Beneath.
“Seems the soldiers had a clear-out before opening the Undercity.” Kaan’s voice is a dark grate that sings to the icy rage licking at my ribs.
I crack my neck. Close my eyes.
Squeeze them really fucking tight.
Had Sereme only approved my crusade to slaughter Cadok, this wouldn’t have happened. Had I trusted my gut and taken matters into my own hands,this wouldn’t have happened.
I glimpse Kaan, his molten stare a roil of wrath as he studies the bodies, exuding the same energy I saw when he stormed into the crater to fight for me. But quieter.
A colorful lark flutters aimlessly through the gloom, making my breath hitch.
I know that lark …
“Stay right behind me.” I stalk forward beneath the bodies, refusing tolook up lest I spur my brewing rage into something uncontainable. Once I can see The Curly Quill in the distance, I slow, ease my ring into my pocket, and slip a dagger free.
We’re a cycle early for the proposed delivery, but—
“There’s nobody in there,” Ahvi says, his words muffled from beneath his hood.
Beside the buoyant relief in my gut, there’s a heavy sinking sensation.
I pause, looking back. “What abou—”
“Uno isn’t there,” he says with a compassionate softness that’s so at odds for one so young. “Or Ruse.”
I swallow that information like smashed glass, then move across the colorful confetti of Ruse’s shattered window, scouring the shop’s looted interior.
Creators …
Stepping into the cold, musty atmosphere, I edge past near-empty shelves, over the torn bits of more vibrant larks littering the ground. Ruse’s lovely pets, now in pieces with the scattered remnants of her beloved shop.
It guts me more than the shelves.
Reaching the back, I rip the camouflage sheet away, fist clenching when I see the armory is only partially picked at.
Everything happened too fast for even the Ath to predict.
I know Sereme survived, otherwise the serpent bitch wouldn’t have slit my spine as we were stepping down off Noeve’s cart, but what of Ruse and Uno? And other members of the Ath who’ve shown me nothing but kindness? Most of them have lived here,thrivedhere since well before The Fade lost all its joy. Who remembered a time before Sereme came in all her purple glory, speaking of rebellion and reformation. Ofrising from the ashesof a broken world.
What of them?
Pyrok whistles low, moving past me into the armory. “Don’t mind if I do.” He cuts me with a side-eye. “Pretty sure I’m down a few things.”
“I only took your flasks. Anything else you lost yourself.”
I turn, sheathe my blade, and rifle beneath Ruse’s counter, hunting for her ledger. Heart clenching painfully at the sight of Uno’s little nest of furs tucked beneath the looted safe.
Unable to locate the valuable book, nor smell blood or see any sign of a struggle, I decide to lean into my preferred reality. The one where Ruse reached for Uno and the ledger, thenran.
… I have to believe it.
Ahvi wriggles down from Kaan’s back, landing with a wobble as he pushes off his hood. Eyes wide, he takes everything in. “There’s somereallygood stuff in here.”
I frown, scanning the shop that looks like one of Roan’s explosive runes popped somewhere in the middle of it all, leaving a pretty, botanical mess and only the odd surviving jar.
Someone’s easily pleased.
