Read The Dragon’s Appraiser: Part Two for Free Online Page A

live in a neighborhood like this,” Yoren remarked as they strolled through the wealthy part of town.
    “You’d be surprised,” Madja said.
    She wished she could tell him—or really anyone—the truth, but she’d only make herself sound like a lunatic. Besides, it was nice being treated like a normal person, even if only for a few hours.
    “I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding a good husband.”
    Madja covered her mouth in a poor attempt to stifle a laugh. She could only imagine Sevrrn’s reaction to suitors coming to the lair to court her.
    Misinterpreting her amusement, Yoren said, “I’m making a fool of myself aren’t I?”
    “What?”
    “I’m not usually so forward. It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken to a woman as beautiful as you.”
    Her cheeks warmed. It had been obvious that Yoren had wanted her company for more than his daughters’ sakes. She had known that nothing could come of their time together, but she had gone with him anyway. It was a little selfish, but it wasn’t often she had the opportunity to put her own needs first, and she had desperately needed human company.
    “ Now , I am making an ass of myself,” he muttered.
    She placed a hand on his arm. “You seem like a wonderful man, Yoren, truly. You will make some woman very happy. Not me though. My life is a bit too complicated.”
    He looked as though he were about to protest, but their attention was drawn to a nearby alleyway. Madja realized that they had transitioned into the more unsavory area of town. A glass bottle rolled from the alley, followed shortly thereafter by three men dressed in ragged clothing.
    They were drunk to some degree. One of the men didn’t seem to be able to walk on his own and was being held up by the second, who was stumbling himself. The third man appeared to be the most lucid of the group, though as he spoke, he sounded no better off than his friends.
    “Oy!” he shouted, spotting Yoren. “Thought I smelled fish.”
    Yoren looked intensely uncomfortable and Madja could see why. She recognized the third man as the drunk who had been helping himself to Yoren’s fish cakes earlier that afternoon.
    “Ignore them,” Yoren said, nudging Madja away from them.
    The men refused to be ignored.
    “Is that any way to treat a customer?” one of them bellowed.
    “Business hours are over,” Yoren said tersely.
    The street was narrow and the men easily cut them off. Their stench was almost overpowering.
    “I remember you,” the surly man said as he closed in on Madja. “You were’n the market today. What sort of high-bred lady walks around town with a fish peddler?”
    He placed a meaty hand on Madja’s shoulder. She tried to smack it away, but with limited success. As he spoke, his sour breath clung to her face.
    “Unless, you’re one of ‘em ladies of the evening .”
    She rolled her eyes. The robes she was wearing were worth more than the average prostitute’s annual wage.
    “Leave her alone!” It was Cella who came to Madja’s rescue first. She shook a small fist at the man, her green eyes blazing with fury.
    Until that moment, Madja had not recognized the severity of their situation. They were being cornered by three drunks on a dark street, with two vulnerable little girls in tow. She glanced at Yoren to see that this had long-since occurred to him. Beneath a mask of anger, she could tell that he was afraid.
    Madja turned her attention to the surly man. “How about we let this nice man and his girls leave, and then we’ll talk business?”
    The surly man appeared suspicious. “He goes and you stay?”
    “No,” Yoren protested. “I’m not leaving you with them.”
    Madja kept her expression neutral. “I can take care of myself. You worry about your daughters.”
    On his shoulder, Ana began to whine. Yoren gave Madja a desperate look, but she shook her head. After a moment’s hesitation, he stepped away, taking his daughters with him. She couldn’t possibly fault