Thane glares at me. “Come again?”
“Well, he clearly knows what he’s talking about,” I murmur, gesturing to Dulan.
“Yes, but at what cost? People around here don’t help others unless they want something out of it.” Thane bumps Algar out of the way and closes the gap between him and Dulan. “So either this is a setup, or he wants something from us. What is it that you want, Dulan?”
“Absolutely nothing at all,” he pleads, looking at me and Algar for backup. “I—I just know what it is like to need help. And this is not a safe place for such beautiful creatures. Believe it or not, a lot of us Ruvainers are not as bad as other kingdoms think.” He eyes Zephra and Pearl. “The sooner you get them out of here, the better.”
Oh my goodness. He’s so sweet.
Thane doesn’t ease up on him, though, despite how genuine he sounds. I want to punch him for being such an asshole…but I can understand his defensiveness. Dulan is a stranger…and Thane clearly has trust issues.
“I know a liar and a con when I see one.” Algar gives Dulan a thorough scan. “I don’t think he’s lying. If he wanted to rat us out, all he’d have to do is scream and the guards would come running. He’s willing to help. Some people do that, you know? Help others because they’re nice.”
“Yeah.” Thane shoots me a pointed look. “I’ve witnessed it with her firsthand.”
I scowl at him. “I don’t regret being a nice person,Bane of My Existence.”
“Ha! That’s a good one.” Algar chortles. “Bane of My Existence. I’ll have to use that one.”
I smirk.
“Well, come along,” Dulan urges, marching past us. “If we go toward the forest, it’s much quicker. There is another entrance to the tunnels. It’s sort of a secret passage only the lower-bred Ruvainers know about. We do lots of trading and meetings there.”
Thane exhales deeply behind his mask while Algar trails Dulan. We near the forest again and cross a creek, approaching a different set of pillars. They stand before us, giants in black, split and chipped from all directions. I’m positive they won’t stand for much longer, but they are majestic, nonetheless. Too marvelous to be in a territory this shitty.
“Just over there.” Dulan points ahead. My eyes follow his finger, and I notice a gap in the trees. At first glance, I wouldn’t have been able to make it out, but as I stare harder, I notice curved branches crafted into a makeshift passageway.
The opening is shrouded with bushes and vines, and the passage is much too dark to see very far in. This area doesn’t seem like the sort of place where people congregate. It’s desolate and swarming with wasp nests.
“This better not be a trap,” Thane grouses as Dulan ducks under a few nests clinging to the trees. Irritated, Thane jerks on Pearl’s reins, but she clearly doesn’t like that because she snorts and then whinnies, stomping her front hooves.
“Easy,” Thane whispers, holding a hand up to her. “Easy, girl. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Thane!” Algar whispers. “Keep her quiet!”
I notice him peering past Thane. A few yards behind is a gap revealing the center of the city. And in the middle is a group of Ruvain guards.
Pearl whinnies again and jerks forward, dragging Thane with her.
My stomach hollows, then drops.Oh no.She’s runningtowardthe city.
Thane grips hard, digging his heels into the ground to try and stop her, but he’s no match for a horse that solid. She gallops loudly, drawing attention to herself. I gasp as the guards whip their heads to find us.
“Hey!” one of them barks.
“Intruders!” another one roars as they storm in our direction. “Sound the alarm!”
When bright lights flash and bells ring, my heart thunders in my chest. The ringing bells are so loud, my ears ache.
When Thane has finally gotten a hold of Pearl, he hops on her back. Algar’s whole face drops with shock. And it’s his words that spark the fire in me. “Run, Zaira.”
I look for Thane again.
He nods. “Go!”
“Quick! Follow me!” Dulan shouts, waving a hand as he stands behind the trunk of a tree.
He speeds away in a flurry. I chase after him, zipping past Algar and running through thorny bushes. Algar is right behind me, limping quickly and teleporting in between to catch up. Zephra flies near the treetops, safe from attack. Thane gains on us as the Ruvain guards storm behind him with swords, spears, and bows at the ready.
