Xavier rounded another corner, lips tightening as the frozen fountain came into view again—third time he'd passed it. He muttered a curse under his breath. Naomi's scribbled directions were worthless in this tangled maze of Vykengard's lower districts.
"Third right past the tannery... then second left at the stone wolf," he repeated.
But there are two tanneries. And no stone wolf anywhere.
A dull throb pulsed behind his eyes, pulling his mind toward Hearthome even as his feet wandered these cold, alien streets. The headache wasn't sharp enough to stop him—just enough to wear down his patience, layer by layer.
The tenth bell had rung nearly half an hour ago. Naomi would be waiting, perhaps growing nervous about his absence. Or worse, thinking he'd abandoned her.
