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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

IN WHICH THE PARTY ARRIVES AT THE COASTAL CITY

Perhaps we were still recovering, or perhaps the distance to cover was farther than it appeared by eye, but making it to Solfarin took longer than expected.

By the time we reached the outskirts of the city, it was nearly dawn.

Feet dragged as dreams of curling up on a wool-stuffed mattress dissipated with the darkness.

We passed several houses that were little more than shacks on our way to rejoin the main road, which carried us underneath arching pillars carved into twin statues of a familiar lady with a spear.

The statues guarded the official entrance, where constables and a representative of the city administration waited to screen visitors.

Towns like Vhalder didn’t bother with such formalities.

Traveling in the fae world was informal in general—a side effect of changing magic, since common forms of identification were rendered useless.

“Welcome to Solfarin,” a young lady with cute, rounded features in a square hat called as we approached.

She sat behind a tall podium, her feet dangling off the stool.

I might have mistaken her for a child if not for the crafted leather armor adorning her torso and legs and the authority in her appearance.

While her overall air was that of a professional, with a straight back and a quill gripped in one hand, the fatigue in her voice and dull glint in her eyes suggested that they were coming off the night shift.

“Hello,” I started, putting a hand on the podium.

The constable nearest us, who resembled a crocodile person stuffed into a uniform, adjusted its weight. They all took us in, hard gazes lingering as we were committed to memory. To them, we might have appeared to be bandits scoping out the security.

“Full names, please, any associations, and the reason for your visit.” The girl—woman?—poised her quill to take down our information.

“Marcia de Souza,” I told her. The others introduced themselves one by one as the pen scratched against paper, immortalizing our visit.

“Luthri Mendersson. No title.”

“Hohem Sinthaid of Wysalar, and this is my brother Vyrain, of the same.”

“Daethie the Unconquerable.”

“Yrralailee.”

“We’re looking for the Kereti heiress?” I offered.

The woman nodded. “Anything to declare?” At my look of confusion, she clarified, “Any weapons, herbal compounds, or other potentially hazardous materials on you at this time?”

“Why would we decl?—”

Hohem shut his brother up with a kick to the shin.

Pasting an easy smile onto my face, I answered, “Nothing. Actually, we lost all of our gear in the wetlands. We’re hoping to pick up a few things in the city.”

The pen slipped in the clerk’s hand, and her eyes went big. “You came through the wetlands? Lady watch over you. You’re lucky you made it out! There are nykse !”

“No,” Lu gasped sarcastically under his breath.

“Well, yes. Therein lies the problem,” I admitted.

“Without knowing the landscape, it seemed the most direct route. We made it through intact but had to sacrifice our things. Food, clothes, all of it. If you could point us to the best place to replenish what we need, it would be appreciated. And then… I suppose we ought to see about catching a ship out to Munarzed?”

The last bit came out as a question, half because I wasn’t sure if she’d be able to help us, and half because I wasn’t sure what the plan was.

As much as I would have liked to get some sleep, the chance for that was behind us.

Did we ask around town and find out what we could?

Would people talk to us? Was it best to head straight to Munarzed, knowing that was Lady Narille’s last known location?

But the clerk was stuck on the fact we’d come through the wetlands. “Why didn’t you take the bridge?” She set her pen down and leaned back on her stool. “Goodness. Is this your first time this far north?”

Well, that was one way to make someone feel stupid. “It is, actually. What bridge?”

“You come up by da tracks?” grunted a hairy constable with squinty eyes and tusks muffling his speech. “You shouldn’ta missed it. Dere’s a toll, but not too ’spensive.”

“We passed the tracks but didn’t see a bridge or toll.

” An odd queasiness took root in my gut.

I must have looked at the map a dozen times—there was no way I’d miss that.

A problem with the map, then? We must have been sold an outdated one.

Pity I couldn’t check now, but if we ever crossed paths with that bartender again, he’d be getting a stern talking-to.

“Well. No matter. You’ll know for your return trip.

” Back to business, the petite clerk took up her pen and made a few more notes before beaming at us with a mouthful of short, square teeth.

