I talked a bit about Elena, but I didn’t mention my evening profession, my early childhood, or anything else unpleasant.I didn’t meet new people too often—especially handsome men whom I liked—and was struck by how much of my life I needed to keep secret.
But Darion didn’t complain when I steered around a subject.It seemed he had topics he wanted to avoid as much as I did.He never talked about his family or his profession, and I didn’t press the issue.
Overall, the whole afternoon was…nice.And although many of my alarm bells were ringing, beneath them, a part of me wondered if a simple life could be enough.Maybe I didn’t need to do the Trials.They were enormously dangerous and risky.Maybe it would be enough to have this simple happiness.
As we entered the Citadel Market, the fourth bell began to ring.I approached the cart, watching Elena’s reaction like a hawk.At first, when she caught sight of me, she looked purely annoyed, standing with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.But when her eyes drifted to Darion beside me, that scowl transformed into a smirk.
“It’s about damn time.I was worried sick,” Elena chided as I walked up.“But when this guy”—she gestured to Darion—“didn’t show at the time he said he would, I figured something was up.”
“Sorry, that was my fault,” Darion said, raising a hand.“I ambushed him on the way to the forest.”
“And by that, he means he brought me food.”I paused for a moment.“And shoved me into a pond.”
Darion playfully scowled at me.After all, I’d left out the detail that I’d started the mud fight and had it coming.
Elena’s eyes widened as she watched us chat, a smile on her face.“I’m glad you two had a wonderful afternoon swimming while I stayed here and worked.”
“I’m sorry, Elena,” I said.“I’ll make it up to you.”
“You will.”She smiled slyly.“You can count on it.”
Now that we were fully stocked with goldvein, we filled the rest of Darion’s order.After quickly double-checking to be sure I hadn’t missed anything, I handed him the supplies, and in return, he gave me a small stack of coins.
“I didn’t charge you for the goldvein, of course,” I said.“Thanks for helping.”
We said our goodbyes, and Darion walked off into the crowd.The moment he was gone, I realized I had no way to contact him.And perhaps that was for the best.
I shouldn’t have hoped he would come back.Hope was dangerous.It could get you killed.I knew that from experience.But I hoped anyway.
With Darion gone, Elena turned toward me.“Details!Tell me everything.”
Chapter nine
The Lantern Mile
Elenainterrogatedmeaswe pushed the cart home along the shoddy cobbled roads of the Wharf District.I recounted my lunch with Darion, foraging, and our dip in the pond.I left out the part about us taking off our clothes, swimming, and then lying naked in the sun.There were details she just didn’t need to know.
Besides, I felt a little ashamed of letting my guard down so much.What was Darion after?Was he really interested in me?I’d been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t even considered my plans for entering the catacombs that night.Typically I went over scenarios a hundred times in my mind, considering every threat, every contingency.
Elena, on the other hand, was beside herself.She was a bit of a romantic and loved the idea of me finding a man.
I was so busy deflecting all her questions that I barely noticed the crowd that had formed in the public square ahead of us.I hadn’t even been scanning the alleyways and rooftops for threats like I always did, which was particularly bad since I had been followed just last night.Something about the gathering didn’t sit right with me, and we’d just stumbled directly into it.
The crowd was cheering on a man in common merchant’s clothing who stood on a raised platform with his fist in the air.
“And that’s why the bastard in the throne room must be stopped!”the man shouted to scattered cheers.The majority of people shared worried expressions and spoke in hushed tones.I froze.This was treasonous talk and could only lead to trouble.
“Even the rumor of Emberborn blood is enough for King Tarnasau to steal our children!”the man yelled, almost pleading.
My blood went cold at that forbidden word.Emberborn.Many in the crowd called out in shock.Elena looked my way, her demeanor serious.She knew the penalties as well as anyone else in the city.
“They took my little Katie,” the man cried out, his voice filled with desperation.“Do you want them to steal your children?”
Many people shouted “No!”But a few were starting to back away, their faces revealing worry or even outright fear.I started glancing around, planning our escape route in case things got ugly.But this damn cart would make a quick exit difficult.
“We must march to the Gold Palace!”the father yelled over the cheering crowd.“Demand our children back!”
There was movement on the rooftops around the square, where several figures stood watching.They wore flowing black robes and silver masks covering their faces.Sentinels: King Tarnasau’s elite enforcers, feared throughout the realm.Stationed next to them, Royal Guards stood at the ready, wielding crossbows and swords.This would get ugly fast.
