I won't let my brother die.
Thirty - Four
Shaye
We split up. My mother and Kamari take the main street while Nyx, Thrane and I walk the length of the harbor. The harbor itself is relatively untouched, but the surrounding buildings have been damaged. A lot of citizens are holed up in their homes or are making a break for the forest. Either way, there aren't that many people on the street which is helpful. But when we look across the expanse of the port, no Hydran ships are visible. That's not possible. They couldn't have left that quickly. We sprinted here from the church.
"We can't just traipse around Tronovia hoping we stumble upon them," I grumble when Thrane insists we stay in the vicinity to investigate. "This is a complete waste of our time. We could be – "
"When have I ever wasted my time?" He whirls on me, hands clasped firmly behind his back. I'm too taken aback to answer. "Never. The answer is never. I don't intend to start wasting my time now."
Thrane suddenly stomps back the direction we came. I roll my eyes, shooting Nyx an annoyed glare. He raises his hands, as if to say, don't take your anger out on me.
"Where are you going?"I call over my shoulder, but my cousin doesn't break his stride.
"To ask the man who keeps watching us what he saw."
Nyx and I chase after him. "How can you be so sure he saw anything at all?" Nyx asks, spearing the hiding vendor a pointed look.
"Oh, I can spot a man withholding information."Thrane's lips curl into a smile.
"How?" I ask.
Thrane stops and squares his shoulders to mine. "Because I am an expert at withholding information myself."He waves a friendly hand at the vendor crouching beneath his stand averting his gaze from us. I'm surprised he's even out after all the explosions. But it looks like he's attempting to salvage the seafood scattered across the ground. "Good day,Tronovian."Thrane says with a gentleness I'm not familiar with from him.
The Tronovian crinkles his nose and busies himself with work. "Far from home, aren't you, Frost Elf?"
His greeting catches me off guard. I furrow my brow. "There is no need for unpleasantries, sir."
"And right on cue, a Frost Elf sympathizerstickingtheir nose where it does not belong."
Nyx takes a heavy step forward. "I suggest you watch your tone. These two might be forgiving, but I certainly am not."
Thrane pats Nyx's shoulder, having him scoot to the side. He's not at all deterred by the Tronovian's cold greeting. "As charming as you seem to be, goodTronovian, I am not interested in verbal sparring. I would like to know what you saw here over the last few nights."
The man stiffens. "Who says I saw anything?"
Thrane tilts his head to the side, curious, like a bird observing a worm wiggling in the morning grass. "Thefeatherlighttick in your jaw. The fumbling of your fingers.The unsteady rhythm in your breathing. Shall I continue or can we make this a simple interaction and you tell me what you saw?"
I'm impressed.But Stars know I can't tell Thrane that.
The merchant rubs his hand beneath his bearded chin and scratches his index finger and thumb together. "How about some…encouragement for my tale?"
"How about – " Thrane's hand shifts into an ice dagger drawing a gasp from the man – "Ipermityou to keep your shifty little eyes instead?"
The man lifts hands in surrender. "No need to get testy, Frost Elf. As it would seem, I am feelingmighty generoustoday and will forgo my fee."
"How decent of you," Nyx rolls his eyes.
"Go on," Thrane urges with a sinister grin. "Tell us what you saw."
When Thranedoesn'tshift his hand back to normal, the vendor swallows and wipes perspiration from his thinning hairline. "Last night, I saw some peculiar folk disembark one of the Hydran ships. I can't be sure, since they were a good distance from me, but I think they might have killed a couple dock workers. It was late, but it seemed they didn't want anyone to be here to greet them."
"And you didn't report this?" Nyx's mouth drops, positively bewildered.
My heartbeat quickens. "Where did they go?"
"I don't know."
