Chapter 13
“You’re a fool, Algar.” Thane grimaces as he peers through a gap in a thick wall of bushes.
I look, too, taking note of the dark stone streets and thousands of shacks and houses.
At the far end of the street nearest to the wall is the king of Ruvain’s castle, made of black marble with a cracked gray sundial attached.
The tips of the castle stretch high, like thick spears ready to murder anything flying past.
While Meriva has light and hope, Ruvain is bathed in gloom and misery.
“How is this route any safer?” Thane demands, whipping around to face Algar, who is on the other side of me.
“Trust me, it is,” Algar returns with a confident tone.
“All we have to do is go behind that long row of buildings there, past the pillars, and make it to the tunnels. It’s a little gross down there, and it may take a while, but it’ll lead us to the other side of Ruvain’s perimeter, and we’ll be in Gadonia in no time.
That way, no one is checking for passes, and pretty women aren’t getting kidnapped, raped, and killed. ”
I groan. “Can you please stop saying stuff like that?”
“Sorry—but it’s true.”
Oh my Orvena.
“And what about the guards, wiseass?” Thane gestures to the numerous men patrolling the streets in onyx armor and helmets.
They’re built like giants, and none of them look kind enough to let outsiders simply pass through their kingdom.
I know it for a fact when a feathery beastial runs through the street and one of the guards stops him with a solid hand to his chest. The guard sticks out a palm and shouts something in his face. The beastial tries backing away as he pleads his case, but this clearly doesn’t satisfy the guard.
Another guard emerges and uses magic to lift the beastial into the air.
Then he slams him against the nearest wall.
He rams him once more, making the beastial bleed as the other guard bellows with laughter.
The magical grip holding the beastial midair vanishes, dropping the being to the ground with a loud thump.
When the beastial remains flat on the ground, the one wielding magic jerks his hand and twists the beastial’s neck so hard it separates from his body.
I cover my mouth to fight a gasp.
My gods. He killed him. Just like that.
A growl escapes Thane’s lips.
“Just conceal yourselves,” Algar murmurs, waving his fingers, as if we all didn’t just witness an unnecessary murder.
“Thane, do your sorcery shit to keep yourselves covered and I’ll teleport in between.
As soon as we make it to the tunnels, you won’t need to conceal anymore.
No one walks through them except people without homes, and they won’t mess with you.
Trust me. Most are too hungry or strung out on kopa to do so anyway. ”
“That would require the whispershade spell, and that’s not how it works,” Thane grumbles through gritted teeth. “I can conceal myself for a lengthy period of time, but two people and a horse will drain me of energy very quickly.”
“So take breaks.” Algar shrugs like it’s no big deal.
I have a feeling it’s a major deal, considering Thane’s frustration.
“We’ll find places to hide for a few minutes, and when you’re revived or whatever, we’ll move again.”
“No.” Thane straightens to his full height. “This is a foolish plan. We’ll just walk the perimeter. It’ll take a little longer, but at least we’ll have a careful eye on our surroundings.”
“We’ll lose time, Thane.” I catch him by the arm before he can get away.
“The sooner we can get through Ruvain, the better. I don’t want to linger around this kingdom any more than I have to, and I definitely don’t want to be near the forests.
Plus, we’re already here.” I point a thumb over my shoulder.
“I agree with Algar. We should just do this—take our chances with your whispershade spell, and when you need breaks, just tell us.” I pull my hand away.
He breathes hard through his nose, jaw ticking as he looks through the bush again. The guards are now drifting away, heading toward the heart of the city.
“Fuck. Fine.” Thane pulls his mask up, then grabs Pearl’s reins. “But we need to do it now, while those guards are gone.”
I follow him and Algar, pushing through branches and thick bundles of leaves until we reach an opening. Thane steps out first, making sure the area is clear.
“Aren’t you going to use your magic so we can’t be seen?” I ask from the shadows of the branches.
“Not yet. Not until it’s absolutely necessary.” When it’s clear, he gestures for me to follow before he runs the short distance to hide behind the first building, Pearl in tow. I jog after him.
“Great,” I breathe, pressing my back against the stone wall. “Only, like, a hundred more to go.” Somewhere in the distance, men’s voices rise and fall in conversation. I fight the urge to peek around the edge of the building.
“Keep still.” Thane’s amber irises flash and become liquid gold. A blanket of heat wraps around me, making my skin prickle as the whispershade takes effect. “Stay close.”
