The castle grounds weren’t exactly quiet as we pushed up through the trapdoor on the other side of the wall, but patrols were predictable. Harrow did as Alysa promised. When a pair of guards neared, Harrow’s caw sent us diving into the hedges.From my time at the castle as Jeweler, I knew that meant the next pair would pass in ten minutes.
Reid led when the way was clear. He crouched below the hedge line with near-soundless footfalls. Each of my steps sounded like crunching leaves on the forest floor compared to his silence. Someday, I’d ask about his skills.
As the descending slope to Lower Hill came into view, we paused. The patrol had turned right toward the castle. The next set would do the same. While they faced the opposite direction, there was far less cover along this dirt path to Cross Street.
“We’ll have to risk it,” Reid whispered.
Before Reid took a step from the garden, a caw sounded. Hart held Reid in place as one of the pair of guards turned to survey the area.
That was too close.
“New idea,” Hart said. “Does anyone have envy to share?”
As much as I hated using the adamas, Hart had a good point. One of us could wield envy to persuade the guards to look in the other direction while we crossed the exposed space.
“I’ve got you,” Reid said, and offered his hand to Alysa. She took Hart’s adamas and her husband’s hand, looking thoughtful.
“Alright, Alysa?” I asked while the gem flashed green.
She shrugged. “Most of us are not great with mind magics. I forget that you and Hart are. It will make a difference.”
I hoped that applied to the Blessed, too. It was true that the king’s ability to wield sadness was unmatched, and Elias was strong with persuasion. Part of me wondered if that was another underhanded attempt to further Themis’s aims in Kavios.
Alysa dropped Reid’s hand and passed the gem to Hart. It glowed green as Hart whispered words to the guard—wordshe’d never hear. The guard listened anyway, returning his gaze to the castle.
“Now,” Hart urged.
We didn’t wait for further instructions as we sprinted down the hillside path. It was short, and the gem’s glow faded to the natural, clear quartz as soon as we hit Cross Street. Blending in with the crowd in this part of the entertainment district was a little easier, although we still crossed the street in pairs to avoid unwanted attention. Hart and Reid entered Forest’s Edge through the front door. They would walk into the high-stakes gambling area from within the tavern. Once inside, they would open the alley door to let Alysa and me in.
“You sure about this?” Alysa asked while we waited in the familiar alley. She leaned against the brick wall that surrounded the city and toyed with a knife from her belt.
“Which part?” I asked. I couldn’t help but shift my weight from foot to foot, expelling nervous energy while I had the chance.
“I don’t know … all of it? Finishing your trials? Overthrowing Rodric? Taking his place?” She didn’t add the final item,Hart, though I knew she wanted to. Alysa and I understood each other. We had since that first day I’d arrived at the Storm, when Hart had brought me to learn where the youngleaf came from and to see what a life outside the confines of Kavios could be.
“We all do what we have to in order to sleep at night,” I said.
She laughed. “Most who say that drink to excess to forget about their financial worries, or maybe they have lots of sex to forget how shitty this kingdom can be. I assure you most aren’t plotting to overthrow a king—with his son, no less.”
And we’d returned to the heart of her question. “I love him, Alysa.”
She held my gaze and nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll leave it. I know Reid trusts him, too. I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing. He’s still a threat to this kingdom until you finish your trials.”
I nodded.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “If you freely admit your love for him, then I can only assume he’s finally something other than the broody bastard he’s been for years. You make the difference. If you don’t find a way to finish your trials, he’ll make different choices—for you.”
I opened my mouth to respond just as the door beside us cracked and Reid stuck his head into the alley. “You might want to get in here.”
Apparently, they hadn’t given Hart a moment to signal us. The tavern’s back room was filled with men and women. Most stood; many leaned against the walls and high tables, creating space in the center for people to step forward and speak.
The tone in the room skewed toward anger, even though I hadn’t picked up the discussion topic yet. Drinks sloshed in glasses as speakers gestured wildly. The man who stood directly before Hart in the center of the room was red in the face.
His final words hit me like a slap, as did the heat of Hart’s anger on my tongue. “What are you thinking? No lay could be that good.”
Hart’s hand was around the man’s throat before I could object.
I sprinted to the center of the room, timing be damned, and grabbed Hart, working to loosen his grip around the older man. “This isn’t exactly the plan we discussed,” I hissed.
