Seraphim had described the city of Naunet as a ‘little border town.’ If she spoke true, I could hardly imagine the splendor of Duath Nun’s capital.
Grand stone edifices, multiple stories tall, lined broad streets, their edges gilded with gold. Thick ivy hung from windowsills, and tiled roads stretched to even the poorest homes.
The smile washed from Percy’s face, and he fidgeted with his disguise: a decidedly less flamboyant white tunic hemmed with runes.
“See anything?” Percy asked.
“No,” I said.
“There’s only a thousand miles of city left. I guess we can keep looking.” Percy touched his hair self-consciously, but there was no need.
Seraphim insisted people here did not fear the tainted. Thus far, Percy had received no more interested glances than I.
Noticing my reflection in the puddle, my gaze caught on the sage-green eyes staring back at me. Fingers trembling, I ran my hands through my hair, searching the city not with my eyes, but with my mind. Opening myself to the world, I let the surrounding chorus of thoughts in, hoping to hear Aethra’s voice among the sea.
A cacophony swarmed inside my head. Errant thoughts from a thousand people.
I’d done this often, whenever I needed to find someone I couldn’t see. While happiness, excitement, and love flooded into my thoughts, so too did oppressive darkness. The Merchant Isles were filled with wretched souls and those lost in despair.
But the despair I felt here was entirely different. Relentless horror lurked under quiet everyday thoughts. Dread formed in the depths of my throat and rang in my ears, as though a note the people sang in harmony.
Pressing a hand to my stomach, I doubled over beneath its assault.
Someone grabbed my arm and yanked me back. A wagon rolled by, missing my nose by inches.
“Careful,” Seth said, dusting me off. “This is a bad place to getlost in your thoughts.”
“Thanks,” I said, looking the man up and down. On the surface, he was nothing remarkable: the unusual red eyes stood out, and his black waves fell into the collar of his dark coat, obscuring him in shadow.
I didn’t trust Seth. He wore easy smiles and joked freely. Whenever we faced danger, he recklessly threw us into even greater danger in his efforts to rescue us. All good things, on the surface.
But walls shielded his thoughts—his true self.
I knew he wouldn’t hurt Aethra. Iknewthat. But I had my doubts, nonetheless.
Seth had been with her when our camp was attacked. They’d been returning from a private conversation when strange shadows had sprung from the trees.
During the chaos, she’d been separated from us. But how was I to believe thatSeth, who hovered over her like an overprotective guardian, would simply let her out of his sight?
Percy squeezed between us. “There you are. Any luck?”
Seth’s scarlet eyes narrowed. “Don’t you think I would have brought Aethra, had I found her?”
“Oh.” Percy’s shoulders slumped. “You’resureshe’s here?”
“That’s what Whisper thinks—and he’s usually right.”
Biting the inside of my lip, I glanced away. What if Whisper had made a mistake?
Leaning forward, Percy studied Seth’s face. “You’re calmer than I expected,” he noted.
“I guess.” Seth stepped back.
“It’s unlike you,” I agreed. “Normally you’re—”
“Impulsive?” Seth placed a hand on his hip. “Oh, trust me, I will be themomentwe find her.”
If he lied, he lied well. Shifting my focus from the people to the assassin, I tried again to read his thoughts.
