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“Escort? Like a bodyguard?”
“Exactly.”
Pursing her lips, she shakes her head. “I don’t want hired protection.”
“I wouldn’t charge you. I’d do it for free.”
“That’s a very generous offer, but if I were to travel, it would be with a friend or a family member. Someone I would have fun with.”
“Oh. I see.”
Her refusal stings, but then she tacks on, “I’d love for you to come with me, but not if you’re on the job. It should be a vacation, not a work trip.”
I can feel myself frowning to a major degree. “If I come with you as a citizen and not a warrior, people will think we’re together.”
A confused wrinkle appears on the bridge of her nose. “We would be together.”
“No,together.” The way I enunciate the word leaves no room for speculation that I’m referring to a romantic coupling.
And that it’s not a good idea.
Not for her.
She’d see why when people whisper and gossip. When she has to endure their judgmental stares and their curiosity about why a woman such as her would be with someone like me.
We’re approaching the archway that leads into the city now, so our conversation will have to continue another time.
Stopping just inches from the line that separates us from Sterling, we exchange wary glances. We have no idea what awaits us on the other side, but we can assume this is where we’ll find challenge number two.
Giving each other silent nods of solidarity, we go forward, stepping into the city.
Immediately, the wind is noticeably lessened. It doesn’t blow through our hair or sprinkle us with dirt.
Sterling must be under the protection of one of the enchanted bubbles because the dust isn’t as invasive on this side of the wall. Sure, every surface is covered in a layer of filth, but sparkling materials shine through in some places on the buildings.
“Are those homes made from jewels?” Ro asks as she studies the glints of amethysts, rubies, and emeralds in the residential area around us.
“There’s no place more beautiful than this, and there’s a reason for that,” I start with a bit of history. “Before Sterling was a sanctuary city, it was a neutral meeting place for royals and their entourages. I imagine many unpleasant negotiations happened here, so the city was designed to be extraordinarily gorgeous.”
“To offset the fact that so many people had to be face-to-face with someone they loathe,” Ro correctly finishes for me, and I nod as she hesitantly scrutinizes the long street ahead. “I guess the only way for us to go is straight. I’ve seen maps of the city, but I don’t know my way around.”
As we walk, I inform her, “This road leads to a roundabout with a fountain in the town square, but we’ll have to go at least a half a mile to get there. We won’t see any side streets for a while.” I motion to the closely built houses on either side of us. “There are alleys between the homes, but they’re narrow, and many of them are gated off.”
“What’s behind the houses?”
“In real Valora, extensive gardens.”
“We’re trapped on this road,” she concludes. “So, it’s sort of like being back in the maze.”
“You could put it like that,” I say, feeling a little claustrophobic.
The rows of mini mansions on either side of us block us in because they don’t have front yards. Butting up against the sidewalk, the flat exteriors of the buildings crowd us.
“Let’s go faster,” I suggest, and Ro joins me in a brisk jog.
On high alert, my eyes dance from side to side, scanning for movement. I search each shadow and every darkened window.
I utilize my sensitive hearing, too. Listening for something other than our own footsteps and breathing, I slightly turn my head, angling my ears.
