His expression soured. “Not a chance. I’ll never understand that game.” His brown eyes brightened. “Teach me more knife-throwing?”
Ever since Maz had told him of that night at the tavern, Ruru had begged me to show him how to throw. In between deliveries and in quiet alleys, I showed him the basics. He was a quick learner. He told me he wanted to be a soldier one day. Maybe even High General.
My heart ached to think of him turning into someone as cold and ruthless as High General Dracles. But perhaps my brother would choose someone different when he became king.
A sharp whistle cut across the deserted docks.
Ruru and I both stiffened, looking toward Aiden, who waited next to the fully loaded wagons. The bone-rattlers had disappeared, either onto their ship or into the packed taverns behind the sea wall.
Aiden gestured to us, and we hurried over.
“We’ll drive as quickly as we can since we have little time left,” Aiden said grimly, then focused on me. “No one is allowed to move cargo through the city after dark. Once the Wolves are out, they will certainly stop us if they catch us. Ruru with Maz. Kiera with me.”
My heart beat faster. I whisked my fingers over the four knives tucked into my belt and the one in my boot.
Maz took the first wagon with Ruru, and I climbed onto the seat next to Aiden. The moment I was settled, he snapped the reins over the horses’ backs.
The streets were as empty as the taverns and inns were full. No one wanted to risk a run-in with a Shadow-Wolf. Even the sea was fairly quiet, just the gentle hush of waves. I’d overheard Maz telling Aiden last night that the Wolves had gotten particularly violent in this quarter since our escape. Perhaps they thought we might still be here.
Suddenly, I wished Aiden would urge the horses into a gallop.
“Steady, little thief,” he murmured as I looked over my shoulder for the tenth time. “We’ll make it.”
The horses strained as we mounted the cliff road and began the long, back-and-forth journey up the cliffside. I clung to the edge of the wagon seat, forcing myself to keep my eyes open. But I didn’t dare look over the edge of the road as the wagon swayed and rattled. Our cargo groaned under the ropes that secured it to the bed.
I lifted my eyes to the sky, my heart sinking with the last ribbons of pink and scarlet that trailed after the sun I could no longer see.
“Gods damn it,” I breathed. “Why was Skelly late?”
“Storm. He lost two of his men.”
I winced. “May the gods find their souls.”
“May Mynastra collect their bones.”
“Is that what sailors say? When one of them dies?”
Aiden nodded as his eyes remained pinned to Maz’s wagon. “They sink the bodies to the sea floor, where it’s rumored Mynastra’s own bones lie.”
Death always won. It had even come for the gods and goddesses when they left this world to us humans. Thus began the Age of Peace. Although peace had dwindled in the centuries after the gods died. When those who weren’t alive to remember the wars became restless.
“Fucking Four,” Aiden cursed harshly.
A small box had worked its way free of the ropes mooring it to Maz’s wagon and fell to the ground. Aiden yanked on the reins, bringing the horses to a snorting halt. He whistled for Maz to stop.
I leapt off my seat and raced for the box before Ruru had even turned his head. I seized it. Something skittered inside, and I nearly dropped it.
A howl rose from the Docks Quarter below us. My stomach plummeted. I peered over the edge but saw nothing in the shadows. But they were there. They were hunting.
“Move, Kiera!” Aiden commanded.
Instead of trying to shove the trembling box back onto Maz’s wagon, I sprinted to Aiden.
“Go!” I gasped, jumping into my seat.
Aiden whistled again, and Maz’s wagon jolted forward the same moment ours did. Slapping the reins, Aiden urged the horses faster. Sweat shone on their dark coats as they strained over the last stretch of the cliff road.
I released a deep sigh of relief as we passed under the torch-lit gate. We weren’t safe yet, but we could lose ourselves in the labyrinth of the city before the Wolves reached the gate.
