The Keeper's Flame (A Pandoran Novel, #2) (7 page)

The dark rider ducked beneath an awning and into the crowd.

Don’t!

“Stay close,” I said, and tugged Fleck after me, after the dark rider.

He slipped through the crowd like smoke, and for a few moments, I thought I’d lost him. My eyes flickered past faces—so many faces—until I spotted him again, farther down the street.

I pushed past merchants and horses and tents; someone yelled as I knocked a box from their hands, but we didn’t stop.

A gypsy woman jumped in my path.

“Excuse me!” I tried to step around her, but she seemed to anticipate each move, heading me off.

The dark rider was getting away.

“How about some callaberry seeds, little girl?” She smiled, showing twisted and blackened teeth.

“Please!” I pushed past her when she grabbed my arm. Her strength surprised me; her grip was like an iron brace.

“He follows you.”

I froze. Her lips hadn’t moved; it was like she’d spoken in my mind. And her voice had changed. This one was much deeper, much stronger, and seemed to come from somewhere dark.

“You can’t run from him,” the voice continued. “No, and there is no hiding. Not when he wants to find you, and he’s waited—for nineteen years he has waited—and here you are.” Her eyes lit with something terrible, something that made my pulse race. “Ready for him, yes, ready for him to finish what he started, and you will help him, yes.” Her grip hurt; her eyes narrowed. “You will help him, and those you love will suffer.”

Those words.

I’d heard them before, or maybe not those, exactly, but close enough. That day in the fiori, with Alex.

The day I’d seen Alex die.

The misery and pain from that vision filled me all over again, the image of my own form hunched over Alex’s lifeless body as I shook with each heaving sob.

Her grip fell away, and she turned and walked into the crowd.

“Lady?” Fleck tugged on my arm.

I blinked and looked down at him, hidden in his hood, but when I glanced back at the woman, she was gone.

The dark rider was gone, too.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Trying to dull the ache that throbbed deep in my chest.

“Lady, what happened?” Fleck’s eyes were wide with worry.

He hadn’t heard a word of it; it had all been for me. “I’m not sure.” I squeezed his hand and started walking back when I noticed a giant cage.

It looked like something I would’ve seen at a zoo, built for big exotic birds, but about five times the size. Curious, I pulled Fleck after me, toward it.

My breath hitched once I saw what was inside.

Vox.

Beautiful black horses, their large wings tucked behind them. They were what had saved me and Dad and the Del Contes from the gargons.

But standing here, looking at them, they weren’t as robust and powerful as I’d remembered. Their wings were frayed and sagged, and their rich black coats were dirtied and soiled, and the beautiful manes I remembered so vividly were a matted mess of knots.

And they were…scared. Huddled in a back corner, standing together, away from the passersby.

I stepped to the cage and gripped the bars. The closest one turned his head and looked at me with large black eyes, intelligent black eyes. Sorrowful black eyes.

What are you doing in here? Who locked you up?

As if hearing my thoughts, the vox nodded and whinnied, rustling its wings, but the sound was weak and sad and it made my chest hurt.

The wind stirred, lifting my cloak and snagging it over my dagger. A pair of black hooves jumped before me, raking at the air. The vox’s fury blazed as its screams filled my ears, and with a powerful kick, its hooves slammed down on the cage. I jumped back as the entire cage rattled.

“Get back!” yelled a rough voice, as something came down on my hands. I pulled them free just in time to avoid contact with a metal prod. “Unless—” the man’s curiosity surged as he eyed my dagger “—you intend to purchase one.”

I adjusted my cloak back over my blade and drew further into my hood, backing away. “No, thank you.”

“Wait a minute.” The man reached for me, but I grabbed Fleck and ducked into the crowd.

That was close. Too close. You should turn back now, while you still have the chance.

But I couldn’t. I’d promised.

“Lady…” Fleck said. “The horses…they shouldn’t…”

“I know,” I said.

The vox weren’t meant to be behind bars. I couldn’t think of many creatures that were, but especially not the vox.

Finally, I saw a sign with the words:
Papyrus and Tomes
.

Well, according to Rhea, we’d obviously gone too far.