“Thank you, you’re all set. If you should take advantage of lodging, we ask that you report the estimated duration of your stay. Otherwise, enjoy your visit.”

Easy enough. “Thanks!” I lingered a moment, unsure if we were supposed to get paperwork or proceed, until the hulking crocodile constable waved us forward.

I led the way. Luthri fell into step behind me, a comforting presence at my back.

Yrra and Daethie held up the rear as we entered Solfarin and got our first good look at the coastal city.

It appeared to be one of those places where people from all walks of life gathered, not unlike Fortaleza or D.C.

And, as luck would have it, we arrived just as it was waking up.

It was inspirational to see the spread of fashions, from the gauzy shirts and dresses of the Southern regions to the full-body ornamental armor worn by officials, and the myriad of different races.

You couldn’t turn your head without seeing someone with a tail, fur, horns, wings, pointy ears, or some combination of nonhuman attributes.

The average Earth resident would be overwhelmed to know such things existed across The Rift.

People we passed were living their lives—striding confidently to work, pulling petulant children along, selling homemade goods out of baskets to anyone who would stop and entertain their pitch.

Storefronts and merchant carts stocked with incredible wares took up both sides of the main street.

There were fabrics, books, medicines, spices, wood and metal crafts…

anything the heart desired. Some awnings and shutters remained shut, their owners late to open.

The mouthwatering scent of fresh bread drew my gaze to a nearby pastelaria cart laden with baked goods, where a faun in an apron stacked massiya and other delicacies in neat rows.

An uncomfortable cramp in my stomach reminded me that it had been a long time since my last meal.

We had other priorities, but I made a mental note to come back this way.

Taking it all in, I kept walking. Houses became more tightly packed as we went.

Buildings in the fae world were constructed from wood, stone, or brick using a combination of skill and magic.

Windows were glass, and most of the roads were paved with attractive stone.

While they didn’t have electricity, mana lamps lined the streets to provide light at night.

All in all, it felt cozy, like a historic village in the countryside untouched by time.

A sliver of sunlight reflecting off water caught my attention through a break in the skyline. When I paused to get a better look, my breath left me in a whoosh.

“It’s the ocean!” I blurted, raising a hand to point.

The view, combined with the smell of salt and scales that carried to us on the wind, brought back memories long hidden away that made my heart hurt to recall.

I vaguely remembered visiting the beach in Brazil before being taken from my family—eating sorvete as it dripped down my hand onto the ruffles of my swimsuit, digging holes in the sand, and watching the cool surf caress my toes.

Daethie took off from Yrra’s shoulder and darted higher to get a better view. Loud whoops came from behind, making me jump as the twins pushed past me. They raced each other down the street to the harbor, dodging bewildered locals along the way.

“Let’s go!” Luthri seized my hand. My initial reaction was to shake him off, and my arm tensed to do so. But the excitement was infectious, and as I stared at where our limbs connected, I relaxed and let it guide me instead, giving him a little squeeze in return.

Lu’s face split in a wide smile. That was all the warning I got before he tugged me forward.

I’d seen him run—for someone who, according to Vyrain, was “weighed down by muscle,” the man was fast. Yet, I didn’t have to struggle to keep up with him.

My face mirrored his smile as we flew after the others, all exhaustion forgotten.

The harbor at dawn was an impressive sight, from the wooden pier that ran along the shoreline as far as the eye could see to the assortment of boats and ships decorating the golden water.

Smaller fishing vessels prepared to take off for the day.

Some already had, growing smaller in the distance.

What caught my eye next was the behemoth with off-white sails and elegant black rigging moored some thirty meters away.

The massive wooden paddle affixed to the side and the smokestack protruding from the deck told me there was more to it than met the eye.

Perhaps this was one of the shipping vessels we could contract to take us to the island ?

Luthri and I caught up with Hohem and Vyrain where the cobblestone road ended and the wood pier began. As we slowed to a walk, I pulled my hand from Lu’s to catch my breath.

“What’s the plan?” Hohem asked.