Page 15 of A Spell of Bones and Madness (Nostos #2)

That left Farah, and being the Princess of Morentius, she would surely be caught.

Especially since Xanthia was known for their jewel trade and Morentians loved nothing more than their lavish ruby and golden jewelry.

Katrin informed Farah she would need to stay hidden underneath the deck.

The princess had not taken kindly to that, although she did eventually give in and resigned to one of the rooms with a rather large bottle of expensive wine.

Katrin had a few of the crew go ahead with Leighton’s uncle, Kristos, the others remaining until nightfall.

Moonlit shadows would aid them in sneaking through the markets to a small townhome where the soldiers were staying.

From there Katrin hoped they could smuggle both men and more weapons aboard.

They would need as many of both as possible if they dared to return to the shores of Alentus in hopes of rescuing Ander.

Spending the time until nightfall taking in her surroundings, Katrin took directives from Leighton.

Trade was different here than Alentus, an even starker contrast to what the crew usually saw in Lesathos.

It was easier to blend in there, where pirates were a frequent sight and most men and women were too drunk to notice the markings the warriors from Skiatha bore, even when they lay in the brothels.

In Xanthia, secrets were traded like coins.

For jewels. For people. For alliances. It was why it was so risky for them to be there—to venture past the shops in the market, bars lining every window to keep thieves and marauders from stealing the sparkling gemstones each held.

There had to be a high price on their heads and it was a lucrative isle, but one with little authority, especially now that the Spartanis had fallen.

They would need to be careful, blend with the shadows cast from the moon.

Stick to the extremely specific route Leighton laid out.

Move in small groups over the course of the night, hide weapons in carts to bring to the ship in the morning.

“You’ll need to wear this.” Leighton chucked a brown cloak at Katrin.

“I am already wearing a cloak,” Katrin replied, fanning her hands down her body. Chloe snorted at her. “And why do you think that’s funny, Chloe?”

“Because you look like you just stepped outside of a castle—the expensive fur, the thick velvet lining. To wear that caliber of clothing here, you would need to be one of the elite jewelers and everyone would know who you are. Otherwise, you’re just a target, someone that can be used as a bargaining chip.

We did not come here to lose someone else. ”

Katrin snapped her jaw shut. “Fine, I’ll wear the ugly cloak. Just hope I don’t freeze to death.”

Rolling his eyes, Leighton handed over a thick bandana. “We will need to wear these as well. No one will think twice if they see us when the temperature is this low—and Chloe, you understand you cannot shift back into your human form, not until we are at the safe house.”

“Well you’re no fun. But fine, I’ll stay turned.” Chloe clacked her nails against her lips hiding a devilish grin. “Just because you asked nicely, Nauarch.”

Leighton led Katrin and Chloe, and gods, Katrin was grateful for the silver-furred creature that padded next to her, its eyes framed each with a black streak.

Blending in was nothing if not imperative.

If they were caught—Katrin could not think of the consequences, and having a fierce creature escorting them would help if they encountered anything nefarious.

They wound through the streets, past boarded up shops and busy taverns, mapping through the shadows and alleyways.

Katrin glanced over her shoulder around every turn, unease creeping up her spine.

This wasn’t Lesathos and she wasn’t alone, but the reminders of those men haunted her in the dark.

A firm arm flew in front of her, pinning Katrin against the wall of a home in the alley they passed.

Leighton’s finger went to his lips, urging her not to make a noise.

His eyes flicked to the right, nodding his head in the direction of a figure making its way down the street they had just come from, edging from side to side like they were also avoiding being caught.

Or maybe the stranger was stalking them, trying to scare them back to the ship, hurt them even.

Katrin’s mind flashed back to the alleyway on Lesathos, where Ander had arrived just in time to rescue her beaten body.

He was the reason they were here—why she had to stop at nothing to get to the townhouse, meet with the Skiathan spies and sail swiftly back to Alentus to rescue the captain.

The stranger would just need to pass them and then they could continue on.

And if not, then she would use whatever means necessary to make it to the townhouse, even if it meant fighting whoever lurked in the shadows.

From what Leighton had said, the townhouse was not deep into the winding port streets.

They were close. Too close to turn back now.

A small crack came from the street where the stranger had just appeared to step on some sort of glass or object.

Chloe sniffed the air in her wolf form, padding in front of both of them, peering out from the darkness.

A deep growl left the wolf's throat as she took off toward the stranger and leapt into the air, tackling them to the ground.

Leighton nodded at Katrin and they both took off after Chloe, to where she loomed over the stranger, fangs bared by their throat. By her throat—the hood of the cloak was down, revealing a long dark braid of hair and piercing features.

“Stand down, little wolf,” the girl purred. Not a girl—Farah.

“What in the bloody stars are you doing here, Farah?” Katrin hissed through clenched teeth, grabbing her hand and tugging her upright. Chloe circled around, still in her wolf form. Her icy eyes shot daggers at the princess.

“You really think I was going to stay on The Nostos while you were all out here actually accomplishing something?”

Katrin understood, she really did. Feeling captive and contained on a ship still caused an unnerving chill to wash over her entire body.

“It wasn’t supposed to be negotiable, Farah,” Leighton cut in.

“I am the captain of the ship until Ander is rescued, and as captain I ordered you to stay aboard. You realize you could have jeopardized all of us? Cost us our lives—cost you your own?” His voice was fierce but firm.

Leighton did not mess around when it came to the safety of his crew.

Not after everything that happened to his people in Cyther.

“I wouldn’t have cost any lives. I doubt my father even cares that I am missing,” Farah muttered .

“He would care that you betrayed him.” The lithe wolf had finally shifted, her flowing black cape billowing in the breeze that crept down the port’s empty streets.

“I even doubt that.” Farah looked off into the darkness, her hand shaking just slightly, just enough for Katrin to notice.

Chloe cocked her head to the side, her eyes slowly turned down toward the princess’s feet. “I am sorry. If that is true. No child should ever feel like their father finds them insignificant.”

Farah swept by Chloe, walking farther toward the center of the town, as if she knew the way. “Trust me, if your father was anything like mine, you’d prefer to be seen as insignificant.”