He smiled so brightly that I felt a flush in my neck and cheeks.This was ridiculous.Everything about him felt like a magnet, pulling me closer.Why did this man have this much of an impact on me?I didn’t like losing control.It was dangerous.
I quickly filled the rest of his order and sent him on his way, watching him as he headed off.When he was nearly out of sight, he turned and looked in my direction, sending me one more smile.I ignored it.
After he disappeared, I glared at Elena.
“What?”she asked.
“What the dust was that?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, the picture of innocence.“We need more goldvein root.”
I headed north, weaving through the crowds of customers and merchants until I reached the edge of the Citadel Market.Soon I crossed from the Citadel District into the Barracks District.This part of Analon housed many of the Royal Guard as well as various other soldiers and mercenaries.It was packed to the gills with the threeb’s: brothels, barracks, and bars.
A woman dressed in not much at all catcalled me from an open window.“Hey, sweetie!Aren’t you cute!You looking for some fun?”
I avoided her gaze and moved on, but in the process, I nearly smacked into two Royal Guards who were walking like they owned the road.“Watch it, punk!”
I hated this neighborhood.
But this was the most direct way to get to the city’s North Gate, and beyond that was the Blackwood Forest, which had some of the best foraging spots.So I hurried through the district, keeping my eyes on the ground, avoiding eye contact with everyone.Soon I approached the city’s imposing north wall.
Of all the city’s gates, the North Gate was the most impressive.The walls towered a hundred feet in the air, casting a long shadow across the nearby homes.The gate itself was thirty feet high, made of massive timbers reinforced with iron, and a large metal portcullis with deadly spikes pointed downward, threatening everyone who entered.
Carts, horses, and peasants pushed through the entrance, jostling in both directions.I kept my head down as I passed through the gate, ignoring the questioning looks of the guards.The best strategy when dealing with them was to go unnoticed.I used my thieving instincts to the fullest, hiding behind carts, horses, and peasants, making myself smaller, quieter, not worth noticing.
Soon I was out of the city, heading along the North Road toward the Blackwood Forest.
The third bell rang out from the Citadel Clock, easily audible beyond the city’s walls.With just half a bell to forage for the goldvein root, I doubled my pace.
Thatched-roof homes and farms dotted the landscape outside the city walls, but they grew less frequent the closer I got to the forest.Even the traffic on the road died down, and I soon found myself alone, imposing trees looming ahead.
As I entered the woods, the temperature cooled dramatically.The evergreens and stately oaks closed in on either side of me, seeming to suck the heat out of the air.I couldn’t see very far in any direction.
The shadows here felt wrong.Despite being alone, the strange sensation of another presence batted at my senses.My skin prickled as my stealth instincts buzzed.I darted my eyes from side to side but saw nothing out of place.My hand didn’t stray far from the hilt of my dagger.
The light snap of a twig came from behind me, and I spun on my heel, brandishing my blade.There was a flash of movement in the forest.Like a lightning bolt, I sprinted toward it.Whoever it was wouldn’t expect the speed of my approach.
I ran around the tree where I had seen the movement.Sure enough, a dark figure pressed against the trunk.They spun around as I closed the distance, and I held my blade up to their throat.
Then my brain caught up with my hand.Emerald eyes.Sandy brown hair.That ridiculous smile.
“Darion?”
Chapter eight
Foraging and Waterfalls
“Hello,Cas,”Darionsaidin a shaky voice as he stared down at the blade at his throat.“Um…sorry for sneaking up on you like that.”
I pulled the blade away but kept it unsheathed at my side.Why the dust was he following me?My mind instantly went to negative places.Maybe he was a competing herbalist, trying to find my foraging spots.Or worse, maybe he’d followed me out here to steal my coin purse, waiting until we were alone to strike.
“Explain,” I said with an edge to my voice as sharp as my blade.
“I wanted to surprise you,” Darion said with a sheepish grin.“I could tell you didn’t want to forage today, and I felt bad about you missing your midday meal, so I…uh…I brought it to you.”
He started opening the bag at his side.I held up my blade and barked, “Slowly!”
Slower now, he opened his bag and showed me the contents.Inside were a few pieces of fruit, a loaf of bread, and some cured meats and cheeses.He really had brought me food.
