A Promise of Iron by Brandon McCoy (the reading list .txt) 📕

in my purse anyway. The gesture did little to dent the pile of black and gold in front of us. It begged the question: what to do with the rest?

“I can stash it here for now, but once your fath—Valerius finds out, his men will tear this place apart board by board,” I explained.

The hair on the back of my neck stood. I felt my chest tighten. “They will find the forge.”

Lira wore a look of concern then as she looked toward the carpet that covered the door to the basement.

“We can’t leave it here,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to implicate you or your family in this.”

I looked at my lord’s coat, standing on the rack. Piles of documents lay next to it, as well as the spoils from my writ day. She was right; this was a domestic issue, small enough to solve and contain. Involving the Monroes would only make things worse.

“You could always give it back,” I suggested, unsure of my own opinion on the matter, “You said you didn’t want anything from him.”

“I said I didn’t want his charity,” she clarified. “But this is no more a gift from him than the joy I’ll receive in watching it bring him to ruin.”

“You sure you aren’t Rukish?” I asked as I stepped to the counter and poured an ale from the barrel. “Want one?”

“No, thanks,” she said, then paused. “On second thought… I’ll take some wine if you have it.”

I scratched my chin. “I think I might have a bottle or two around her. Ah, here we go.”

I placed a dark bottle down on the counter and pried off the cork.

“I couldn’t return it if I wanted to now, not directly at least, the account is locked until he confirms he isn’t dead,” she continued.

I handed her the glass and set the bottle down next to her.

“Thank you,” she said, bringing the glass to her lips. “I mean, I could deliver it to him, but, well, that’s like putting out a fire by throwing yourself into it.”

She let out an exhausted sigh.

I took my ale over to the pile of gifts and papers on the table. I picked up the pocket watch on the table and wound the dial. Click, click, click. “What we really need to do is just get out of town for a few days. Let his wrath boil over, preferably while we aren’t in its path. Then when he gets back, we talk.”

“Hey, this isn’t half bad.” She turned the bottle. “Where’s it from?”

I shrugged. “I think that’s the last one. Pretty sure he got a crate one year as a gift from Crylwin’s mother before she passed.”

“Sylvia Springs Winery,” Lira said. “Huh, I wonder where that is?”

That got me thinking. I flipped through the stacks of documents. “Want to find out?”

“Find out what?”

“Sylvia Springs… I own it. Monroe gave it to me on my writ day.” I leafed through the pages until I came upon a crude map. “Looks like it’s south of Oakshire, by Lake Ceren.”

She took a long drink of wine. “Well, it’s not like I have much on my agenda, but this is hardly the time to holiday at your vineyard, your lordship.”

“This is exactly the time!” I exclaimed. “We leave loudly and in the wrong direction. Anyone tailing us will think we left for Gent. We can double back through Duncan’s Wood then head south along the Ellish.” I held up the map. “It will get us out of town and take any suspicion off the shop. At the very least, it will give us a chance to think while we plan our next move.”

“So, your answer to this problem is to bring all the coin and go drinking at your vineyard?” She sipped her wine skeptically.

I nodded.

It took me little time to pack, her even less, considering she had all of one dress to her name. We made our way to the stables to retrieve Steven. He was happily eating a bag of oats in his bay when we arrived.

I approached the boy behind the counter.

He recognized me, saw the sword at my waist, and stood. “Dah! Dah, get down here.”

I held my palms up. “Easy, lad. No need for all that. I just came for my horse there.”

He leaned forward, taking a full measure of Lira before turning his attention back to me. “Steven came in last night. Wasn’t our fault you lost him in the rain.”

“No one’s faulting you here, lad,” I said, jingling my now flush purse. “How much do I owe you?”

“Huh?”

“For boarding, how much?”

“Oh.” He looked at the stairwell where his father waited with a spear in hand. “Two copper.”

I smiled at the father. “Seems reasonable,” I said, placing a coin on the counter. “Seeing as how he keeps finding himself here, maybe we should come to a long term arrangement.” I removed my hand, revealing a full iron star. “This should cover him for the foreseeable future.” I looked at the broken half door. “And should take care of those hinges.”

“What was that about?” Lira asked as the boy brought Steven around front.

I grinned. “Not sure I can explain it.”

Lira had yet to meet Steven. I made sure proper introductions were observed. Lira remarked at his eyes and whispered sweet things as she patted the side of his neck. She flattered him shamelessly. He tossed his mane and nuzzled her hand, the big flirt.

As quin would have it, the stable kept a small pantry of foodstuffs and a selection of riding boots for men and women in inventory.

“We sell ‘em out to tourists looking to get a glimpse of the frontier,” the boy said as he handed me a prepacked basket and went on to look for a suitable pair of boots for Lira. She might have argued the cut or the quality, but on the need, she remained silent. The provisions came free of charge.

I climbed onto Steven’s back and offered Lira my hand. She climbed up and positioned