“I’m guessing her test was successful,” I said, remembering the wall of flame that seemed to rise from nothing.
“We’ll see,” Aiden said evasively.
I’d already tried to ask him about Nikella and Renwell at breakfast, but he’d quickly shaken off the question, saying it washer business. I doubted she would answer my questions either. And Renwell was one of the last people in Rellmira I wanted to talk to at the moment.
We plodded along in silence until we reached the enormous city gate. We’d hidden our knives in a farmer’s wagon ahead of us, stuffed in the hay beneath a half-dozen sheep’s hooves.
But that wasn’t why my heart pounded with fear, screaming at me to run as we passed under the shadow of the gate.
I felt like I was willingly stepping back into a cage, as unprepared for slaughter as the sheep in front of me.
Guards roughly checked each person for weapons and demanded their business. I frowned when I saw Gregor was among them. As much as I didn’t want someone to come to harm for helping us, I’d assumed Renwell would’ve taken everyone for questioning, punishing those who were to blame for our escape.
But other than a few mild burns and scrapes, Gregor looked fine.
Aiden also pulled up short when he saw him. Gregor waved him over. I slid from the horse’s back—catching myself this time—and walked the horse to him.
“Where are the other horses?” Gregor demanded in a low voice, his beady eyes flicking to me.
“On their way back,” Aiden said smoothly. “Like I said, I’ll pay you extra for the inconvenience.”
Gregor sneered. “Inconvenience, yeah. Your companion sets fire to the street, and you steal three horses. That’s more than aninconvenience. I want double,” he hissed.
Aiden stiffened. “I’ll give you what I can, but you’re getting your horses back, Gregor, and the fire was mostly harmless.” He leaned closer to the sweaty man, his face rigid with warning. “Don’t forget you have just as much to lose as I do if there’s talk.”
Gregor paled, his eyes skipping to me once more. “Fine, whatever. Move along then.” He seized the reins from my hand and hurried away.
Aiden scowled after him.
“Pleasant man,” I muttered.
Aiden shook his head. “He has a right to be worried. He’s lucky he didn’t face a fiercer punishment.”
We hurried after the sheep wagon and thrust our hands in the hay to retrieve our weapons. No one paid much attention to us, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. It wasn’t like Renwell to leave someone unpunished. Coming back to the city felt too easy.
We’d barely finished re-arming ourselves when Ruru barreled up to us, his eyes wide and his hair sticking up on all ends.
“Have you seen Maz?” were the first words out of his mouth.
Dread pummeled my insides.
“No, what happened?” Aiden asked sharply, pulling both of us off to the side. “Where is he?”
Ruru’s face screwed up in anguish. “I don’t know! We were practicing at the Temple last night. He said he was going for a drink atThe Weary Traveler, so I went home. But he wasn’t there when I woke up, and it didn’t look like he’d slept on his cot. Since none of you were home either, I thought maybe he was with you somewhere. I just checked the taverns, and no one’s seen him.” He glanced around. “Where’s Nikella?”
Aiden growled with frustration. “She’ll be back. Did you check the Temple?”
Ruru brightened. “No. Maybe he went back for more training?”
My stomach sank like a stone to the ocean floor. He wouldn’t be there either. “Yes, go to the Temple, Ruru,” I said roughly. “Aiden, you should meet with Melaena. Tell her whathappened.” I gave him a pointed look. “And see if Maz might have stopped by to visit one of the dancers. I’ll search the taverns and inns again.”
Ruru took off without another word. But Aiden hesitated, his green eyes searching my face. “Are you all right? Do you want me to stay with you, and we’ll search together?”
I shook my head, forcing a smile. “I’ll be fine. The sooner we find him, the sooner we can force him to buy us all some Sunshine for making us worry.”
Aiden nodded. He clasped my hand once before he, too, disappeared.
I took a deep breath, my fingers already trembling, then raced towardThe Crescent Moon.