Thane looks a little blurry, like he’s surrounded by a heat mirage, but I can still see him. I know the whispershade makes it impossible for those outside the spell to see us—including Algar, who nods in our direction before vanishing and reappearing behind the next building.
Thane moves ahead with Pearl while I stay close behind as instructed. We pass three more buildings before I feel the heavy heat around us ebbing.
“Whispershade is wearing out.” Thane huffs, gluing his back to a wall.
“It’s okay,” I assure him. “Just take a moment to restore some of your strength.”
His eyes connect with mine, the skin around them softening. I smile at him before shifting my attention to Pearl. Too much eye contact with him stirs something up inside me, and I don’t quite know how to embrace it.
I feel him look away, too.
When I steal a glance at him moments later, though, his fiery eyes are on me again. If I’m not mistaken, he’s admiring my body. Realizing I’ve noticed his staring, he clears his throat and snatches his gaze away.
I suppress another smile. I’m not sure whether to be annoyed that he was looking or flattered that he has even an inkling of interest in me.
I believe ten minutes or so pass before Thane stands taller and the whispershade wraps around us again. This time he moves faster, passing by four more buildings. I spot the black pillars wrapped in ivy a short distance away. If we can reach those, we’ll be closer to the tunnels.
Algar was right. This is fast.
Hope blossoms in my chest, and my heart races a bit quicker…until the whispershade fades again.
“Hold on,” Thane calls, pressing his back to the nearest building.
“Damn it, Thane!” Algar hisses, immediately rushing over to stand next to him.
“Hullo,” a small voice says seconds later.
I gasp, and Thane yanks out his sword, spinning to find the source of the voice.
A man emerges—no, a boy. He can’t be any older than his fourteenth or fifteenth year. He’s wearing a ratty linen tunic that touches his knees and a faded blue scarf on his head.
“Who are you?” Thane angles his sword at him.
The boy studies Thane’s sword before blinking at me and Algar. When he sees Pearl and Zephra, his eyes sparkle. “Is that a maobi?” he marvels.
Thane drops his sword a notch. “You need to go.”
“I have never seen one in real life.” The boy ignores Thane as he takes a step closer. “I’ve only ever read about them—in the library usually. One of the sorceress teachers used to create images of them with her magic.”
I look between him and Thane, who is gripping the hilt of his sword hard enough to make his knuckles protrude while surveilling the area. He seems unsure whether to treat this boy as a threat or deem him innocent.
“Would you like to pet her?” Algar asks, stepping in front of Thane. He’s also noticed how uneasy Thane is with this whole situation.
“Algar, we don’t have time for this,” Thane hisses.
“It’ll only be a second. You have to restore your energy anyway.” Algar shrugs him off, and the boy lights up even more as he brings Zephra closer. She clicks her teeth when the boy sticks out a hand.
“Easy,” Algar whispers. “Slow movements—and only rub her body. She’s picky about how her head is touched.”
“Right. Of course. Sorry.” The boy reaches in slower this time, and Zephra cocks her head. His smile widens as his tan fingers find their way to her fur and caress it. “Wow,” he breathes, laughing. “She is so soft. You are such a lucky man.”
I can’t help smiling at the exchange as a warm feeling comes over me.
Seeing the proud smile Algar wears. The brightness in the boy’s eyes.
Their shared interest in Zephra. Perhaps I’ve read Algar all wrong and shouldn’t write him off as some lowly thief.
He seems like a person who genuinely cares about others in need.
“What’s your name?” asks Algar.
“I am Dulan.”
Zephra bounces up to Algar’s shoulder, and he folds his arms. “Are you going to snitch on us, Dulan?”
Dulan’s excitement morphs to pure shock. “Of course not.”
“How can we be sure?” Thane narrows his eyes at him. “You turn us strangers in, and you could get a good bit of coin.” He may as well have stabbed the boy with how sharp his tone is.
“Well, in that case, I should turn myself in, too.” Dulan releases an anxious laugh.
Then he gestures behind him. “My nan lives in that building. She is sick, but the medicine she needs is not allowed in Ruvain. They don’t want us getting better on our own, you see?
They want us to keep paying their healers more and more money so they can pocket it.
So sometimes I have to sneak to Meriva or Winstoft to get it.
” The boy digs into his pocket and fishes out a glass vial with shimmering green liquid in it.
Thane studies it while Algar mumbles, “I see.”
“Are you trying to reach the tunnels?” Dulan asks.
“We are.” I move past Thane. “Is that where you’re going?”