Seth chortled, grinning. Eleos shrugged. “I’m going to watch him.”
“We’regoing to watch him,” Seth corrected. “And I need to see what’s become of this city.”
“Whyare we following them?”
“Lady Aethra,” Eleos said quietly. “Cerys didn’t ask Percy to follow her because heblends in.”
Seth finished his thought. “I know my cousin. She likes him.”
Phaedrus rolled his eyes. “Oh, to be young again.”
Blinking, I recalled the way Cerys had spoken when she’d invited Percy to join her.
Oh, shehadbeen lying. The woman could waltz through worlds to reach any destination she chose. She didn’t need a messenger.
Eleos snapped his journal closed. “We’re going to make sure he doesn’t screw this up.”
16
Eleos
Seth had it all figured out—how we would justify our actions if Seraphim caught us. While ensuring the safety of our companions, we’d set out to gather reconnaissance.
A lie she would see straight through.
Slipping through the congested streets, I found a noticeable gap where the crowd parted for Cerys, falling prostrate when they noticed who they stood in the presence of. A goddess, to their eyes. Percy marched at her side, hands waving as he talked without pause.
Seth’s voice spoke in my thoughts. “Do you have eyes on the target?”
“I have the bard in my sights.”
“Someone’s enjoying this,” Aethra thought. “Is Cynthus leather and Percy the only thing you two agree on?”
“Yes,” Seth answered curtly. “Three men are staring at you.”
I glimpsed Aethra across the street, leaning against a flowering tree. Her head spun around. “So?”
I interjected. “Four, actually.”
“Where?” Seth demanded. “I don’t see him.”
“It’s you, idiot.”
Aethra pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a laugh. A smile touched my lips.
Nothing made me gladder than to see small moments of joy briefly dispel her darkness.
Thus far, Seth had been a shadow even I couldn’t find in the crowd. He darted out from behind a statue and crossed the street to watch the pair from a better angle. Following him, I flipped a page of my journal, studying the map Seraphim had given me.
Cerys guarded her mind well, but Percy was an open book. Focusing on the bard, I eavesdropped on their conversation.
“So, um,” Percy’s words echoed in his thoughts. “Divine any interesting fates, recently?”
Cerys responded, but I could only feel her surface emotion. Curiosity. Percy was the first tainted she’d met from the Mainland. Someone who’d stood by the Empty of their own will.
“Really?” Percy responded, nearly running into the wall. “Oh. What do you do most days, then?”
Cerys gave a curt response, then stopped. Gratitude flowed from her. The warmth of trust.
