Page 95 of As Above, So Below

I wouldn’t.

He shouldn’t.

Could I play that plight effectively enough to convince him?

Yes.

I believe so.

Lifting the dagger from the bed of velvet, I reunite it with its leather sheath and strap it to my thigh. It rests just below the ring of glamouring I’d placed in my pocket earlier. Eve mentioned needing to go to the South Ward this afternoon with Cora.

I should go with them.

A certain hooded fae tends to seek me out anytime I leave the temple.

Let’s hope he doesn’t prove me wrong now.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Where are weheaded?” I ask later that afternoon, trying to shield my eyes from the perfectly-in-my-face-no-matter-what-I-do sun.

Cora peers at me over her shoulder. “There’s a market in the South Ward that sells what I need.”

“Maybe a fifteen minute walk,” Eve adds, grinning.

“And we’re not ferrying?” I ask, my tone flat.

A golden laugh rings from Cora. “Enjoy the sun, Ves. We don’t often get days like this.” She lifts her face, letting the sunlight wash over her.

I will admit, the sun on my shoulders, arms, and face is a delicious sensation. But the thought of walking through busy Olloran streets dampens the enjoyment.

What if I run into Lilith or that royal guard again?

Of the three of us, Cora is the only one in her temple robes. I’ve come to favor the mobility pants provide and find myself preferring them over the robes that remind me of my time as a Death Bringer. Between Eve and me, Cora appears to have two female bodyguards escorting her through the city.

As we walk, I half listen to Cora and Eve’s banter while admiring my surroundings. Throngs of ivy snake themselves up stone buildings and drape themselves over the front windows of shops. Everything has a whimsical feel, and nature-inspired look—all by fae design.

Human cities by comparison are more clean lined, not as imbued with nature. There are a few exceptions, one being Lightvale—the city I’ll likely venture to when it comes time to leaveOllora.

Glancing around, I realize I recognize the street we’re on.

It’s the one Ylara and I had raced along the night everything went to the hells. The night I met Celesta and learned all of this was possible.

During the day, it’s not as empty, sidewalks filled with people going about their business, carriages and horse-drawn carts passing through the center of the street. A few children run around, dodging and weaving their way through others, laughing as they chase one another.

A stark contrast compared to the night I came here with Ylara.

Yet as I walk among them, no one gives me a second sideway glance. Aside from a few lingering initial stares—likely due to my silver hair beaming in this sun—I move rather unnoticed.

Following Cora and Eve as they veer right, we emerge onto a broader street congested with even more vendors and shoppers alike. It’s much larger than the marketplace I’d stumbled across in the Twilight Mire. Merchants line the street, stretching as far down the lane as I can see. While the crowd is thicker, the space is wider, allowing for easier traffic flow.

Several guards stand near the close end of the street, directing carriage traffic down an alternate route. They’ve closed the street to foot traffic only. They’re not donning the same silver armor I’d seen before, instead they wear a lighter, leather armor.

“What is the difference in armor on the guards?” I ask and Eve turns, giving me an ear. “I’ve seen some in silver and these others in leather.”

“City guard wear leather, royal silver,” she answers with a small smirk. “City guard are grunts. Easy to get away from. It’s the royal guard you have to watch out for. They’re all hand-picked and trained by the Captain of the Royal Guard and the Sovereign King.”

Cyran, the fae I saw while with Ryc.