“Remind me again what happened.”
“I had been… away. Ishouldn’thave left him to fend for himself in Hollis, but I needed to take the job—we needed the money.By the time I came back, he was gone, and all of our stuff had been moved out or thrown away.I asked our neighbor what happened, and she saidhe’dgotten into trouble with the guards. Thatthey’dhad enough ofhim, andhad taken him to the camps. Thecamps!He’sonlyten!” Her voice grew louder with each word she spoke, her panic and concern so genuine it hurt to listen to.
“Quiet down, would you?” The male pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can give this to you, but you owe me one. And Imeanit this time.”
The female began nodding and softly thanking him repeatedly.
“I… got a new job, so I might not be as easy to find. But when you need me,you’llknow how to get ahold of me,” shestatedafter taking a small group of folded papers from him.
“Bah!I’vealways known how to find you.Now, if you’re done blubbering, I have to be home for dinner,” he said to her.Thereseemed to be a deep level of familiarity between the two of them, which struckme asodd.
They shook hands, said their goodbyes, and then the male departed. Walking out of the alley after making sure the coast was clear, he breezed right past Matea and me.
Before Matea could try to stop me, I shot forward towards the female, making my form smaller to not be as noticeable as I moved. I tried my best to catch a glimpse of what the contents of the papers held, but Icouldn’tseem to get a good look.
Something deep inside told me I needed to know. Ididn’tknow if it was my unending curiosity, or a small push from the Stars, but I knew in that moment that I needed to find out.
After all, each life was like a string of silk, and together, the people ofInphismade up a giant web—paths overlapping, intertwining, and all of it for a reason.
Maybe that was my string overlapping with the string of the female’s before me.
That was what I told myself, anyway, as I stepped out of the shadows and stood directly behind the female, Matea seething at me from within the safety of my shadow.
“Hello there,” I said calmly, trying not to startle her.
It didn’t work.
She nearly jumped out of her skin, spinning on her heel andimmediatelythrowing a punch straight at my face.
I ducked and shifted over a step swiftly, holding my hands up in surrender.“I just want to talk.”
She looked shockedthat I had evaded her attack, taking a step back as she clutched the papers close to her chest.
“I heard everything,” Istarted,speaking quietly. “And I want tohelp, ifI can. But I have questions first.”
“Who areyouto helpme?” the female questioned.
“A powerful ally, if you’d have me.” I conjured a small ball of fire to my palm and watched as her eyes grew at the sight. I knewshe had seen my wings and had assumedmea Northerner. Now, I met her gaze, letting her see with my abilities and my eyes that I was notjustNorthern.
“You’re—you’re likehim,” she stammered.“The king, I mean. There have been rumors of his abilities. And considering your complexion…you’reour lost princess.”
“Queen of the South ofInphis,now. But yes, I was once Princess of the North,” I clarified, trying not to let the mention of my old life sting. “Now, can I ask those questions or not?”
She nodded slightly, seemingly unable to speak.
“Great. Who are you so concerned about?”
“My nephew.He’sthe only family I have left and… Ididn’tdo a good enough job in taking care of him.” She hung her head.
“I’m sorry,” I offered genuinely. “What arethe campsyou mentioned before?”
At that, her head snapped up. “You don’t know?”
I shook my head and motioned for her to continue.
“More rumors, I suppose, but I swearthere’smore to it than that. They saythat’swhere they send people that are too much trouble to deal with, or that they need to simply get rid of. People just…vanishnowadays. No trace left behind—and trustme,I’vechecked. Thething is, wedon’tknow exactly where it is. Or the people who do eitheraren’talive to talk aboutit, orare so loyal to the crown thatthey’ddie before they spill the crown’s secrets.”
My mind whirled with the possibilities.
