“Well, I’ll tell you, Sarah,” she said. “This town, it is so dangerous, I just feel safer- Gods know I have the money to spare.”
“How many did you hire?”
“Three, not counting Targ, of course.” Marissa bit her lip. “I’ll tell you a secret.” She looked around- “I’ve told them to keep an eye out on your house, too. So that . . .” She left the rest unfinished. Sarah looked away, but her hand patted her friend’s knee briefly.
“Thank you, Marissa.” She turned back. “But I don’t think anyone is going to bother us with Cade around.” She took a large swallow of wine. “You know why Cade is here, don’t you.” It was a statement, not a question. Again Sarah was struck by Marissa’s odd unease at her words. Marissa was hiding something, but Sarah did not intend to pry, respect- ing the other’s private pain.
“Yes,” Marissa said, “yes, he’s here to find Terrel’s, uh, murderer.”
“He is going to kill whoever is responsible, Marissa.”
“Well, Terrel was his brother.”
“I know, but it all seems”-Sarah shrugged-“so dramatic.” Marissa laughed. “Oh, really, Sarah, that sounds so silly.” “No, I’m serious.” Sarah turned to her friend. “Six months ago I was the wife of a potter. I had”-she swept her arm in an arc behind her-“a nice house, nice things, two wonderful children, and a man I loved dearly,” Marissa laid a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “And now – . .” Sarah shook her head. “Now I don’t know.
“My husband has been murdered, tortured to death in that same house, while my children and I slept. Why? I don’t even know. Then this man shows up. This strange man. My husband’s brother, but the two are not anything alike. My mysterious brother-in-law shows up. With his words and his armor, his dark looks, and dark ways. Suddenly, suddenly I find myself in the middle of a conspiracy, a piper’s tale of murder and revenge.” Sarah drank deeply again from the wine cup. “I don’t under- stand anything anymore, Marissa, and I’m tired of being afraid.”