Page 87 of For the Strange and Surprising

Talodus shakes his head. “No, Ada.”

“How many people in the village know that you’re a hunter?” I ask Connak.

He shrugs. “Pretty much everyone.”

That’s what I thought.

“We don’t know enough to narrow down when the stalker is most active. But I think it’s clear that whoever it is knows how to throw you off his trail. That means that he knows about hunters, or more specifically, you.”

Talodus sits up sharply. “So he won’t show up if he knows you’re with Connak?”

“I’m just speculating, but yeah, I believe so.” I climb on the end of the bed, folding my legs underneath me. “We don’t have much in the way of evidence or suspects, but we haven’t tried to work anything out either.”

“Then he’d stay away from you while you’re with Ecaeris too.” Connak looks at Talodus. “There would be too many eyes on them.”

They’re right. The Mongrel prince is notorious for being polite to his people, and I’m the new girl in town.

“That leaves Imryll and me to possibly draw him out.” Talodus deduces.

I nod before adding, “And Rinya. I’ve been with her a few times this week. Like two days ago. Connak found us at the bakery, and he walked me back here since Rin was going the opposite way.”

“I did not see that coming,” Talodus mutters.

“Me either,” Connak agrees, grinning at me. “She barely tolerates us, and we’ve been friends with her since we were kids.”

“I guess we’re sort of friends?” I reply, knowing I sound slightly apprehensive.

Talodus scoffs. “Rin hates everyone, so if she’s civil with you, then you’re her friend. She doesn’t let you choose.”

“Speaking of weird friendships,” Connak teases. “How was dinner with Isolde?”

I roll my eyes. “Ecaeris and I were jesters in her royal court.”

“Jesters?” Talodus questions, needing clarification.

“Entertainment,” I profess. “She thinks we’re hilarious when we verbally sword fight.”

His brows knit together. “And you were still fighting when he walked off?”

“That was a misunderstanding unrelated to the dinner conversation.” I wave my hand. “Next subject.”

Thunder rumbles over us as the sitting room illuminates with a flash of lightning. Talodus bounces his curious gaze to Connak, and they stare at each other for a second.

“Where did the scars on your back come from?” Connak points to my shoulder.

I stretch out on the bed between them, laying on my stomach as I prop my chin in my hands.

“My sister. I mean, they're the result of chickenpox, but I have them because she scratched them so deeply.”

“What is chickenpox?” Connak wonders.

“It’s an infection that causes a rash and itchy blisters, kind of like bug bites. Except, when you scratch them, they spread. It used to be common in children. My sister and I had them at the same time.”

“And she… scratched you?” Talodus questions, raising his voice over another clash of thunder.

I chuckle as I recall one of the few good memories I have with her. It doesn’t hurt as bad to talk about this one, but I don’t let myself wander toward the uglier ones.

“I was five, and Penny was nine. I was upset because I couldn’t reach that spot very well, so she stretched my back. The blisters scabbed and itched worse, so for days she kept scratching them. The scars are from picking the scabs off before they healed.”