21. Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
Lucenna
L ittle Step was a very advanced city ripe with magic. Lucenna saw it in the floating lanterns lining the shops and even felt it beneath the cobblestone streets. They followed the crowd into the marketplace. A blend of exotic spices and the smell of fried fish filled her nose. A chorus of accents from all over the country blended in a hum. Stalls lined the streets, merchants selling and auctioning a panoply of wares. Their hawking shouts blurred together in a roar.
Orange flags fluttered from the lamp posts, displaying the state’s sigil.
All manner of fairies zipped past in colorful array. Besides dwarves, there were so many elves. None wore any livery, but they must be from both kingdoms from the color of their hair, a mix of both blond and dark.
When Lucenna saw a Lunar mage, her heart stopped. He was tall, lean, slicked back white hair, no beard. Her heart raced, sweat sprouting in her clammy palms. She couldn’t see his face, but somehow he looked exactly like…
Uncle?
The lunar mage paused in the street and his head turned.
Klyde jerked her backward.
A massive creature strolled past, blocking them out of view. It looked like a cross between a horse and a deer, with a coat of sea-blue scales. It had a long tail, and a white mane that lined its back to its head, rolling like clouds. People gave it a wide berth, wary of its sharp antlers.
“What is it?” Dyna asked in awe.
“A Kirin…” Rawn said. “They tend to roam the west lands, my lady. I have not seen one this far out of Xián Jīng before.”
Lucenna searched the crowd once the creature passed but didn’t see the mage anymore. It wasn’t him. The mind sometimes saw what it feared, and sometimes what it wanted to. Thank the Gods it was only her imagination, because although her father was head of the Lunar Guild, she always found her uncle to be more frightening—and more ruthless.
“All manner of creatures here,” Zev said, sniffing the air. His eyes flared to yellow when he spotted two women with pointed furry ears. Their feline eyes flashed a bright green as they sauntered past him.
“I suppose it is to be expected with Dwarf Shoe,” Lucenna said.
They eventually made it to the street for the inns. It was packed with people as expected. Lucenna had little hope they would snag one. They followed Rawn into the first inn. There were way too many people though, so only Rawn, Zev, and Dyna went to the counter to inquire for lodging. They soon returned with relieved smiles.
“Well, we are certainly fortunate today,” Rawn said.
“Very,” Zev laughed, tickling Dyna’s cheek with a lock of her hair.
She blushed and elbowed him. “Come off it, Zev.”
“What happened?” Lucenna asked.
“The innkeeper said he had two rooms left he was saving for the next pretty girl with red hair to arrive,” Zev said with a chuckle. “We didn’t have to pay a single russet.”
Lucenna arched a brow at that. Innkeepers were notorious for price gouging, yet she must have made an impression to get two rooms for free.
“He was being kind…” Dyna grumbled as she handed Rawn a key and Lucenna the second. But even she looked puzzled by the unusual luck.
“What now?” Klyde said. “Shall we stop to eat? I’m famished.”
“Please do,” Rawn said. “I must see to something first.”
“You won’t join us, Lord Norrlen?” Lucenna asked, confused. It wasn’t safe for him to be out and about either.
Rawn paused as he thought of it. “I must lease a carriage to take us to Kelpway, my lady. And perhaps find a courier to mail another letter.”
“Then, if you’ll allow me…” Lucenna waved her hand over Rawn’s face and his features changed into another male elf with dark hair. His eyes remained the same, the only thing she couldn’t change. “To be safe.”
He rubbed his cheek. “Thank you.”
“I’ll follow you out,” Zev said. “I need to visit the smithy to tighten my chains before we leave tomorrow.”
“I’ll come with you, too,” Dyna said. “We need to replenish our provisions anyway. We can stop be an outdoor vendor for something to eat instead.”
All the food they brought with them had been confiscated at the gates. Not that it had been much anyway. They had to ration their meals with their gold so limited. But the Shieldmen did give them some coin to replace what they took.
“Are you staying?” Dyna asked Lucenna.
