Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
TATE
I have had enough of waiting for someone to make a move, enough of setting my hope solely on winning the trials while the men I’m searching for are still roaming the streets of Telos. So I find myself once more at the door in the merchant quarters.
Again, Silence answers the door, but instead of letting me in like all the other times, he steps out and closes it behind him.
“Let’s walk to the market,” he says in his raspy voice, and I follow. What else am I supposed to do?
“Someone else showed interest in your Phoenix rider.” He stops at a stand of an older woman selling fruit. He lifts a fruit from the piles occupying the straw baskets and continues talking, not looking at me, but at the older woman.
“I suspect they made a deal with my boss.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I use my gift to transport the sound to his ear, startling him.
“Well, that makes things easier,” he comments. “So we can talk across a distance? Even in a noisy tavern?”
I nod.
“Play along, then head to the tavern on Rope Maker Lane,” he says before spinning around to face me. “The spider isn’t available right now and neither am I,” he says, before pushing past me and walking away. I huff out a breath and glare after him, before leaving.
In the tavern, I eat a spoonful of the watery stew in front of me, hoping I made the right call in trusting Silence. I still have no idea why he would help me, but I’ll take my chance. After what he said, I also need to hear the rest before even thinking about walking away.
When he comes through the door, I nearly don’t recognize him.
Silence changed his usually impeccable clothes for the ragged ones of a sailor.
Grime covers his hands and parts of his face, and one of his green eyes is covered by an eye patch.
He even carries one of the bowed sabers many sailors prefer.
He settles on the other side of the room, and as soon as his lips move, I let the air next to my ear mirror the vibrations of his voice.
“Is this good for you?” he asks, and I nod. As long as I can see him, it works for me.
“He gave me orders that have me believe he sold you out, or rather, your friend,” he says, and my blood runs cold.
“Why are you helping us?”
“Everyone protects his interests, and helping you protects mine,” he states matter-of-factly, which makes him more believable than any declaration of his good intentions ever could have. And he speaks the truth.
“He didn’t give me any orders, and I don’t think he will, so keep her close, keep your eyes and ears open, and if you can, get her out of Telos.”
I nod, already planning how I can make that happen. Silence finishes his wine and leaves shortly after. I take my time and then head back to the Aerie, glad that I already told everyone to stay in groups of two or more whenever possible.
I sit in the common room with the others in my flight. Tanner is dealing out the next round of cards while Boko makes a show of checking Jared’s sleeves for hidden cards.
“You have to be cheating,” he complains. “No one has that much luck.”
“Maybe I made a deal with Sreca to grant me good luck.” Jared grins while Boko huffs and leans back in his seat, examining my best friend with narrowed eyes. I shake my head at Jared and wait for the moment Boko realizes that with his gift, Jared doesn’t need extra cards.
Nearly our whole flight is here. Actually—I scan the room again—everyone but one person is here. Calix and Cassius lounge on one of the couches, talking. Mariel is curled up between them, but Ara’s golden locks are missing. That is odd.
“Where is Ara?” My gaze wanders over the room again, but she isn’t here.
“Visiting her cousin,” Jared says next to me.
“What did I say about no one going out alone?” I ask, my irritation leaking into my voice.
“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. Or did you expect me to invite myself to a family dinner?” He tilts his head, contemplating. “Maybe I should have…”
“How did she get there?”
“She took Solaris.”
“Well, that is at least something, I guess.” No one would be stupid enough to attack her with a Phoenix around, right?
I try to concentrate on the game and the conversations around me, but catch myself looking at the door every time it opens. It’s getting later and later, and Ara still isn’t back. Maybe she went straight to bed?
“Is Solaris back?” I ask Daeva.
“Just came in,” she answers after a few minutes. The tension in my muscles lessens because that means she is safely back on the academy ground, then. “Ara should be here soon, too. Solaris says she is walking.”
“What?”
I’m out of my chair before she has the chance to respond. The chair crashes to the floor, and I ignore the confused inquiries of my flight as I rush to the door. This woman is going to drive me up the wall. What is it going to take for her to stay safe for once? Do I have to chain her to me again?
“Now that is a good idea,” Daeva comments, but I ignore it.
“Meet me in the atrium,” I tell her, while I grab my swords and hurry down the stairs. She’d better be breathing when I find her, or I will tear this city down, stone by stone, if I have to, until I find the men responsible.
Daeva is already waiting for me. I don’t bother with a harness this time, and she takes off as soon as I’m on her back. I grab on to the base of the wings, careful not to impair her movements, while she shoots up into the sky.
The city is a sea of shadows and pinpricks of light beneath us. Only a few of the shadows are moving. Trees sway in the evening breeze blowing toward the sea, while a few animals skitter in the darkness, and people roam the streets, their movements often revealing their intent.
Using Daeva’s sight, everything is as clear as in broad daylight, and I keep my eyes open for Ara’s familiar form, while we head for the merchant quarter.
A few days ago, the thought of Ara being close to whoever caused those bruises on the slave had turned my thoughts murderous. Now cold terror squeezes my heart, and it has nothing to do with the fact that we would lose the trials, if… I don’t finish the thought.
You’re only worried I’ll burn down the building.
I snort. She could burn down the whole damn city, and I wouldn’t blink an eye as long as she walks out unscathed, and that is … insane in its own right.
However much I try not to, I still love her. Even though she hates me and even though she proved that she is ready to blackmail me to get her way.
Fuck, I love her tendency to drive her head through a wall rather than give up, and the fire in her eyes when she goes toe-to-toe with me. I love every reckless, stubborn fiber of her, which makes her exactly what my enemies have been looking for, and she doesn’t even see it.