Croak scoffed, shaking his head. “Unbelievable.”
Terena looked back up and planted her hands at her hips. She gestured to the shadow again. “You don’t think it looks like it could be a man? Watching us? It’s still there, whatever it is.”
“Well, real smooth pointing at him then,” Croak said as he turned, blowing on his gloved hands as he walked toward his horse, Cerberus. He dropped the saddlebags over the horse and turned to Terena. “Thank you for all of this, by the way. Enjoyed myself, immensely. Near-death experiences are exciting.”
“Wait. You’re mad at me?”
“Let’s go. Seriously. I’ve had a bad fucking day.”
Terena laughed, incredulous, but she hefted her saddlebags over her shoulder and followed. “We’ve had the same day, you idiot.” She pulled herself up on Nyx and tugged on the reins to turn her.
“If he is with them, it doesn’t seem to matter we know he’s here. He’s not doing anything to come closer.”
“Then let’s leave him to his business and be about ours. Which is getting the fuck out of here,” Croak called out as he led the way.
CHAPTER TWO
Croak hadn’t spoken one word to Terena since they’d left Agraboda. Didn’t stop her from prattling on about ‘her find’. He burned to tell her it washisfind, and now she was conveniently forgetting that fact while going on and on about Galaneas this and Faybhen that.
“….that’s why I need you to pretend, all right?” Terena was saying.
He didn’t reply. Just huffed a sigh of relief as he sited the city gates in the distance.
They’d reached Avonon, the seat of power in Aurora.
“Okay?” she asked again, her sable ponytail swinging over her shoulder when she turned to look at him. “Come on, it’s important. Just go along with everything I say.”
Croak shrugged, but said nothing. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as she looked at him for several seconds before turning away.Good, he thought.Let her stew.
The guards at the gate moved forward as Croak and Terena pulled up. Croak rested an arm on the saddle horn, watching his sister pull down her hood. Despite being the Royal Tracker and all that entailed, she preferred simple traveler’s clothes of leather leggings and a plain tunic under a leather jerkin. The shoulder guard she wore was foundin an armory a few months ago in Tursk. Her black leggings and jacket were dust covered and stained with blood from the Magi; he imagined he looked much the same.
Terena spoke with the guards and one of them nodded before looking up to wave at someone in the guardhouse above.
Terena dug her boot heels into Nyx’s soft belly and the horse snorted, trotting forward. Croak clicked his tongue and his mount, Cerberus, followed.
This time of morning, the streets of Avonon bustled with activity, the shops open and the market off to the far right already teeming with people ready to haggle.
Croak followed Terena as she moved off the main thoroughfare and down a back street on the left. It was much quieter the further away they went from the shopping district. The duke’s castle loomed large in the background.
When they reached the gates to the road leading up to the castle, the guard waved them through without a word. Croak touched fingers to his imaginary hat at the man, earning a vulgar gesture in return. Croak put his hand up to his chest as if mortally wounded.
They dismounted in front of the grand double doors, a stable boy racing forward to take Nyx’s reins. He hollered behind him at another boy he called ‘Arthur’, whose little legs pumped furiously. He stopped next to Croak with labored breaths. Croak handed him the reins, and the boy took hold with a shaking hand.
Croak bent down and grabbed the boy’s other hand, pressing a coin into his palm. “You’re doing fantastic, Arthur,” he said and ruffled the boy’s mousy brown hair. “Keep up the good work.”
The boy beamed up at Croak and stood taller as he walked off, with Cerberus, a gentle giant, following behind.
Croak crossed his arms at his chest, leisurely following Terena up the steps.
“Mistress Luca, always a pleasure.”
The silky voice belonged to the biggest snake Croak had ever met. Danilos of the Offeni, Duke Aurora’s steward and a general pain inthe ass, clutched his hands in front of him as he simpered. “I trust your journey was…fruitful?”
Terena gave him a curt nod. “Is His Grace available?”
“He heard of your arrival, of course, and made room in his schedule to see you,” the steward said, his bald head dipping low.
Croak snorted.
