“Are theseallmountains?” I asked, tracing my finger over the stack of triangles in an area markedFirst Territoryin bold, swirling letters.
“Yep. It’s the biggest mountain range we have. It basically acts as a border between Sixth and First. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard it’s a brutal place.”
“And this, beside it?” I studied the dark shading that stretched from the coast to the Domus, adjacent to the mountains. “This is all…wilderness? No cities?”
His cheeks puffed on an exhale. “Yes, and it might be more brutal than those mountains. I haven’t been to First at all, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a pretty wild and uncivilized place.”
“But isn’t it led by a Princeps?”
“He’s a pretty wild and uncivilized leader. I’ve heard stories from men who’ve been there in past lives, and it’s, uh—”
A rustling sound had him launching to his feet.
I nearly did the same until I found its source. Peering between the leaves of a cucumber plant were two brown eyes, a little nose beneath them. Seeing he’d been spotted, he jumped to his feet, a look of alarm on his young face.
It was the looter boy. The one who’d held a knife to my stomach when we ran into his group on the way to Fifth. Harthon had sent him back here to give him a new life. He was under North’s care—an absolutelyshockingfact—and last I heard, he’d been assigned to help some of the kitchen workers with cleaning.
Stefano relaxed, but the boy quickly stepped back at the sight of him, perhaps recognizing Stefano as the one who threw a knife into his leg. It’d been to save both him and me, but still, it must have been traumatizing. And it wouldn’t have happened ifI’d followed Harthon’s orders and stayed put on the horse that day.
Just another tragedy that fell on me.
I lifted my lips in what I hoped was a friendly smile. “Hi.”
He stared back, looking equal parts terrified and intrigued.
Purple eyes. Right.
“What’s your name?” I asked, unsure if he’d chosen one yet.
He blinked once, turned on his heel, and scurried back to the kitchen.
“I don’t know if he’ll ever look at me like anything but a monster,” Stefano muttered, slumping back against the wall.
“How long has it been? A couple of weeks? He just needs time.” When Stefano grimaced, I reminded him, “You saved his life.”
“Doesn’t feel that way.”
“You saved his lifeandmine.” I rested my palm on his boot. “I don’t know if I ever thanked you.”
His eyes zipped to my hand. When they remained glued there, I realized I’d never done such a friend-like thing to Stefano.
Wait, was Stefano myfriend?I’d never been one for friends, and Stefano was only ever with me because he was my personal guard. But categorizing him as just another soldier didn’t feel right.
Maybe hewasmy friend.
A half-friend?
He cleared his throat, and I quickly yanked my hand away.
“You don’t need to thank me. I was just following orders.” He cleared his throat again and nodded toward the map. “Is the map helping you at all?”
I returned my attention to the weathered paper and roved over the sketches until I focused once again on the shaded area beside First’s mountains.
A wild, uncivilized place. The last place I’d seemingly want to go.
Then why couldn’t I draw my eyes away?
Chapter 5