We hurried back, past The Pointed Needle. The display window was filled with all colors and textures of fabrics, and I smiled to myself.

Fabric shopping.

Just beside that was the wooden sign for Rook’s Landing. The sign creaked back and forth upon its iron support, and a couple of black crows sat on top, examining the crowd.

How appropriate.

I walked to the nearest window. The glass was too frosted to peer through and flakes of snow had collected in the corners. The front door screeched open as a couple of grown men emerged, and I felt a burst of warm air, followed by a whiff of yeast. The men were about as tall as Fleck, but three times as wide, with thick beards reaching to their stomachs.

Maybe it was the time of year and snow-cover, but they reminded me of Santa’s disgruntled elves.

“—better last time,” one mumbled.

“Tastes th’same to me.” The other pulled his cloak tight, but it was still too small to close completely. “You just put too much fire in it this time…”

They disappeared into the crowd, and Fleck and I ducked inside.

The air was warm and saturated with the scents of ale and baked bread. I didn’t even like ale, but standing in there, breathing it in, put me at ease.

It was dark inside, lit only by a few lanterns hanging from the walls, but it was a cozy and intimate darkness. The chatter kept to a low murmur, interrupted by the occasional clanging of glasses.

Where are you?

I searched the tables and at last, I saw a large round one, shoved in the corner by one of the frosted windows. Thad sat there, his feet propped up on the table, conversing with a group of people I didn’t recognize—all except for one.

Vera.

I’d only seen her once, but I’d never forgotten her. Her platinum blonde hair had been cropped to her shoulders, and her arms were folded over her full-bodied chest while she stared at the window like Assassination Barbie.

There was a fearless pride to her demeanor, one that was elegant and deadly, beautiful and severe. Everything I wasn’t, everything I couldn’t be. Everything I would never be.

“…those two could not keep their hands off each other,”
Isla had said.

Jealousy twisted like a snake deep inside of me. It might have been easier to swallow if Vera had been plain and weak and…not so exotically gorgeous.

Come on, it’s Alex. He could have any woman he wanted. Why are you so surprised he chose someone like her?

But Alex obviously wasn’t with her. So where was he?

Thad noticed me, then, and grinned right as something sticky and wet began licking my hand.

“Hey, boy.” I scratched Egan between the ears, which seemed to make him think it was okay to relocate the licking to my face.

“Egan, down!” Thad made his way toward me. “I knew you couldn’t live without me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Thad noticed Fleck beside me. “Hey, Half-Pint.” He rustled Fleck’s hood, and Fleck’s toothy grin was all we could see.

“Rhea said you were here,” I said.

“Yeah, thought you might want to get out of the castle for a bit. You know, though,” he rocked back on his heels, “it’s not really safe for Half-Pint down here.”

“About that”—I glanced at the group—“you aren’t too busy, are you?”

He arched a brow and twirled the piece of grass in his mouth as his curiosity piqued. “For you?” He grinned. “Never. But first I better introduce you to the lot”—he nodded toward the table—“or they might worry something happened to me.” He winked and motioned for me to follow.

Great. So much for avoidance.

I took a deep breath, grabbed Fleck’s hand, and continued after Thad.

One by one, the people at the table glanced up at me and stopped talking, and Vera moved her scathing gaze from the window to my face.

Her dark eyes burned like hot coals, her lips pursed, and her hatred poured over me like a pot of scalding water.

She’d obviously already formed her opinion of me, too.

“Princess Daria,” Thad said, “meet Gaia’s newest Aegises. Sturgis, Phin, Brant, Flanders”—each boy raised their glass with their introduction—“and I believe you already know Vera.” There was amusement in Thad’s voice with his last honorable mention.

Vera’s eyes narrowed and I had the sudden urge to punch Thad.

The short, thick one named Sturgis raised his mug. “Nice to officially meet you, princess.” He had a deep voice, but it was modest and respectful. The others nodded their assent, except Vera. Her eyes continued scorching the space between us.

Well.

“First festival, eh?” asked Brant, the tall boy with a shaved head. He took a swig from his mug.

“Yeah,” I said.

Brant wiped his mouth and smiled. “Boy, you’re in for a surprise. My advice…stay away from the Arborenne folk. They never say what they mean or mean what they say, and don’t touch their wine, either, unless you want to be a permanent addition to the healing ward.”