She nodded. It was for the best.
“Today we replenish, rest, and report any news we may hear,” Rawn told them. “Keep your heads low. This may be a free state, but you never know who is watching. Let us meet here in the taproom tomorrow at dawn, then make our way to Kelpway. However, if we are separated, or if any of you are compromised, leave the state immediately and head for White Woods outside of Greenwood in the south.”
They all nodded in agreement. A light shudder went down Lucenna’s spine.
Nothing will happen.
The nerves must have showed on her face because Klyde gently squeezed her arm in assurance.
“What’s in the White Woods?” she asked.
“It is merely a place of sanctuary on the border of Greenwood. A good place to lie low and to send for aid if needed.” Then Rawn excused himself, with Zev, and Dyna following him out of the inn.
They were soon swallowed up by the crowd.
“Wouldn’t you rather go with them?” Klyde asked.
“I would, but I cannot risk being spotted.” She took a seat at a dirty empty table, and he sat across from her. There are far too many mages here. I can feel them.”
More than she was used to sensing, and it left an anxious buzz on her skin.
“Do they live in Dwarf Shoe?”
She shook her head. “If they do, it is not permanent. Mages are not permitted to have citizenship in other kingdoms. They may travel for work and apprenticeship, but they belong to the Magos Empire, and can be summoned back without notice. And sorceresses…”
“Are never allowed out,” Klyde guessed. “If a mage sees you?”
“He will attempt to detain me or report me to an Enforcer. I told you of them and their purpose.”
“Capture and siphon.”
Her stomach churned and she shrunk in her chair. “Exactly. I’d rather not hold a mage battle in the middle of the city if I can help it.”
A muscle in Klyde’s jaw flexed and his blue eyes fixed on the crowd. “”Are you cloaked right now?”
“Of course.”
“These Enforcers, what do they look like?”
“They are powerful mages, and the elite are the best in their guilds. You will know them by the sigil embroidered on their clothing, and they always carry amplifier crystals in their staffs.”
“Like that one?” Klyde subtly motioned with his chin to two men in black cloaks.
On their shoulders was the triad symbol of the Magos Empire, along with the mark of their rank. And leading them was her uncle. They idly passed through the crowd, headed for the front.
Lucenna’s entire body went cold.
Quietly, Klyde took her hand and lead her back outside. It was a good thing because she had frozen. He led her into a shadowed alleyway and moved her behind stacked crates, bracing his arms on either side of her head as he peeked over them.
She couldn’t even care that he had her back up against the wall. Sound muffled and all Lucenna could hear was her heart pounding in her ears.
Magnus was in Dwarf Shoe. Why?
It was a stupid question, really. She knew why. Her father had failed to capture her, so they sent someone far better. And she feared Magnus far worse. Her uncle had never done anything to her directly, but she had seen him kill mages with a snap of his fingers. He should have been Head of the Lunar Guild, but he worked directly for the Archmage instead.
A fight against him wasn’t one she would win. Lucenna shut her eyes, forcing herself to calm down. Klyde stepped closer and the pressure of his body helped even her breathing.
He bent his head, his nose brushing her forehead. “Lucenna,” he whispered.
“Yes?” she whispered back.
“Can you please change your face. This is really disturbing.”
She glowered up at him. “The use of glamour might have attracted them in the first place.”
Yet to her absolute horror, the glamour began to peel off her face.
Klyde glanced past the crates again and cursed. He pinned her to the alley wall and braced his hands on either side of her head.
“Don’t kill me,” he whispered as his nose grazed her cheek, lips hovering so close to her mouth. “They’re coming.”
Lucenna froze. Her heart stopped when she heard footsteps and voices tinged with the Magos accent. Klyde angled his face to hide hers out of sight. His hand slid up her neck, cupping her face as his lips faintly brushed her cheek. Light as butterfly wings, only a sliver of space between them. He was being careful, there but not taking. Their eyes met and held. Her heart was pounding so hard, she imagined he could feel it.
