1
AUDRYN
I’d never killed someone before, but the two guards walking toward me might change that. My vision narrowed as they moved down the street, their eyes wide and heads on a swivel—no doubt looking for anyone daring enough to wield magic.
“Excuse me, Audryn,” a little voice beckoned from my side. “Can you spare peppers today?”
The guards paused to harass a meager female near a rundown storefront, giving me a few moments to stop. The squeaky wheels on my cart slowed as I set the long wooden handles down on the ground. I took another look at the guards to ensure they were still distracted.
“Good morning.” My eyes softened on the familiar curly-haired girl. “Peppers, huh? You don’t want apples today?”
Over the last six months, I’d stopped to talk to the gangly girl on my way to the market. Each morning, she begged silently, holding her small brown sack out to all who passed. Many ignored her, refusing to even look in her direction, while others donated a coin or two.
Each time I passed, I dropped a few vegetables in her emptybag and offered a smile. That was until she’d worked up enough courage to make a request. Rather than accepting whatever I’d selected, she asked for an apple and had made her desires known ever since. I happily obliged her requests.
“Nope, no apples.” The girl shook her head. “Mother’s going to take the pepper, scoop out the guts, and fill it with grain and meat. I’ve never had it before, but I hope it’s good.”
I knelt down on the cobblestone street. “That sounds delicious! Let’s see what I can gather up for you. Give me just a second.”
I turned to the cart and scanned the produce. The green peppers were perfectly plump and filled with a sweet, earthy scent—my favorite aroma. I selected three, knowing she had a brother at home, and found the largest red apple of the batch.
Pivoting back, I watched as Benton placed a crusty, round loaf of bread from his own inventory into her bag. She giggled as he made several silly faces and then offered her own. It was a goofy competition they’d always played; a game he let her win every time.
“Here you go.” I gently dropped the peppers into the bag. “And this is for you.” I extended my arm, letting the bright crimson fruit rest in the palm of my hand. Her sage-green eyes lit up at the sweet treat.
“And what is this?” a deep voice drawled from behind.
Not a second later, the apple was plucked from my hand. The girl gasped and took off running down the street, sack dragging along next to her.
I whirled and was met with the wide chest of a black uniform. Quickly, I scanned the shirt, finding the name C. Hunt embroidered over his left chest pocket in aqua-colored thread. Lifting my chin, I met the male’s haughty eyes.
“It looks like there’s an issue with your uniform,” I said innocently, not bothering to address him formally. I pressed my lips into a pout.
“Where?” He shook his head, his forehead creasing, as he searched frantically for an unruly string or a rogue button missing from his long-sleeved shirt. “You’re mistaken—this uniform’s in line with code.”
Hesitating for a few moments and batting my lashes unwittingly, I blew out an exaggerated breath. “It appears they mistakenly added an H to your name. You really should get that fixed.” I smiled. “It would be just terrible if someone addressed you improperly.”
The guard squinted at me for far too long, trying to make sense of my statement. Several moments passed before he’d worked out the insult in his pea-sized brain.
“Dare you speak to a member of the Rivale Guard with such disrespect?”
I stepped forward and rose onto the balls of my feet, teetering on my tiptoes. Our proximity provided the displeasure of smelling the aftermath of Hunt's morning coffee. Sneering, my gaze locked onto my prey. “I dare.”
Benton cleared his throat to my left and shifted on his feet. Luckily for him, our carts created distance between the two of us; even if the guard swung on me, my best friend wouldn’t be a casualty in the melee.
“Especially when one steals food from a hungry child’s hands.” I pressed my mouth into a thin line. Seconds passed as we stayed frozen in place, neither giving in, like two bulls in a standoff preparing to gouge their horns into one another.
“Okay now,” the female guard interjected, putting her hand on my shoulder. “Enough of that. There’s no need for things to get out of hand.”
The ginger-haired female tugged me, just enough to throw me off balance and make me take a step backwards. The difference in Hunt and my height was far more apparent flat footed—though at five-foot-eight, I certainly wasn’t small. I had a healthy amount of weight on my body and basic fighting skills,courtesy of lessons from my brother, making me a formidable opponent to most. Even if I couldn’t win, I’d give the guard a fight he’d remember.
Hunt smirked, raised his chin, and looked down his pointy nose at me. Setting the back of his wrist on the pommel of his sword, he flexed his fist in warning. I scrutinized his stature, considering whether he might’ve been my little brother’s killer.
“If you have enough food to hand out to beggars"—he took a massive bite of the apple—"you certainly wouldn’t mind feeding a hungry guard who keeps you safe, now would you?”
I looked on in disgust, watching the pieces of apple hop around in his open mouth as he chewed. One would assume a guard would have manners considering he represented the king, but I had lowered my expectations of our kingdom's guards long ago.
Inhaling deeply, Hunt choked on the apple bits still tumbling in his gaping hole. I chuckled to myself, hoping the entire core would lodge in his throat and send his body convulsing from the lack of air to his lungs. Tragically, he recovered from the short-lived coughing fit.
