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A goodbye would have been nice, though.

Maybe I was better off this way. I didn’t need him. If I could survive in the malarite mines, I could survive in this place. Except, I didn’t have any money or connections and I was technically trespassing.

All I knew was that I couldn’t stay here and wait for the Rathalans to breach the wall. Ignoring my promise to Jeddak, I headed in the direction of lights in the distance. It was raining steadily now, and I was soaked through, my shoes squishing with every step. I needed to get warm and find some food.

As the lights of the marketplace grew brighter, I started walking faster, keeping to the shadows. No sign of Jeddak. A feeling of unease crept into my abdomen as I drew closer to a cluster of people milling along the street near a row of trading booths that were still open at this late hour. I began to worry if places like this were dangerous for outsiders. Especially outsiders who were dressed in little more than their undergarments. I shivered.

“Are you lost, girl?” I turned to see a wrinkled Arden woman eyeing my muddy cloak. She held out a blue glass vial toward me. “Perhaps my serpent ivy elixir will help you find your way. Three jaders. A bargain.”

I backed away, shaking my head. I could feel people’s eyes on me. Two Jakeen men watched me curiously from another booth, whispering to one another. I pulled my hood down farther over my forehead as I hurried past.

Skies, I needed a plan. If I had something to trade?—

Just then, someone grabbed my arm from behind. I cried out from surprise, instinctively throwing my elbow backward.

“Skies, Raven, it’s me.”

I turned around to find Jeddak looking agitated—and entirely unharmed by my reflexes. Kah wasn’t with him.

“I told you to wait right beside the wall,” he said hotly, pulling me toward a dark alleyway.

“Well, I wasn’t going to sit there and wait for the Rathalans to find our not-so-secret entrance,” I argued, not admitting how relieved I was to see him.

He led us inside an abandoned booth to get out of the rain. “Don’t worry, I tipped off the End Guards that there’s a fallen tree. They’re removing it now. There’ll be no Rathalans following us tonight.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, hugging my arms around my body in a failed attempt to keep warm.

“You’re shaking,” he said, like he’d just realized I was drenched.

“Because you left me to blazen freeze out there,” I said, my teeth chattering as I spoke.

“Yeah, well, I decided we couldn’t have you walking around the market in your muddy undergarments.” He handed me a leather satchel. “Here. This is why I was late.”

Opening the satchel, I saw a clean set of clothes, new leather armor, a fur-lined wool cloak, and a sturdy pair of lace-up boots. My eyes brightened. “Are these for me?”

“I don’t think they’ll fit me,” he said with a smirk and then held up another bag. “I’ve got my own clothes here.”

For a moment, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and relief that I wanted to hug him. But the feeling was quickly replaced with suspicion. Why was he going out of his way to help me like this? Why did I get the sense he wanted something in return?

“Come on, hurry. The storm’s getting closer. Let’s get changed and find some food.”

When Jeddak’s back was turned, I untied my filthy cloak and let it drop to the ground. The chill of the night air crawled against my wet skin. I did my best to dry off and wipe away the blood from my arm before dressing in my new clothes. I knew I’d have to bandage the cut soon to ward off infection. Hopefully I wouldn’t need stitches.

Behind me, I could hear Jeddak’s armor crumple to the ground as he changed out of his Rathalan disguise.

“Are you finished yet?” he asked a minute later, like he was uncomfortable not being able to keep an eye on me. I’d noticed him watching me in the forest earlier. Like a herdsman who lets his flock wander only so far, Jeddak seemed to want to keep me in his sight. Another reason I needed to keep my guard up until I figured out my next move.

“Almost,” I said, pulling the leather armor on. I fumbled with it at first but was surprised when my fingers seemed practiced at lacing it securely into place. Had I worn armor like this before? I must have.

Finally, I slipped on the new boots with a grateful sigh. These clothes were much dryer and warmer, but it felt like the nighttime frost had crystallized in my bones hours ago, and my toes were still numb. At least I didn’t have to walk around half naked anymore.

We both turned around at the same time. Without his Rathalan attire, Jeddak seemed more unrestrained than he had moments ago. He stood taller, his shoulders broader. His dark tunic, sheepskin trousers, and thick leather armor buckled across the solid muscle on his chest made him look just like I’d imagined a true Kovak would—strong and fearless.

He tucked the pendant he wore into his shirt and scanned my outfit. He frowned. “Hmm.”

“What?” I said, now unsure if I’d secured the armor correctly.

He reached out and plucked a long piece of straw out of my tangled hair. He grinned. “Better.”