“No! All clean,” I responded.
“Step aside!” the man on the other side ordered.
The next moment, a mechanism started to slowly lower the wooden bridge with a loud clicking sound.
The girl beside me shivered and hugged her torso. I returned my gaze back to the other side. A group of armed soldiers and a cloaked figure entered the bridge, walking straight to us.
“Soul searcher!” Victor muttered.
I had only seen them a couple of times. Many cities employed soul searchers to do tasks like interrogation, or to help track people. The city of Riolle went further and they inspected newcomers on their arrival by forcing them to stand before a seer with the ability to look directly into your soul, baring your darkest secrets. Some people believed that soul searchers could see the past and predict the future, but I did not believe in any of that.
The figure glided over to us. The soul searcher moved from Frid to Victor, his remarkably long, pale fingers with sharp, pointy nails lightly touched the arm or shoulder of every person he passed. Victor raised his chin, masking his discomfort with his regular bravado. Frid clenched her hands to her sides, not looking too relaxed either. Even Sol appeared a little discomposed. Erin was artificially quiet while trying hard not to meet the seer’s eyes.
At last, the cloaked figure stopped in front of me and he gave me a long look. I met his gaze, too tired to feel anything but impatience. The soul searcher paused and his handlanded on my chest. I frowned, not sure what that was supposed to mean. The light eyes of the seer continued to peer into mine and I was sucked into a trance, experiencing the uncomfortable intrusion into my mind. After a moment, the hooded man blinked and his head tipped to the side, as he tried to figure something out. Suddenly he stepped away.
I raised my brows, following the movements of the person in the long cloak. When the figure stopped by the prisoner, I could plainly see that she did not feel intimidated. Her gaze found the eyes of the seer as if she had nothing to conceal. The soul searcher froze, his hand stilled on her shoulder. Then he abruptly removed his hand and pressed it to his heart, giving her a deep bow.
Alina’s lips parted, and everything around us seemed quiet for a long moment.
Then, as if waking up from a haze, the sounds of the waters below, and the rustling of the guards returned, then the soul searcher walked back to the other side. Another guard approached us and asked all the usual questions about our intentions and if we had sufficient funds to enter the city.
My gaze kept returning to the redhead, who stood deep in thought, barely paying any attention to what was unfolding in front of her.
When all formalities were done, we walked over the bridge and Erin confidently led us to a street lined with taverns.
“That was odd, don’t you think?” Erin turned to ask me.
The others fell behind, distracted by the street performers. I stayed silent, watching a juggler throwing bright cylinders in the air.
“Who’s the girl?” Erin continued.
“Don’t know, don’t care,” I responded.
“Surely, you’re a little curious,” Erin lowered his voice.
“No. I’m just doing what I’m told. They want me to bring her back and that’s what I’m going to do,” I replied.
“Actually, they don’t know she’s alive yet. My orders were to meet up with you and immediately return with my report,” Erin said.
“Then why are you still here?” I asked.
“Come on, man. I’m allowed to take a breather.” Erin shrugged his shoulders.
“When are you going back?” I looked back at the new girl.
Her features had softened, but she did not look like she was about to faint anymore. There was something in her eyes though, some quiet determination, that I did not like. Despite her torn dress and messy hair, she was uncommonly beautiful. Especially when she stood with her shoulders straight and her warm brown eyes clear and focused.
Realizing that I spent too much time staring at her, I shifted my gaze to Frid and Victor. Frid was clapping her hands while Victor stood beside her with his arms crossed on his chest. His lips moved as if he was saying something to the girl. Suddenly Frid gave him a side eye and laughed out loud, hard. Solomon was nowhere to be seen. I moved my head and quickly found his massive figure. He stood by thewall of one of the shops, talking to a city girl who was touching his bicep.
“Tomorrow morning. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted after all that flying.” Erin sighed.
I could not keep my irritation at bay any longer. “We need a place to rest.” I reminded Erin.
“I know just the place.” Erin nodded.
Thirty minutes later we were entering one of the taverns right in the heart of the city. The building was concealed from the main street by an old, leafy oak that grew freely in the middle of the road. Erin confidently walked to the counter where a thin, old man in a roomy gray jacket was reading a book.
“Good afternoon, sir. We are in need of room and board.” Erin sounded painfully cheerful.
