Page 87 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Of course. We’re only having tea in the gardens, not planning a servant uprising.”

He grimaced and angled his spear at the center of my chest. “Don’t think I won’t check with the Sayeeda.”

“Go ahead,” I replied, giving him a bright smile as we stepped from the elevator.

We moved swiftly through the city’s outdoor alleys and linked terraces until we arrived at the Tarneeq Tea Garden. In the small courtyard, golden lanterns swung above bright-colored mosaic tables dotted around giant palm trees. The coffee and tea bar, usually populated with high-ranking servants on their breaks, was strangely empty at noon on a sunny weekday.

“Where is everyone?” I asked as Grendal guided me to a table in the far corner, hidden behind the huge leaves of a balor palm.

“My friend, Sernius, manages this place,” she said, slurring her words as I took a seat. “She agreed to give us privacy.”

“Privacy? What for? Sit down. My neck’s hurting from craning to look up at you. Do you think the guards will suspect that it was me who let the bird out of the cage?”

Still looming over me, her fists twisted into the material of her tunic, and her gaze shifted sideways. “I want you to meet someone.”

“What? Are you telling me I won’t get any apple tea today?” I asked.

Grendal ignored my joke and knocked on the surface of a narrow door concealed in the terracotta wall. A cloaked man, a human I’d never seen before, stepped through it.

“Took your sweet time,” he growled, a puckered scar flashing white across the weathered skin of his cheek. Devoid of the tiniest spark of kindness, his pale blue eyes narrowed. Unease slithered through my gut, the cruel set of his features reminding me of the gilt market slaver.

“Sorry,” said Grendal, her sour tone raising my hackles. “This one felt it necessary to release an auron kanara on the way here.”

This one? Did she mean me?

As Grendal collapsed into the seat on my left, and the man sat directly opposite me, I glanced down, making sure Ari’s knife was still attached to my hips.

Grendal pointed at the haggard male. “This is Marlewyn. He’s my brother’s friend. He can get you out of the city and onto a ship heading back to the Earth Realm.”

I was sure that he could, and I’d also bet my life he’d throw me straight into the first slave cage he came across.

All my instincts screamed out not to trust this Marlewyn, but the real mystery was why Grendal did. The serum had destroyed her judgment if she couldn’t tell he was at the very least a charlatan, and more likely an outright villain.

“That won’t be necessary,” I said, inching my chair away from the table. “Like you said before, Grendal, it’s not so bad here, especially for me, being the king’s favorite.”

I studied the man’s reaction. Did he know I was the Storm King’s pet? Would the thought of Arrow chasing him down put him off whatever nefarious plan he’d hatched?

He grinned, revealing blunt yellow teeth and incisors of solid gold. “Time’s running out. The guards at the south gate will change in fifteen minutes,” he muttered. “I have a cart waiting through this door. Let’s go.”

My hand snaked to the hilt of my blade. “I’m not interested in going anywhere with you.”

“Marlewyn, please give us a moment,” said Grendal. “I’ll talk sense into her.”

The big man left through the door, and I turned to Grendal. “Are your eyes and ears no longer working properly? He’s a fucking slaver.”

“This could be your only chance to escape, Leaf.” Her face flushed red. “And he said… well, he said he’d kill me if you don’t go with him.”

“What?” I whispered. “What the fuck have you done, Grendal?”

Behind me, the door scraped open, and a thick forearm wrapped around my throat. Marlewyn choked me as he dragged me off the chair, the paving stones scraping my heels in my sandals.

Stars swam at the sides of my darkening vision as I gasped, flailing and writhing against his hold. I would not lose consciousness. I would not lose…

Bucking wildly, I stopped tugging on his arm, snatched Ari’s knife from its scabbard, and stuck it in his thigh. He grunted, dropped me, then raced straight for the door.

“Bitch ain’t worth the trouble. If she wants a ride out of here, I’ll wait in the cart for three minutes, no more.”

“Come on, Grendal,” I said as the door closed. “We’d better get out of here.”

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