If I did not know Raum was there, I would never have seen him.
Kase used his mesmer magic to thicken shadows, creating deep empty holes in the rafters, corners, gabled windows.
I clawed along the thick rafter, sprawled out on my belly, loose trousers borrowed from Jonas’s wardrobe on my waist. Every pace or so, I’d embrace the wooden beam, convinced I was about to tumble, then wait dozens of moments to catch my breath.
The Kryv who were summoned to whatever scheme the king was plotting moved like wraiths dancing across the ceilings. Steps so light, they never seemed to touch. Dressed all in black, when they drifted into the king’s shadows, they disappeared into nothingness.
Once in Natthaven, an elven troop of court performers danced and leapt across the great hall. Acrobats swung from satin ropes, flipping and twisting.
The Kryv and the alver king moved with more skill than them.
Lynx tugged my own dark hood over my bright hair.
He held a finger to his lips. “Feather steps, just like we showed you.”
Good hells, they couldn’t expect me to walk on this beam.
“Feather steps.” I clenched my eyes, clinging to the thick wood. “You mean the slow walk you taught me for meremoments!”
“That’s the one.”
“No.” I shook my head briskly. “No, no. I think, it’s best to leave you lot to whatever this is.”
“A heist.” From the back, Isak peered out beneath his hood.
“You’re afraid, girl.” Kase didn’t turn around.
“Oh, I don’t think you need fear magic to know that.”
“I thought you were a feral child.”
I huffed. “Turns ago. I’m rather out of practice.”
“Turns are merely passing time,” Lynx said, voice low. “Once wild, you’re always a little wild.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and gestured toward the lot of them, toward a damn king robbing his own palace.
The bite of fear all at once eased, like a slow bleed, a soothing sort of comfort filled my heart. A bit of trust. This was Jonas’s father, these were members of the inner court who’d helped raise him. How foolish it was of me to think they would let me fall.
No doubt, Raum was on the ground for that very risk. Stupid of me. Of course, he would catch me should I stumble.
I blew out a long breath, gave Lynx a quick nod of thanks, and leveraged to standing. Arms out to balance my steps, I walked—heel to toe—across the beam.
But with each step, the fear returned. Chaotic thoughts strengthened the more I imagined my neck snapping and bones splitting through the skin should I fall.
I wobbled on the beam, nearly shrieking, but in the next breath, ahand pulled on my wrist. Kase tugged me onto the wide ledge that wrapped around the top of every wall in the palace.
“Well done.” He grinned through the shadow of his cowl.
“Thank you. I was so certain at first, then lost confidence rather quickly.”
“Because Lynx’s mesmer wore off the more distance you put between you.”
I shot a look over my shoulder. Lynx waved his meaty fingers with a bit of smugness.
He could calm the mind. He’d chased away my fears and I hadn’t realized.
Damn alvers.
