Alleys were a common choice when fading. There was less likelihood of them being inhabited, or worse, crowded. And Wraith Lords preferred to arrive out of sight. This alley wasn't as smelly or dirty as others I'd been in. It was simply a space between buildings. A green space, no less. Plants were growing within the shade—ferns and a bit of moss at the sides and grass down the center. The grass stopped at the other end of the alley, terminating in a cobbled sidewalk, and the only people striding down that sidewalk were Tytra.
So, I'd been right in my initial assumption. This was a city of dragon-shifters.
“You brought me to a Tytra city?” I asked Taroc, my gaze wandering back to the sky and the dragons who ruled there.
He nodded, took my hand, and led me out of the alley. We entered the flow of foot traffic smoothly, Taroc guiding me around statuesque women and hulking men. They weren't as muscular as the Wraith Lord Tytras I knew, but they weren't that far off. Tytra did not come in size small. Even the children were larger than those of other races. Thank the Goddess I didn't have to worry about giving birth to Taroc's babies.
The Tytra citizens noticed me, and a few looked as if they might say something, but then their stares swept over and up Taroc . . . and away. I wasn't sure if it was his race, the Wraith Lord pendant he wore, or his unyielding stare, but they moved along without a word. Still, the looks made me wonder if this was going to be a repeat of that time with Rath in Levari.
“Um, is it all right that I'm here?” I asked Taroc.
“You're with me,” he said.
Not exactly an answer.
I sighed. “The last time someone said that to me, I was refused service.”
“What does that mean?” He looked down at me at last, holding my gaze as he continued to navigate the crowd.
“Rath took me to a Varraen restaurant, but they turned us away. They refused to serve a human.”
“What the fuck?”
“Rath nearly attacked the hostess, especially when she summoned men to see us out, but I didn't want to eat there after being treated like that anyway. So, I told him I wanted to leave.”
“You just left after someone insulted you?”
“She didn't insult me. She said they didn't serve humans, and I'm human. I find no insult in my race.”
“It's insulting that they wouldn't serve you. Rath should have burned the place down.”
“Funny you should say that.” I grimaced.
“Why?”
“We were later called back to that city on a mission. I saved that woman's life.”
Taroc snorted. “I'll bet her tune changed then.”
I laughed. “No, actually. She gave me a nasty look before she ran off.”
“That fucking bitch,” he growled. “Which city? I'll go back there and adjust her tune myself.”
“That's sweet.” I squeezed his hand. “But she's not the only racist on Serai. Humans aren't allowed in cities, remember? We have to keep to our villages. Really, when you think about it, her reaction to me wasn't that surprising. She must have been shocked to see a human walk in. What's more surprising is that we weren't stopped sooner.”
“If you're in the company of a Wraith Lord, exceptions should be made. She should have seen his pendant and accepted your presence.”
“Yeah.” I looked around. “These people don't look too happy about making that exception either though.”
Taroc swung his head, meeting every gaze that slid our way. People hastened past, averting their eyes. He put his arm around my shoulders and lifted his chin. It was endearing but uncomfortable.
“Hey.” I slipped out from under Taroc's arm and took his hand again. “I don't want to force people to accept me. If you're going to have to bully your way into a restaurant for me, I'd rather go somewhere else.”
“We're not going to a restaurant.” Taroc focused ahead again, but this time, he was more conscious about the way his people looked at me. His expression kept tightening, his stare sliding side to side as if he were on the lookout for Corrupted. He had said he'd watch out for the Corrupter, but I was pretty sure that wasn't what he was doing.
“Where are we going then?” I asked after a few minutes of silence. “Not to be a whiner, but I'm kind of hungry. I was expecting lunch.”
“You will have it. Soon.”
