As I approached the door of my former home, I silently thanked Marius for everything he had done to help me.
It was his generosity that had filled the small, brown leather pouch I was clutching with more gold coins than anybody in this establishment could hope to earn in an entire year.
The pouch was heavy, and it jingled pleasantly whenever I shifted it in my palm.
I was holding it very deliberately in plain sight, because I suspected that it would not be Rin who opened the door, and I was almost certain it would be Cal who saw my offering.
I was right, and when he saw the bag of coins in my hand his eyes widened for a moment.
“Talia, what are you…”
I thrust the bag into one of his hands, and grabbed his other wrist to tank him out of the house and into the street.
I was strong eno
