Soon, the dirt pathways transitioned to cobblestone streets, and the flagstone manors grew more opulent in design. The prized jewel of the city, though, was the royal castle. It towered above all else, and hundreds of floating orbs fueled by rycrims cast a warm glow over the jade stone. Molten-gold veining crawled upward toward the spires and practically pulsed in the light. It looked almost…alive. And though it was mesmerizing, we avoided it at all costs. We needed to visit Queen Elianna, but not yet. Not before we had a chance to regroup with Kost.
Sticking to dark alleyways, we avoided people but kept our ears open. Listened for any detail about taverns or inns, desperately picking apart conversations in the hopes we could find our destination. We followed one group of intoxicated locals only to wind up at a tavern full of boisterous patrons. Their loud tune about warrior maidens followed us into the night as we retraced our steps.
After what felt like hours and absolutely zero luck, I came to a halt and bit back a sigh. “We’ll never find it like this. Ozias, ask someone for directions.”
“You sure about that?” Calem asked, peering around the corner at the constant flow of locals. We hadn’t prepared for this kind of nightlife. Gone were the quiet residences on the outskirts of the city. Here, it appeared, no one ever slept. Endless shops and watering holes lined either side of the cobblestone path, all open for business. People dressed in shimmery slacks and tunics with foiled-gold patterns filled the streets. Their fashion wasn’t too different than Wilheim’s, but even in the dead of winter, Rhynelanders favored clothing that exposed skin. Everywhere we looked there were slits along thighs, bare midriffs, and plunging collars. In our days-old travel gear—ill-fitted and stiff with salt from the sea—we were bound to stick out.
“They won’t know either of you. It’s me who needs to stay out of sight.”
“It’s fine. I’ll do it,” Ozias said. His eyes roved to Leena, and he frowned. “We need to get her someplace safe.” Then, without looking, he abandoned the shadows and stepped into the main street of Veles—right into a fast-walking blond. She stumbled backward but recovered quickly, shooting fire with her umber gaze.
“Watch where you’re going.”
“S-sorry,” Ozias mumbled, immediately ducking his chin to his chest. Rubbing the back of his neck, he met her unrelenting stare. “Can you tell me where the Polished Goblet is?”
She was tiny in comparison to him, and yet when she straightened her back, she somehow managed to tower over him. “What business do you have there?”
He shrank away. “It’s a tavern, right? I just need a place to stay for—”
“You’re not from around here.” Her eyes narrowed as she took a step in his direction. “You sound…odd.”
A rock formed in my throat. We spoke the same language as Rhyne, but our accents were different. Their words carried a smoother, softer intonation than ours. Not by much—something I’d only grown accustomed to after my time with Amira—but apparently Ozias’s speech was just different enough to catch this woman’s attention.
“Odd?” His grin was sheepish. “Well, you’re right, I’m a traveler.”
She raised a single manicured brow. “Why are you here?”
“Uh… Isn’t that my business?”
Placing her hands on her hips, she leaned forward. “As part of the Queen’s Guard, it’s my business to know about everything that happens in my city. So yes, your businessismy business.”
Tension corded tight in my shoulders. I remembered the Queen’s Guard from my time as prince. Even though she was only a princess, Amira never went anywhere without them. They were an elite force of soldiers dedicated to protecting the crown, much like our Sentinels. My gaze caught on the gilded lion stitched into the fabric of the woman’s olive-green coat. There was no mistaking the royal court’s insignia.
“Shit,” Calem hissed. I motioned for him to be silent and took a careful step back. The shadows masked our presence, but I wasn’t in the mood to be surprised by something unexpected. Just knowing she was part of the Queen’s Guard was enough for me. Even worse, I couldn’t find a weapon strapped to her body. No sword sheathed against her hip. No dagger attached to her belt. Nothing. Which meant she was either skilled at concealing weapons, or deadly enough not to need one at all.
Ozias swallowed thickly and shot a fleeting, worried glance our direction. The woman stiffened, and then leaped in front of him, staring directly into the mouth of the alley where we stood, protected by shadows. For a moment, none of us moved. We barely breathed. Her brows pulled together, and she slowly turned away before pressing an accusing finger against his chest.
“What were you looking at?”
“Nothing, I swear.” Ozias held his hands up. “It’s just… Veles is larger than I expected, and I got lost.”
She studied him without moving, her gaze traveling from his salt-soaked tunic to his worn boots. Satisfied with her once-over, she relented with an exaggerated sigh and turned on her heels, beckoning over her shoulder. “C’mon. I don’t have all night.”
Ozias practically tripped over his feet to fall in line beside her, and we snuck behind them under the cover of our shadows. She power walked with force, driving her feet into the ground and making a path through the throng of people without ever breaking pace. And judging by the way they naturally moved away from her advance, the locals knew she wasn’t someone they wanted to upset. One interaction with her was all it took for me to think the same.
Hooking a right off the main street, she led us toward a quieter strip of shops and taverns. “So, what’s your name?”
“Ozias.” He clasped and unclasped his hands, then let them fall by his sides, only to start all over again.
Beside me, Calem rolled his eyes. “You should’ve sent me out there.”
“He’s fine.” Though the first beads of sweat forming along Ozias’s hairline seemed to defy my words.
“Not going to ask my name?” the woman asked, cutting Ozias a hard glance.
“Oh. Um. Yeah.”
She scoffed. “Wow. Not the most eloquent person, are you?” Coming to an abrupt halt, she turned to face Ozias and jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Here’s the Polished Goblet. Don’t do anything to catch my eye again.”
