“You, there! Stop!”
The shout came from behind me, and I instantly tensed, my hands tightening on the railing.
But the shout wasn’t for me. I peered over my shoulder to find three men swarming the alleyway I’d just abandoned. My eyes widened when they pulled out a cloaked figure with short black hair peeking out from beneath his hood. Was that the Illusionist? One of Nox’s people?
Out of habit, I reached for my thigh, where I usually kept my trusted dagger—then remembered Nox had taken it. Glancing around, I spotted a splintered piece of wood lying on the ground. It was pointy, at least. It would have todo.
I tucked it under my cloak, but before I could make my way back to try and help the Illusionist, another shout rang out from closer to the Mysthelm ship. Sounds of a struggle echoed—fists on skin, creaking wood, cries of anger.
Nox and Tessa.
I stepped toward the sounds, about to break into a run when something else caught my eye.
The gangplank to the ship was empty. All the workers had converged on the disruption, leaving the entrance unattended.
Biting my lower lip, I flicked my gaze between the fights breaking out in the street and the clear pathway to this mysterious cargo Scarven wanted so badly.
My decision was made. Nox was adragonShifter, for Fates’ sake. He could take care of himself.
With one last glance, I surged forward and onto the waiting ship.
11
Devora
The quarterdeck was empty. The only sounds were the sail flapping against the mast above me and waves sloshing at the hull. Lanterns swayed in the corners, casting a golden glow over the weather-worn wooden planks. To my far right rested the ship’s wheel, broad and rimmed in iron, with a compass and a spyglass hanging next to it. The scent of tar and brine hung in the air, thick with salt.
They’d cleared out most of the barrels already. A quick search revealed a couple of broken ones lodged near the stairs leading below deck. They were cracked down the center and turned on their sides, as if something had knocked them over in transit.
I took a step closer and squinted, unsure what I was seeing.
Spilling from the broken barrels were handfuls of…leaves. Or maybe flowers. An herb of some kind.
I knelt next to the barrel and stroked one of the brown stems. Four tiny, sharp green leaves branched from the center. Bringing it closer to my face, I noticed a faint red tint running through the veins, but other than that, it looked like a regular leaf.
That was…anticlimactic.
This couldn’t possibly be what Mysthelm lugged all the wayacross the sea. Why would Scarven be interested in a bunch ofplants?
Without thinking, I grabbed several of them and stuffed them in my pocket. Nox wanted to know what the ship was carrying, and I found it. Whateveritwas. Surely Milo and the other Alchemist would be able to figure it out. Not my job.
I hurried back to the gangplank and was about to descend onto solid ground when I spotted shadows walking toward the ship, their voices growing closer with every second.
Adrenaline raced through me as I stooped low to the ground and flattened my back against the inside of the ship, praying they hadn’t seen me. Heavy boots thudded nearby, and a moment later, cloaks brushed against the floor, mere feet from where I hid.
“It’s clear,” the first man said, tapping the hilt of his dagger against a stack of empty crates. “You can tell Rolney it looks like the shipment made it intact this time.”
“Thank the Fates. Last thing we need is another delay,” the second one replied with a grunt. “Rebels slowed us down. Scarven wants this stock at the Hollow within the hour.”
Scarven. So these were his men.
The first let out a low grumble. “Catch any of them?”
“No, they got away. He won’t be happy.”
Muscles I hadn’t realized I’d been clenching slowly relaxed at the news. I wasn’t sure when I started caring about the well-being of Nox, but I was glad they had made it out.
“What Scarven doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Their backs were to me, but I saw the first man kneel to pick up a stray leaf on the ground. “Think he’ll notice if one of these goes missing?” he asked with a chuckle.
