Page 123 of Salt Between the Wolves

Lanterns burned along the walls and beneath the covered walkways, while stable hands moved between horses carrying saddles and tack, and servants disappeared through side entrances balancing bundles, travel chests, and armfuls of winter cloaks.

The visitors had brought the cold in with them, and she could still feel it lingering in the air.

As she stepped inside, the warmth of the house closed around her once more.

Voices drifted from somewhere ahead, followed by laughter that sounded neither forced nor polite, but familiar enough to make her slow her pace.

The sound seemed to come from the long room, and although she briefly considered turning away, curiosity won out in the end.

By the time she reached the doorway, she could already hear Aldric speaking.

"...and then you ignored the message for three days."

"I was busy."

"You were fishing."

"I was busy fishing."

The answer was followed by several groans.

Eira paused at the entrance.

The room beyond looked much as it had earlier that day, though now it felt fuller and far more alive.

Several unfamiliar men occupied chairs near the fire, their travel cloaks draped over nearby benches while mugs and half-finished meals had already begun appearing on the table.

At the center of it all sat the man she had seen on the road.

Leander.

He looked younger than she had expected, though not truly young, and certainly not old; perhaps he was only a few years older than Soren.

His dark coat bore traces of melted snow, and one sleeve carried the faint stain of mud from the journey, yet nothing about him appeared particularly impressive. He wore no jewelry, no ceremonial clothing, and displayed none of the obvious symbols of rank or authority that powerful men often favored.

If Eira had passed him on a road, she might have mistaken him for a wealthy trader rather than one of the most powerful men in the west.

At that moment he happened to be helping himself to a second piece of bread.

"That still doesn't explain why you ignored the message."

"It arrived during dinner."

"You couldn't answer after dinner?"

"I could."

Aldric narrowed his eyes.

"And?"

Leander took another bite while everyone waited for an explanation.

Eventually he swallowed and said, "I didn't want to."

A pillow struck him from somewhere across the room, but Leander caught it one-handed without even looking, which immediately sent the room into laughter.

For the first time since entering, Eira noticed something strange.