The cart rolls to a stop, and my claws retract of their own accord—a reflex reaction. It’s fight orflight mode now.
The canvas unfastens above us, and then light pours into the cart. The veiled face of a king’s guard enters my line of vision, and I lie perfectly still, hoping Ivy has the sense to do the same.
His beetle-black armour shines before the flickering sconces on the fortification behind him, and I spy the silver-eyed crow on his breastplate.
King Corvis’s seal.
If only these humans realised they were swearing fealty to a Fae of all things, they’d be beside themselves with rage.
Ivy swallows audibly on my left. I hope the guard doesn’t pick up on the sound.
Luckily for us, he’s human, and human beings have shit hearing. Meanwhile, I can hear every thump of his heart behind his breastplate. Ivy’s heart beats like the wings of a songbird, and I focus on the sound, letting it soothe me as it has done these last few weeks.
I won’t let anything happen to her. If these men spot us, then I will gladly fight in her honour.
Finally, the guard drops the canvas, and I loose a breath as he urges the driver onward. “Lift the gate!”
The knot vanishes in my chest, and I wipe the sweat from my forehead, smiling victoriously.
Our gamble paid off. We passed the inspection.
An iron portcullis screeches upward, and the cart moves once again. The light fades as we pass through a tunnel that reeks of damp, but the smell has nothing on what comes next.
Excrement.
Humanexcrement, to be precise. I cover my nose, bracing for the worst. The Eastern Market is the most crowded in the kingdom, and it’s going to be a real challenge to remain unnoticed.
Mindless chatter reaches my ears, and I roll my eyes, wondering how these creatures became the dominant race. They absolutely have nothing of substance to say.
The cart parks along a cobblestone street, and I pick up on the sharp scent of ale. It looks like we’ve stopped outside a public house.
Typical.
“When I say run…” I announce, getting to my feet.
Ivy sits up beside me, eyes gleaming brightly as she nods. “Got it.”
We’ll have to move fast. If we’re caught, the driver will report us to the guard, and I’ll tear them all apart if they dare lay a hand on Ivy.
There’s something I’ve always wanted to try. And I think it may just work. But it could be costly…
I just hope she doesn’t throw up on my boots.
Well,here goes nothing,I tell myself as I grip her arm.
“Run!”
Ivy
One moment, I’m leaning on a heap of bumpy apples, and the next I’m flying through space and time.
Everything flashes by. The sky becomes the earth, and the city lights become the stars as I shut my eyes, listening to the rhythm of my own pounding heart.
Tegwyn is my only anchor in the chaos, and I hold onto him tightly, thinking I can hear the rapid beat of his heart.
Then it all stops, and I gulp as if I’m drowning, hands shaking as my head spins like a globe.
My vision warps and folds, and I don’t know my left from my right, which way is up, and what way is down. Tegwyn has his arms wrapped around me, and I hadn’t even noticed I’d been gripping his coat like a lifeline.
