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I’m so glad we’re leaving.
After that’s done and I say a silent goodbye to my quiet room, I make my way to the river, and pay a bald and lanky goblin with golden pins through his earlobes for the use of his boat for the night.
He gives me a hard look, his nose or his magick alerting him to the fact that I’m not simply a fae. Ice-blue, almost silver, eyes try to glean from my outward appearance what exactly I am, if I’m dangerous. But he soon gives up and takes my money when I add a few more coins to the offer.
I hide my grin as I turn away. Many can tell that there’s something different about me from the other fae males they’ve met before. Whatever they can sense typically puts them on edge, which amuses me to no end. But it works to my advantage because not knowing makes them all very wary of me.
They wouldn’t be at all if they knew the truth, that my skill never manifested itself as anything more than a heightened sense of smell.
The escape plan sorted, I make my way back up to Kallum’s room in the academy barracks. The room has a bed and a washstand. Various weapons lay strewn about, and I roll my eyes. Anyone who came in here would know in a second that Kal has no actual military background, just from how untidy he leaves everything.
I do find our supplies already packed into three large bags, though, and I tuck my few personal possessions into one of them before I leave him a quick note in code to be by the dock by eighth chime. It’ll be dark by then, and our departure will hopefully go unnoticed.
I just hope the shield is down by the time we need to leave because if it’s not, we won’t make it through alive.
CHAPTER FIVE
I wake to six chimes and wonder where I am at first. Then I remember Grey coming to get me out of the jail and Sharpe selling me like an ox to The Cunty Trio.
I stand with difficulty, every joint in my body either screaming or numb. I try to crouch over the chamber pot, but I can't even manage that, so I have to kneel and spread my knees to relieve myself.
I notice a cup on the floor when I’m finished, and I snatch it up, gulping it down as fast as I can before I walk the length of the room slowly to try and loosen my stiff limbs.
I hear the key in the lock and am up against the wall, trying to keep the fear off my face in case it’s Dane coming to hurt me again.
I hate myself for it, and I shake my head at my body’s response. It’s been a long time since I felt like this, though it was never for fear of Dane or the other two before now.
I suppose I can be thankful for that, at least. Things could be worse. The Cunty Trio aren’t the worst monsters who could have found me, and they did get me out of the city dungeon.
The door opens, and Kallum comes in carrying a tray. He closes the door behind him with his foot, giving me a look like he hopes I try to escape.
But I won’t be doing that. I’ll need to bide my time so that the effort of running will actually get me somewhere. And that means waiting for my body to mend … and until after we’ve, hopefully, traveled through the Gate.
‘How many days?’ I ask quietly.
He sets the tray on the floor. ‘Until we leave?’
I nod, and he grins.
‘It’ll be tonight, Harbinger.’
I nod, pretending I’m not surprised it’s so soon, that I’m not worried. But I am. My injuries haven’t had enough time to heal.
He tosses a sack at my feet, and I give him a questioning look. ‘I already have one,’ I say sweetly, gesturing to the one I’m already wearing.
‘You wear that, and your stench will give us away while we’re trying to escape the city,’ he sneers.
I frown, ignoring his insults because it’s hardly my fault that no one's let me bathe in days. ‘Escape? I thought the vote …’
He rolls his eyes. ‘Have you never noticed how divided Alcana is between those who want to reopen the Gate and those who’d rather it stayed closed?’ he asks impatiently.
I nod in understanding. ‘Civil war in the streets,’ I mutter.
‘Eat. I’ll bring you water to wash with.’
He closes the door, and I dig into the lamb pie he’s left me. I haven’t eaten properly in days, and even before then, meat was a treat with my wages. It’s not hot, but I don’t care. I stuff it into my mouth, devouring it, and then I lick the plate clean. Afterward, I lament that I didn’t savor it, wishing there was more.
But by then, Kallum is back with a bowl of water that’s actually steaming.
