Evaine picked up her satchel and set her lips in a grim line. “Come, both of you. There will be much work to do before this day is done.”
They set off. For Rolan, it was the fourth time he’d traveled this path today, and he could feel it in his legs. But he strode quickly, hoping they wouldn’t be too far behind the Arcanist. He’d said he would travel with Evaine and Anaya, but he hadn’tquitepromised not to help Luc fight once they did reach Crisanth.
His first real glimpse of the city, viewed when the track crested a high hill, made his stomach turn over.
“Goddess save us all,” Evaine breathed.
Smoke billowed in a meandering path across Crisanth, marking the Cryptic’s trail of destruction. Luc would be there by now, probably leaping heroically around and stabbing it in the eyes.
Rolan allowed himself to hope that this might—might—change some people’s opinions about him. After all, if they saw the Arcanist in action, maybe they’d finally realize how much he sacrificed and risked in keeping them safe. Maybe they’d stop treatinghimlike the monsters he fought.
“Let’s get down there,” he said, tracing the winged hilt of his sword.
Hissword.
He really needed all this business with the Cryptic to be over so he could admire it properly. Preferably somewhere very public, like the city square on market day.
Not that there would be any more market days if everyone in Crisanth got eaten by a giant Cryptic.
Having caught their breaths, they started forward again, only to freeze as a roar ripped through the sky. Even the clouds above seemed to shiver in response.
“We can hear it all the way from here?” Rolan gulped.
“I told you,” Anaya said grimly. “It’s big.”
The sound went on for entirely too long, an ear-blistering cacophony like scraping metal, grinding rock, and rolling thunder. It carved through the air, a blade of awful sound, and Rolan half expected to see a gouge tear across the underbellies of the dark clouds above.
By the time they reached the city gates, the din was deafening. The Cryptic’s roars overwhelmed Rolan’s senses, along with thescreams of the people inside the city and the booming of buildings being destroyed. Smoke, dust, and ash clotted the air, making every breath a punch to the lungs.
No one stood guard at the gates, which hung open like a gaping mouth, vomiting out a stream of people desperate to escape whatever was unfolding inside. But once they were out, they looked uncertain about what to do next and huddled against the outer walls in miserable clumps. Mothers and fathers, children and grandparents, masked Listeners and disheveled, embarrassed-looking guards. They all looked terrified and lost.
“Don’t go in!” someone shouted at them as they jogged past.
Ignoring the warnings directed their way, the trio pushed through the crowd of fleeing people like fish swimming upstream. Once Rolan drew his sword, however, the crowd parted easily, people hastening clear of his blade as if he might use it onthem.
“That way,” Anaya panted, pointing toward Verity Square.
Rolan nodded. He could hear the roars of the monster coming from that direction.
“Anaya, with me,” Evaine said. “There will be people in need of our help. Rolan…”
She met his eyes, and he thought at first she would order him to come along too. But perhaps something in his gaze convinced her that any such attempt would be futile.
“Be careful,” she said simply.
He nodded, feeling queasy with fear. So many things could go wrong today. He had so much more to lose now than he did just months ago.
Then Anaya grabbed his arm and tilted to her toes, and for amoment he thought she would kiss his cheek. His stomach nearly turned inside out. But she only put her lips to his ear to whisper.
“Pretend,” she murmured. “Pretend you’re brave until youare.”
“Got it,” he said shakily. “You, uh, you too.”
Anaya shook her head at him, a sad smile pulling at her lips. “Idiot.”
Then she was gone, trailing after Evaine into the throng. They vanished in moments, leaving Rolan to make his way toward the epicenter of the chaos.
- CHAPTER 40 -PRETENDING
