The merchant nods, face pale.
“And you know who my family is?”
Another nod, faster this time.
“Then you understand what it means when I say the Citadel doesn’t make empty threats.” Talen leans in, just enough to steal the air between them. “This institution has protectedyourtrade,yourfamily, for generations. You don’t get to spit on it and cry injustice.” A pause. No smile, just steel. “This is your only warning. Next time, I’ll drop you at the dragons myself and I’ll sleep just fine.”
The merchant backs down fast, still nodding, still pale.
God, he means every word. Not because he’s trying to scare the merchant, not because it makes him feel powerful. Because hebelievesit.
He’s the perfect officer, efficient, composed, dangerously loyal. The kind they shape from the inside out, until there’s nothing left but duty. And I don’t think he even sees it. He thinks he's making things better, keeping order, serving something greater. But all I see is control dressed up as salvation. He doesn’t question the system; heisthe system.
Strannt’s voice cuts across the square, loud, obnoxious and impossible to ignore. We all turn, instinctive, eyes snapping to where he’s pacing near an alley entrance, yelling something towards us that no one’s bothering to answer.
But out of the corner of my eye, I catch it. A flicker of movement, quick and practised.
Something small, folded, slides into the merchant’s hand from Talen’s. An envelope? The merchant blinks, startled, then his mouth moves, just a whisper of sound, too soft to catch, but for a second, I could’ve sworn he saidthank you...
“I said, are we fucking going or what?” Strannt’s voice slams through the moment as he storms back in, scowling. I snap toward him, glare already rising, but by the time I turn back Talen and the merchant have stepped apart.
Whatever I thought I saw, it’s gone. Talen’s already rolling his eyes, leaning toward Lucien, muttering something low.
Lucien nods, then turns to the rest of us. “Right, cadets. Change of plans,” he orders. “Rowan and Elijah, with Strannt. Beth, Lyra, and Ryven—with Talen and me.”
My gut drops. What the actual fuck.My day just went frommaybe badtocatastrophicin under a second. Rowan and Elijah were the only ones I was reasonably sure didn’t want to kill me. Now I’m stuck with Beth, RyvenandTalen?—
“Let's go.” Lucien’s voice cuts in before the thought can finish unravelling.
Boots echoingagainst the stone as Lucien leads us out of the square. Talen lingers at the back, behind me, eyes practically burning a hole through my uniform. We take a small side street off from the main stretch and walk down a few paces before he stops and calls out?—
“Go ahead Luc, I’ve got some things to finish up... but keep an eye on this prickly one.”
I don’t bother turning, don’t rise to it. The patrol’s nearly over and if I can just keep my head down, avoid Beth and Ryven’s stares and make it back to the dorm without another problem, I’ll call it a win.
Ahead of me, Lucien nods, then jerks his chin, motioning for Beth to take the rear before continuing down the alley. Behind me, Talen slips off without a word, vanishing into a storefront.
I recognise it immediately.
Same pink silk dress, scattered with tiny silver stars, same red door, same strange mark scratched just above the handle still there from last week. The tailor shop.
Through the glass, past the silk and shimmer, I catch a glimpse of Talen speaking to someone at the counter. Familiar, relaxed, like they know each other. Then Talen leans in and passes something across the counter, another envelope. Theman takes it without hesitation. I don’t know what’s in there, but by the look on his face it must be buying something...
I don’t even realise I’m staring. Not at first. Not until the envelope's gone and the man behind the counter is already turning. Then I look up?—
And his eyes are on me. Talen. Not surprised, not curious. Just waiting.
Shit. A tight hitch runs through my chest, and I go to look away, pretend I didn’t see anything?—
Someone slams into my side.
Hard.
Shouting. Fast, too close. My pack hits the ground with a heavy thud as the merchant from the square blurs past, all elbows and panic. A heartbeat later, Strannt barrels through after him.
“Grab him!”he yells as he tears by.
Lucien whips around and takes off after them without hesitation. I turn back to the tailor store but Talen’s gone.
