‘Well,’ he said to Chan, sneering. ‘I thought they were one thing, but I see
they are your bodyguards.’
Quartz grabbed him by the shirt front and lifted him off the floor. Her
broadsword scraped from its scabbard. Wess had never seen Quartz draw it, in
defence or anger; she had never seen the blade. But Quartz had not neglected it.
The edge gleamed with transparent sharpness.
‘I forswore the frenzy when I abandoned war,’ Quartz said very quietly. ‘But you
are very nearly enough to make me break my oath.’ She opened her hand and he
fell to his knees before the point of the sword.
‘I meant no harm, my lady -‘
‘Do not call me “lady”! I am not of noble birth! I was a soldier and I am a
woman. If that cannot deserve your courtesy, then you cannot command my mercy!’
‘I meant no harm, I meant no offence. I beg your pardon …’ He looked up into
her unreadable silver eyes. ‘I beg your pardon, northern woman.’
There was no contempt in his voice now, only terror, and to Wess that was just
as bad. She and Quartz could expect nothing here, except to be despised or
feared. They had no other choices.
Quartz sheathed her sword. ‘Your silver is on the table,’ she said coldly. ‘We
had no mind to cheat you.’
He scrabbled up and away from them, into the room. Quartz grabbed the key from
the inside, slammed the door, and locked it.
‘Let’s get out of here.’
They clattered down the stairs. In the street, they tied the packs together and
to the horses’ harnesses as best they could. Above,. they heard the innkeeper
banging at the door, and when he failed to break it down, he came to the window.