Nathan remained in his room at the inn for the next few hours, waiting in silence.
At first, he did not mind it. He had already spent long stretches of his life waiting — for enemies to reveal themselves, for danger to arrive, for answers that never came quickly. But as time passed and the light outside slowly shifted, even he began to wonder whether the young woman had truly gone to seek Chiyo, or whether she had simply told him what he wanted to hear in order to buy time.
Afternoon was already settling in, and his patience was beginning to wear thin.
At last, Nathan rose from the mat bed, deciding he had waited long enough.
If no one came for him now, he would leave the room and find another way to reach Chiyo himself. He had not come this far to sit idle while the trail went cold.
He stepped toward the door and slid it open.
The young woman was standing right outside.
