Page 44 of Condemned

Chapter Sixteen

Takk eyed the premisesKondio had disappeared into—the town’s drinking hole. They were heading into the mountains soon and he supposed it was the last chance for some liquor.

“Maybe he’ll bring us some bottles of mead to warm us in the snow?”

“Kon?” Zo followed the direction of Takk’s gaze. “I was hoping we’d miss the snow.”

“It’s coming.” He nodded toward the range. Clouds hid the peaks and white dusted some of the lower slopes above the tree line. “Follow me. I need to talk to you. Timin, you and the girl can mind the florses. Lock her to you. No weapons, mind.”

After a grimace, Timin unbuckled his weapon belt and tossed it to Zo.

Takk waited until the scruffy mauleon had chained Avalon’s manacles to his wrist. The pungent lemony scent he’d noticed Zo spraying her with wafted upward. Made from picked berries, it was strong enough to make the florses avoid sniffing her, and they had a habit of that and biting when they were fidgety.

Maybe he should spray himself. He had a hole or two in his sleeves from florse teeth.

“Keep watch on her.” He poked a forefinger and claw in her direction and Timin grunted.

“What else would I do? Can I take her in there? The Blue Reaver?”

Blue Reaver was the tavern name. If he said yes, what trouble would he and Kon and the girl be likely to fall into?

“No,” Zo spat out a reply before Takk could get his mouth open. “She’ll attract unwanted, uhh, attention. I’ll come back soon, once we talk.” He flicked a glance at Takk. “And relieve you.”

“Pfft. Be quick. I’m no pet minder and I’m thirsty.”

Again with the slightly odd behavior from Zo. He definitely needed to sort something out with him. Though he was as yet unsure what that something was.

The steps up to the store were low and he took three at a time.

Inside were aisles of food, housewares, ammunition, cheap weapons and accessories, packs, and a multitude of gear necessary for trekking through the wild mountains and or farming. A good store. He nodded to the few female and male mauleons also perusing the stock.

After picking up a box to hold their purchases he trekked down the front aisle and came to a table set up before the wide window. From the cup stains and crumbs he figured this was for customers who needed to rest their feet. Maybe further into the store they sold hot beverages. Worth considering.

Takk lowered the box to the floor and slid into a chair. “Have a seat. Let’s talk.”

Looking wary, Zo sat. “About? Sir?” He looked stoic, too stoic.

“Tell me.”

“Sorry? I know nothing of whatever—”

He took a stab in the dark. “Tell me or I sell her to a local.”

Zo blinked, studied his clasped hands.

“Ohhh, you’ve gone red. So it is her.”

“Me, red?”

“Near enough.” Takk waited. “We are not leaving this table until you spit it out.” Through the smeared glass of the window he checked how Timin was handling Avalon. Both were looking grumpy. Normal. “Well? Since you and Kon screwed her you’ve been dousing her in perfume and acting like she’s made of platinum.”

Zo sighed, slid lower in his seat.

“We can’t have secrets like this. You know that.” He had to admit she was cute and pretty. Especially that ass when it showed like it was as she bent to adjust something on her black boots. The leggings were pale gray and showed the crease where butt met thigh and every detail where they curved between her legs.

“You’re feeling it, aren’t you?”

“Huh?” He glanced back at Zo to find he’d gone all serious. “What am I feeling?”