“We’ll see.” Yes, the city guard was toying with them, no doubt ensuring that they would be punished regardless of whether or not they were found guilty.
She swept her eyes over the docks, looking for Taavin, as the head guard appointed someone to watch their ship day and night. Taavin and Deneya likely knew what was going on, and the real meaning behind this holdup. She just had to get to them.
Vi waited until nightfall. There wasn’t much to do on the ship, and it was hard to slip away from the crew unnoticed. She made the excuse of a trip to the latrine. When she was there, she uttered “durroe watt radia,” then slipped out the next time a sailor opened the latrine door.
She’d been practicing her Lightspinning. Vi couldn’t shake the feeling since making a body for Taavin that she had been given permission to challenge the conventions of how the magic worked. Nothing seemed impossible anymore—not even moving while invisible, without any kind of distortion. It still wasn’t perfect. But with more power, perhaps it could be.
Perhaps with the scythe…
Padding lightly on the main deck, Vi headed for a spot she’d identified earlier, where the crates stacked on the docks were high enough for her to jump. She listened to the creaking of the ship, memorizing the patterns the waves made. During one loud groan of the vessel, when no one was looking, Vi jumped off. She left a rope right at the deck’s edge that she could push down withkot sorrelater to get back aboard.
“Durroe watt ivin,” she whispered quickly, replacing one glyph for another. Vi slipped into the second skin of a Southerner, and made her way through the city to the one-room abode Deneya and Taavin still occupied.
Vi didn’t even bother knocking.
“What the—”
“It’s me.” Vi closed the door, relaxing her illusion.
“See, told you she’d make it.” Deneya gave Taavin a look of triumph. “And you were worried.”
“We were just discussing how we’d break you out,” Taavin said, standing. He crossed over to her and, without hesitation, enveloped her in his arms. “I was worried I wouldn’t get to see you this time.”
“If the world itself being rebuilt couldn’t keep me from you, nothing will.” Vi held him tightly and sneaked in a kiss before they broke apart. “But what’s going on in the city? They’ve finally decided to investigate all the pirate talk?”
“The rumors of Adela have gotten worse,” Deneya said. “Henrietta is getting bold or sloppy, but sightings of her vessel have increased and it’s roused all kinds of suspicion.”
“Too bad it’s not actually Adela,” Vi muttered.
“First time I’ve ever heard someone say that.” Deneya snorted with amusement. “Any confirmation if Henrietta is actually working for Adela?”
Vi shook her head. “Though I’m beginning to wonder if her ability to masquerade her ship as theStormfrostwithout Adela coming to put an end to it is proof enough.”
“Adela could be on the other side of the world. She might not even know.”
“There have been some other developments since you were last here,” Taavin said. “Notably, the prince has come to town and things seem to be escalating swiftly with his presence.”
“Again? He came last summer and nothing changed.” Vi didn’t need to ask which prince. According to all rumors, Aldrik had grown to be a harsh man, shaped by the cards Vi had dealt him with her own hands. Only Baldair left the capital with any regularity.
“There’s been a murder on the royal estate during one of his infamous parties,” Deneya picked up the explanation. “He’s now looking into the Adela rumors as a result.”
“What made him link the murder to Adela? Or Henrietta?”
“According to talk on the town, the murdered woman had the mark of Adela carved into her dead body,” Deneya said grimly.
“Henrietta’s getting greedy,” Vi muttered. All good things had to come to an end, especially when those good things involved smugglers teaming up with traitors. Despite what was claimed, there was never honor among thieves. “Do you think Henrietta has a lead on Adela’s treasure?”
“I don’t see how she couldn’t. She’s been docking in the Caverns and using their tunnels for over a year.”
Vi folded her arms, a scowl on her lips. She’d hated the feeling of stagnancy for years. It was becoming harder and harder not to just rush in and smoke out the smuggling rats with her own flames.
“I take it you still haven’t made much progress investigating the tunnels with them there?”
“We’ve had to be cautious,” Taavin said grimly. “We don’t want to disrupt fate too much.”
Vi barely resisted screaming.
“But we did find something,” Deneya said hastily, as if sensing her agitation.
