Page 103 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“Locane was gone before I started forming memories, so I’m not even sad about him rotting away underground. I’m not mad about everyone else grieving him—I get it. They knew him when he was still loveable. Hard to imagine. I just never knew him and am completely detached and wholly on team ‘burn the fucker.’ As soon as you’re ready. Well, everyone is, but I’m not sad about it.”

She’s lit a fire on the range to boil the water and is now slicing a bright green apple with speed and precision, her knife glintingin the sunlight streaming through the windows while I try to keep up.

“I’ve been wanting to come see you, but Alec has been adamant that we all stay away while you adjust. I think it’s bullshit. We were best friends! I told him you would love me immediately again. Alec gets so weird and protective with you. Fucking mates. Really—you’re just as bad as he is, though.” Cescily stops her actions, cocking her head and touching a finger to her chin in thought. “Actually, you’re worse. But when I suggested that I might drop in and surprise you, he growled—literallygrowled atme!”

A satisfied warmth sparks in my chest, a smile threatening to overtake my face.

She laughs merrily and shakes her head, oblivious to my lift in mood. The water bubbles and she adds a dash of salt before the dry oats. She covers the pot with a matching copper lid.

“Ugh, Alec has been so pitiful lately. I hate it. I told him the best thing for you would be to spend time with someone your own age. But instead, he saddles you with Kraeston—fucking Kraeston—of all people! I get it, he’s a good guy and he cares and Alec trusts him and so on. But come on, he’s so ancient andboring! Dreadful company.”

Cescily pulls the lid from the cooking oats to add the apples and cinnamon and covers it again with aclang!

“I was in the courtyard, smoking with Alec, when you threw your clothes off the balcony. Loved it. Then I saw again when you obviously sent Kraeston to fetch some back for you to wear. Loved it even more. I told Alec to let me take you shopping. He was so confused why you threw everything out in the first place. I told him, obviously you needed some change! But no. No, no, no!”Cescily walks around the kitchen, waving her wooden spoon in the air wildly.

She drops her voice an octave and pinches her face to be serious in an impressive imitation of Alec. “‘Stay away, Cescily. Stay away or I will marry you off to some sad sack across the sea.’”

A wide smile cracks my face as I laugh.

“He’d never, of course. And all the good that staying away has done.” Cescily studies me, up and down. “Obviously no one has taken you shopping! And gods, I can’t blame you. I cannot imagine going shopping for clothes with Kraeston.”

She removes the pot from the heat and pulls down a ceramic bowl.

Cescily spins quickly, the loose fabric of her tan dress twirling around her. “Oh! Yes! Let’s go shopping today!” She jumps up and down and claps her hands excitedly. “Do you want to?”

This woman is so thrilled at the prospect, I can’t help but let her excitement bleed over to me. I offer her a weak smile and say, “Okay.”

She squeals and runs to me, giving me another hug. She grabs the pot of freshly cooked oats and pours the contents in the waste bin with a wet plop.

“Let’s go!” Cescily grabs my hand and starts running for the door. She stops abruptly and spins. “First, do us a massive favor.” She’s holding up her hand, halting me from walking any further.

“Okay.”

“I need you to look at me and ask—with as much enthusiasm as you can muster—to take you shopping. And make sure to say my name.”

“Why?”

“If Kraeston can’t find you for your rigid routine that I’m stealing you from, Alec is likely to start burning down buildings to find you. I’m going to tell him what we’re doing. And he won’t try to stop me if you say you want it.” She beams and nods at me encouragingly.

“Cescily, please take me shopping,” I say blandly, and she cringes.

“Well, that was not at all enthusiastic.” I open my mouth to try again but she stops me. “It’s okay! I showed him how you smiled and laughed before. Alec has accepted the situation for what it is. Begrudgingly, but he’s accepted it. Let’s go!”

Cescily is pulling me towards the door again, holding my arm tight. Before we make it outside, she jumps, and we appear on a bustling street of a district I don’t recognize.

“Wait, you communicated all of that with each other that quickly?” I shout over the sudden noise of the city.

“Of course! We can mind speak to anyone. Except poor Mother. Very frustrating for her that we can say anything we want without her being able to answer back.”

The district we’re in is significantly louder and more crowded than everywhere I’ve been with Kraeston. The facades of the buildings are more colorful, and the air is thick with different fragrance of incense, savory meats, and fruity tobacco smoke.

Foot traffic bleeds into the street, moving around shoppers who have stopped to inspect the pop-up stalls of accessories and clothing. Two men argue angrily over a bartering deal for scarves. A street performer drumming beats through the air like a living pulse. A loud crack snaps and people cheer before streamers rain down on top of our heads from the balconies above.

The overall setup and energy is fast, loud, chaotic.

I love it.

Cescily grins at me as I take everything in. “I knew Kraeston hadn’t brought you anywhere good. This is our favorite place. It’s a little crazier than usual because of the weekend, and people are starting to get excited about Samhain, but I think it adds to the experience.”