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“Good day to you,” he said, tipping his brown hat. His eyes stuck on Layala’s face as if it was the first time he’d ever seen an elf. Layala wondered if she had dirt on her cheek like he did. He shook his head, pulling his stare, and went to work.

Whether it was customary or not, Layala pulled out a couple bronze shepins from her pant pocket and held it out as they began to shovel their horses’ messes.

The younger boy, probably in his late teens, nudged the other, a man with graying hair at his temples and robust chest and shoulders. They stopped shoveling and both appeared too stunned to speak or move, as if she offered them poison.

“It’s a tip,” Layala said. She always appreciated a tip for her work in Briar Hollow. “Thank you for cleaning up our mess.”

“Oh, no, miss,” the older man shook his head and waved his hand. “It’s our job to do this. You don’t need to pay extra.”

“Well, now I must.” She smiled, walked straight up to him and he froze like she might hurt him. She pulled open his front pocket, and the coins clinked when she dropped them in. The younger boy’s mouth hung open, staring at Layala again.

“Thank you, miss,” the man said, patting his pocket. “You’re most gracious and kind.”

“You’re welcome.”

Layala turned around to find Hel already mounted on Midnight and looking down the street. Layala wanted to drag him off her horse, but it wasn’t worth causing a scene.

Piper stepped into the stirrup and swung her leg over. “You don’t have to do that, you know,” Piper said.

What was wrong with showing a bit of generosity? Thanks to Thane, she had more money than she could ever need. Layala hopped on her borrowed gray horse and settled into the saddle. “I know.”

“She has a soft spot for the less fortunate,” Hel said, pulling on black gloves. “Don’t look now but there are two males watching us. In front of the bakery, sitting at the table. They haven’t taken their eyes from you since we stepped out.”

Piper and Layala immediately spotted them. Their plates of food hadn’t been touched and both of them glared with definite disdain.

Hel rolled his eyes. “I said, don’t look.”

“They’re elves,” Layala mused, ignoring him.

“Zealots who think Layala should die for her dark magic. The group has been around since she was born,” Piper added. “See the bit of green sash poking out of their shirt pockets? It’s one of their codes.”

“And why aren’t they being arrested?” Hel asked.

“They haven’t committed any actual crimes,” Piper said. “None of them have ever attempted to hurt Layala.”

Hel grunted and nudged Midnight forward. “I don’t like that. If it were my city, there would be no zealots and thePalenor Scrollwould find someone else to harass.”

“You’d create more with your brutality,” Layala argued, trotting up beside him. The people walking the streets moved around them like water over rock. “I’d rather prove them wrong than right.”

“I know you would, love. That’s where we differ.”

“And why is it that they immediately know who I am but not you?” Layala complained. She stared down the two zealots as they passed them, so they knew she knew who they were.

“People are funny like that. I’m sure they sense something is off about me, yet they wouldn’t ever suspect theBlack Magewould simply ride down the street on horseback. But you are betrothed to their High King, so they know you’re here in the Valley. If these zealots are anything like people I’ve dealt with before, they know exactly what you look like, probably have drawings of you, and spread word about sightings. I’d bet Telvian Botsberry is one of them.” He turned to her with a wicked smile. “I did like that last story of his.‘Layala Lightbringer sneaks out every night to meet with the terrible Black Mage.’ I wonder what they might be doing in the dark?”

“It better not be you,” Layala glared. “Some of the details from the anonymous sources are too right. Talon says it’s Orlandia letting slip secrets to her servants but I’m not so sure.”

“It’s highly likely to be her given that you and War killed her husband. And I have better things to do with my time than stir up petty drama among the elves.”

Layala glanced back at Piper; a crease formed between her eyebrows as she searched the crowd. Those two zealots were… face down on the table. Layala tugged back on her horse’s reins and twisted around to make sure she wasn’t just imagining things. Both were slumped over; one of their drinks was on its side, dripping liquid all over the tabletop onto the ground. People walked by the table not seeming to take notice or care until a waiter tapped one of them on the shoulder and got no response. “They’re not moving.”

Hel glanced back. “Oh them. That’s because they’re dead.”

Piper’s mouth dropped and then she smiled, and when she noticed Layala looking at her she started coughing as a cover. Was she seriously amused by this?

“Did you kill them? How?” Layala whispered, kicking her horse back into a walk. He hadn’t even looked back during their conversation.

“Well, they didn’t die of natural causes.”