I nodded.

“Speaking of,” said the redhead named Phin, “want a drink?”

Thad answered for me. “Naw, the princess and I—”

“Uh…hey, D,” said a voice behind me.

It was Stefan. His cheeks were bright red and he was having a difficult time meeting my gaze.

What was he doing here? “I thought you were with Master Durus?” I asked.

He hesitated. The entire table conveniently distracted itself, and Brant took a long, slow sip from his mug.

“I was.” Stefan’s neck began turning red.

I arched a brow. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, fine.” He smiled, but it was a nervous smile.

I suddenly realized he was carrying two mugs. “A little much, don’t you think?” I nodded toward the mugs in his hands.

“Oh.” He grinned sheepishly. “The other one’s for…” His voice trailed but his gaze flickered to Vera, who had resumed glaring at the frosted window.

Wait.

I stared at him, hard, while he stared at the ground, and my lips parted.

No.

He didn’t actually…

He hadn’t ditched me for…

Stefan looked back at me, and his confidence evaporated.

I inhaled a shaky breath; my eyes narrowed. “I see.”

“Um—” he glanced away from me “—you want a drink? You can have mine.”

“No, thanks.” I folded my arms.

Thad’s amusement drowned out everything else as he rested a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, Goldilocks, me and Rook have some business to discuss, so we’ll be leaving.”

Stefan nodded and started to move, but paused like he’d suddenly lost his purpose and forgotten where he was. He then scooted behind the others’ chairs, right over to the empty seat beside Vera, and sat down.

Oh. My. Gosh.

My own brother. He’d lied to me just so he could spend time with
her
. Alex’s
her
. I was so angry my arms were shaking.

“See ya around!” Thad nodded at the group. They nodded back. “Oh, and Brant?”

Brant wiggled his brow.

“Keep an eye on Egan, would ya?”

Brant nodded, taking another swig, and before I could say another word, Thad was escorting Fleck and me outside into the cold afternoon air.

Thad grinned from ear to ear. “Please don’t kill me for saying this, but I really wish Del Can’t could’ve seen that.”

All right, so maybe I didn’t want Thad’s help.

Thad grabbed my arm as I started walking away. “Whoa, there, Rook, I’m only playing. Don’t let V get your panties in a wad. The girl isn’t human, trust me.” Thad made a face. “I don’t know what Goldilocks sees in her.”

“Hm,” I said, “you
really
don’t know what he sees?”

“Oh, I know what he sees, all right, I just don’t know what he sees
in
her. Unless you like barbaric savages, and I’m sorry, but Goldilocks is too much of a marshmallow for that.”

“He obviously doesn’t think so. And how stupid is he? I mean, she’s sorta dating his best friend…”

“Dating?” Thad arched a brow while that stupid smirk stretched.

That snake inside of me wrapped around my stomach and squeezed it to death.

Thad chuckled. “You women are so territorial. If you ask me, the king should put women in charge of our boundaries. Nothing can get past a woman protecting her assets and expect to survive.”

I folded my arms. “Good thing no one asked you, then, huh?”

“Care to purchase a tapestry from the festivals?” That man appeared beside us with a tapestry draped over his arm, this one depicting a two-faced mask: one half white and smiling, the other black and vicious.

Thad leaned towards the man, annoyed. “You do realize the king keeps every tapestry that’s ever made, right?”

The man opened his mouth to retort, but Thad pulled us away and rolled his eyes. “I swear. Every year he’s out there selling that crap. I mean, really, who actually buys those things?”

A pair of old ladies hobbled to the salesman, faces bright and smiling, and handed him coins in exchange for the woven mask, and Thad cursed under his breath.

The wind ripped through the marketplace and beat against banners and flags. The sky grew darker and snowflakes began to confetti the ground. I didn’t have much time and Thad was still grumbling to himself about helpless old ladies and false advertisement.

I still couldn’t understand why he’d been so upset about it, though.

“Are you done yet?” I asked.

Thad twirled the grass in his mouth. “For now.”

“Good,” I said.

“So”—the spark returned to his eyes—“what was it you wanted?”