." I saw him giving me a side look, possibly a hunt of a smile on his face, I couldn't be sure. "I did a lot of growing up here." 

I craned my neck the best I could to get a good look at the place, being small was not helping my situation at this moment. The streets were crowded, which brought me a strange sensation of safety I have not felt since the last night I saw Alex. I did my best not to gawk at all the strangers that where passing me by. There were so many races, so many different clothes, so many different hair styles and clothing. It was unreal. 

We walked down the main street, ignoring the shopkeepers and the traders for the most part, but I couldn't help myself but to look at some of the items. I had never seen so many gems, silver, and fresh goods in all my life. We hadn't even been walking ten minutes before we stopped in front of a two story dwelling. The roof appeared to be made of slate and heavy shingles. It had two wings, beautiful brown wood around the windows and ivy climbing up the sides. 

Bryce entered first, stomping his boots on the rush matting as he entered, and the smell of wine and roasting meat made my mouth water instantly. I was not aware how hungry I had been until that moment. There was a main hearth, full of lively flames that seemed to dance, and a room bustled with patrons who joked and bantered with each other. Stag antlers hung from the walls. The main room was narrow but deep, two sets of stairs flanked each wall, I was presuming that's where people went to go to there rooms.  

I wasn't sure if this was a comfortable setting for me or not, on one hand it almost felt nice to be surrounded by people. On the other hand I was just not use to seeing and hearing all these people around me. I was beyond weary from the journey and just wanted to sit back and savor the commotion going on around me. It was interesting seeing all these people from all over interacting together as if they had known each other for years. 

My eyes gazed around the room, taking in all the details of this strange but wonderful place. It was then that I noticed to my far right hand corner there was a man sitting in the corner table alone, watching the patrons like I was. From what I could tell he was tall and broad, but nothing else could be seen because he was wearing a black riding cape like mine that shrouded his face. I noticed he was swirling a cup of what I could only assume was wine in his hand. Bryce pulled m over to the corner table in the opposite direction. 

I gave one last look to the man in the corner, for some reason I felt a strange sensation to keep looking at him and I could not figure why. I could see his head turn slightly in my direction and the swirling of his cup stopped. Not wanting to look like I was staring I quickly turned my head around and focused on where Bryce was pulling me. As we sat down I saw Bryce glance quickly over at the gentlemen who was sitting in the opposite corner. A slight frown appearing on his face before quickly disappearing as he focused on looking for a waitress. 

A giant burly woman walked over to us, her mouse brown hair was tightened back in a bun. She had a deep frown on her face that made the wrinkles around her eyes and lip deepen greatly. "What can I get you folks?" Her tone was extremely glum and counter acted with everything else I was seeing in the room. Bryce frowned slightly at her before quickly turning it around into a giant smile. "Why yes, my lady, two cups of wine please. We also need to inquire about two rooms." I felt a weird sensation go over me as Bryce spoke, at this same time the lady in front of us smiled slightly and turned around quickly, scurrying toward the kitchen. 

I looked over at Bryce and raised my eyebrow in question to her strange behavior. "What was up with that?" I asked as the lady disappeared in the crowd of patrons. "She doesn't talk much, I have been here plenty enough to know." Before I can say anything else the gentleman who had previously been on the other side of the room appeared suddenly before our table. My hand instantly went to the knife on my thigh as Bryce eyed the man up at down, the frown coming back to his face. 

The man still had not lowered his hood, making me go a little rigid since I still did not know who this was or what he was doing. Bryce on the other hand was staring at the man, his eyes had darkened slightly. Before Bryce or I had a chance to say anything the man took something out of his cloak pocket and placed it on the table. It looked like a crude drawling of a map of some sorts. "Meet me here," He pointed to the castle on the top side of the drawing, "In three days time. Consider this a contract." His voice was extremely rough, making me frown. Something was tugging at the strings in my memory and I just could not place what it was. 

"How do you know we are even monster hunters? Nothing we have said or do indicates that we do any such business." Bryce said, his gaze never once leaving the man.  The man then turned his head in my direction, the hairs on my arms starting to rise. My grip tightened on the handle of my blade. "I'm sure this is an opportunity you will not want to miss." At that point he pulled back his hood just enough for me to see his eyes, his bright ice blue eyes. Before I could finish pulling up my dagger the figure in front of us vanished in smoke. Leaving me sitting there with a half drawn dagger. Anger involved me as I angrily stabbed the table with my dagger, embedding it deeply and making Bryce flinch. "Was that something I should know about?" Bryce said with a concerned look on his face. At this moment the lady came back with our wine, I took the wine in my hands and looked down at the map he had laid before us. "We are going to the castle."

 

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Publication Date: 08-05-2017

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