None of the monks below moved. Fools. Odd sneered at them as he started to clamber down the wall, his sword slung across his shoulder. It was the only thing right then that kept his heart from breaking at the home hed had and lost, and at the thought of the monk hed failed to be. He slipped down in silence, moving through the shadows so that any soldiers watching wouldnt be able to spot him.

He set out across the island, keeping to the small paths, heading for the little inlets and coves around the island. From here, he could see the soldiers surrounding the monastery. He hoped his brothers, his former brothers, would be safe.

Finally, he came to a cove. There was a small boat there, with a mast and a sail, a pair of oars, and enough room for supplies. Odd settled what he had into it, untying the rope that held it to the shore.

Where now? he asked himself.

The truth was that he didnt know. He didnt want to go back to who hed been, and he couldnt be a monk, so what did that leave? Who did that leave?

He guessed there was only one way to find out.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

Another round on me! Renard called out, and the cheer he got from the other patrons of the Broken Scale was bigger than anything he would have gotten playing the lute. Probably he should have felt worse about that, but how could he feel bad about anything right then?

Youll have no coin left at this rate, Yselle pointed out to him, as he reached the bar. Renard leaned on it, and if that happened to give him a better view of her, well, he was only human.

Ah, you know I can never hold onto anything, Renard said. Coin, women…

Yselle smacked him playfully on the arm. It felt as though it would leave a bruise.

Id better be the only one youre holding onto, she said. She started to pour drinks.

Renard didnt say anything. He thought it probably counted as diplomatic.

How much do you have left? Yselle asked, in the tone of someone concerned that he might not be able to afford the round hed just ordered.

Aha, I knew you only wanted me for my money, Renard joked. It earned him a matching bruise on his other arm. How has this turned into the dangerous part of this undertaking?

How much? Yselle asked. Please tell me you havent spent it all already. Youre not getting any younger, you know. You cant just keep putting yourself in danger and hoping it will turn out right. You need to settle down, put something away.

Maybe invest in an inn? Renard suggested. Maybe settle down with a good woman?

Yselle laughed at that. And how would you know the difference?