If they were to sell this illusion, Lucenna told herself it was fine. She looked at him, deciding then she would kiss him. Klyde stilled a split second then his other arm snaked around her waist and hauled her tight against him. Heat spread through her from his touch. It warmed her skin, curling up her spine, revealing to her how close they stood to each other. She hands landed on his chest, feeling the warmth through his shirt.
His eyes were bright and focused on her. “Your glamour completely dissolved.”
Lucenna gasped, touching her face.
“Don’t worry. They have already gone.”
Heat rushed through her cheeks, and she shoved him off. “You better not have lied about them coming merely to kiss me,” she hissed.
Klyde frowned. “I would never subject you to anything for my own pleasure.”
“If you ever did, I would cut off your favorite appendage with a dull knife.”
“I suppose that’s fair.” He grinned, his dimples appearing. “But let it be known, you were going to kiss me first.”
She sputtered, her face going red.
He grinned and leaned in close. “Love, you can assault me all you wish.”
Turning away, Klyde whistled as he strolled out of the alley. Lucenna was left staring after him dumbly. The fool wanted to test her patience today. She recast her hag glamour and followed him.
He led her out to another street, the opposite way they came in. “The inn may be compromised. I don’t think we should stay there.”
Lucenna sighed in exasperation, but he was probably right. She didn’t know if her uncle was searching for her or if he merely sensed magic. Better not stay to find out. What should we do?”
“First, I want to see you fed, then we will catch up with the others.”
She had no mind to protest when her stomach grumbled in agreement. Klyde led her confidently across the city until they arrived at a restaurant. The air smelled so delicious it made her mouth water.
Klyde ordered mutton stew for both of them, and they ate in silence, keeping an eye on the front door. She was glad to be out view and to have her stomach filled.
The ground suddenly rumbled, and the chandeliers overhead rattled. Lucenna tensed.
“It’s only the train,” Klyde said, nodding to the windows.
“They have a train?” Lucenna asked incredulously.
She couldn’t see much past the wave of people passing by, but most were leaving or going towards a very large building with smoke trails rising above it.
He smiled. “I told you. This state knows how to manage their wealth. There are two trains. One that runs north to south through the state, and it stops at a station in each of the major cities. The second one runs east to west across Urn, from here to Xián Jīng. Should we fail to steal Tarn’s ship, we could take a train to the west coast and attempt to board a ship there. I hear they recently added a new track to Ledoga.”
Lucenna had heard of the great train that traveled from the Saxe Sea to the Dragon Canyon, but she didn’t know it originated here. She was curious to see what the trains looked like. “You seem to know a lot about Dwarf Shoe, and about Urn for that matter.”
Klyde shrugged. “I have traveled a lot.”
“And on these travels, do you make a habit of using the commissioner’s identity?” She arched an eyebrow.
His smirk grew, obviously waiting for her to ask. “Only when necessary. I don’t make a habit of announcing myself if I don’t need to.”
“Hmm. And you have met the commissioner?”
“In passing. He is a good man with a reputation of helping refugees. I knew his name would serve to get us through the check point.”
Well, if it was only for that, Veron may not mind. Whatever happened to him after they had escaped the port?
Once they finished eating, they went on their way.
“Could we see the train?” Lucenna asked.
He winked. “Where do you think I was taking you?”
They came to the station with a train already on the tracks. The metal beast hovered with an invisible force above a set of tracks. She felt the magic thrumming through it as if it were a live creature. Whoever had created such a mechanism was indeed powerful.
The train departed the station as another arrived behind it on the platform across from them. All manner of fae, creatures, dwarves, and humans spilled from the doors, swarming the platform.
Klyde took her hand. “We need to go.”
His cautious tone immediately had Lucenna on alert as he pulled her away. “What’s wrong? Did you see mages?”
“Worse.”
What was worse than mages?
She peered over her shoulder. A group of elves in black armor and deep red cloaks stepped out of the train. The sigil of a red maple leaf marked their shields.
Red Highland soldiers.