Cassiel gripped his knife, a vein pulsing in his taut neck. “Speak another ill word.”
“Stay your weapon,” the commissioner ordered. “Now.”
“Cassiel.” Dyna took his arm. The muscle was as hard as marble beneath her hand. The Azure Guards were ready to cut him down if he disobeyed. “Please.”
His jaw flexed, a moment dragging before he conceded and sheathed the knife.
The commissioner motioned at the guards to lower their swords.
“This is not the conduct I will have in my city,” Veron told them, his Azure accent smooth and casual. “I take it you’re not from here, so I’ll disregard this with a warning.” His gaze fixed on Draven. “It would be wise to cease harassing the travelers, Draven. Your lawlessness won’t be tolerated, no matter the provocation. There are quite enough complaints about you already. One more violation and I will revoke your trade license indefinitely. Am I understood?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Good. As you were, Draven. I will return shortly to check your logs.” The commissioner then glanced at Dyna and Cassiel. “Come.”
The guards surrounded them and forced them to walk behind the commissioner. Cassiel’s hand found hers as the guards led them away from the ship. She glanced back at Draven and his dwarves, and they grinned at her. She exhaled a low breath. Cassiel would have fought them if the guards hadn’t arrived.
The setting sun layered an amber glow over his wary expression trained on the Azure Guards. His worry swam through her.
“Who are you?” Cassiel asked the leader. “Where are you taking us?”
“I am Veron Moreland, Commissioner of the Azure Guard in this city. And to answer your question: nowhere on my account. I simply meant to escort you safely away. Draven Skinner has always been a disagreeable man, and you’ll do well to stay away from him. May I ask where you’re lodging?”
Cassiel hesitated before answering. “We are staying at the Cobalt Tavern.”
“That is nearby.” Veron stopped and motioned at one guard to come forward. “It’s run by the family of Corporal Willam.”
The corporal had a kind face, short reddish-brown curls, and a thin nose. His soft brown eyes nearly disappeared when he smiled at them. The man reminded Dyna of her little brother. Her heart clenched when she imagined he was who Thane might have grown to be.
“Corporal, please escort them to the tavern. Make sure of their lodging, then return. We will continue inspecting cargo here.”
“Aye, sir.” He saluted, then motioned for Dyna and Cassiel to follow him along the pier. “My name is Kye Willam, and yours?”
“I’m Dyna, and this is Cassiel,” she said as they walked alongside him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise. How long are you staying in the Port of Azure?”
“Merely passing through,” Cassiel replied.
“We’re planning to board a ship to Dwarf Shoe,” Dyna added.
Kye chuckled. “Fine that. We receive quite a bit of transit business since the bridge was closed off to travelers fifteen years ago.”
“The bridge?”
“Aye, it’s a narrow isthmus bridging Azure to the rest of Urn. It lies north from here, west of the Hermon Mountains.”
“He is referring to the Troll Bridge,” Cassiel said, and she recalled he had pointed it out to her on the map before.
“You know of it then,” Kye said. “The isthmus was well-traveled before. There was a small town there once, by the name of Azurite, in honor of our kingdom. Sadly, cave trolls overran the isthmus, and they ravaged the town. No one survived.”
“That’s awful,” Dyna murmured.
Kye tilted his head in condolence. “That it is. Crossing Dwarf Shoe by ship was once costly, forcing the impoverished to risk crossing Troll Bridge only to meet their demise. The ship captains decreased their fares to make it more affordable for everyone to sail.”
He shook his head with a heavy sigh. “Only the brave and desperate go there now. Every winter, King Lenneus offers prisoners in his kingdom the chance to regain their freedom should they be able to eradicate the trolls. None have returned.”
Dyna covered her mouth at the news.
