Destiny Read Free Page B

comments the way she just had. She didn't do it often, happily, but Kail wondered if it would be possible to find help for her somewhere in the city. Kail had decided that Asri's cryptic statements were attempts to make herself useful in some way, a definite reaction to not having any talent. He knew he'd have to work harder to make her believe that her lack of talent was unimportant to him, otherwise her inner anxiety could well get out of hand…
    "I think we need to look in the poorer neighborhoods for a place to stay," Asri said after a moment, the distraction mostly gone from her gaze. "People in the better neighborhoods might recognize us for what we are - what we were - and that would bring nothing but trouble."
    "You're right, and I'm glad you thought of it," Kail said with a smile, already having had the same thought himself. "We still have most of the gold we brought with us, so we shouldn't have trouble surviving until I can take a good look around for something to do to earn a living. Do you have any preferences in the way of a poorer neighborhood?"
    "As a matter of fact, I do," Asri answered with a smile, echoing Kail's own smile. "I like the idea of going that way."
    Asri had pointed to a street to the left, and since it made very little difference Kail immediately agreed. There were really too many people around on the street they now rode, so turning off was a good idea.
    The street they turned off into was a narrower one than the street they'd come from, but it was still possible for them to ride side by side. After a few minutes the worn old houses they'd been passing were replaced with large buildings that must be warehouses of some sort. Most of the warehouses looked really rundown, and Kail was about to suggest that they turn back to where actual houses could be found when people suddenly materialized around them.
    "Just take it easy, no one's going to hurt you," the man who held Kail's bridle said quickly and soothingly as Kail got ready to defend himself and his woman. "There are some important people who want to talk to you, just talk. You aren't going to force us to do something unnecessary, are you?"
    The man's glance touched Asri briefly, letting Kail know how things stood. Four of the people around them were Water magic users just as he was, and all four were Middle talents and touching the power. If Kail started a fight he would find himself outnumbered, and there was a good chance that Asri might be hurt. Since he couldn't allow the woman he loved to be hurt, Kail had no choice but to surrender.
    "All right, you win," Kail growled, hating having to back down. "Who is it who wants to talk to us, and where are they?"
    "You'll find out who they are when they tell you themselves, and they aren't far away," the man holding Kail's bridle answered with a brief smile. "We appreciate your being reasonable, which you really shouldn't regret. Please step down now, and we'll see to your horses while you're busy talking."
    Kail frowned as he dismounted and then went around Asri's horse to help her down. They were now committed to doing as these people said, but Kail couldn't help wondering how the ones who wanted to "talk" to them could be close enough to walk to. Was there a building of offices somewhere among all these rundown warehouses?
    Kail kept his questions to himself as the group that had stopped them led the way to one warehouse in particular. The place looked as rickety as the rest from the outside, but once inside it was possible to see a difference. The warehouse looked much more solid and well cared for on the inside, but there didn't seem to be the offices he'd been expecting. He and Asri were led toward the back of the warehouse to a door standing open, and once he reached it Kail's suspicions flared. Through the doorway was something that looked more like living quarters than an office, and that shouldn't have been.
    "What's the meaning of this?" Kail demanded as he stopped in the doorway, his