Page 38 of Oath of Rebellion

He nodded. "I'll do that. And thank you. Let me know if you need anything else, your highness."

She nodded, and he walked away. She sat back and nursed her ale, enjoying her corner seat. It gave her the best view of the entire room, and she loved people watching.

She wrapped the shadows slowly around her and sipped. Soon enough, most of the people in the tavern forgot she was even there. She frowned as she listened to the gossip.

The people were excited about the wedding and all the soldiers returning home from war. They were due home within the next week, as the Southern Road was a longer route.

Some grumbled about the king chopping down trees to the south of town.

"He tried it a few years ago, do you remember?"

"I'm not sure what he hopes to do. No one can get through the forest without the Robins' help."

Eirwyn's ears perked up, and she turned slightly to better hear the dirty chimney sweeps two tables over.

"The Robins will stop him, don't worry."

"Bless them, did you hear they got Matt and Bob out of the stocks?"

"Really? I wondered where they'd gone. The missus is already grumbling about having to do more work. She's taking in more darning, since the tailor's been gone."

"The Robins got their families out too. They're tucked away safe and sound in the forest, I bet."

"I'm telling you, there's no such thing as a town in the forest. It's all haunted and will kill you if you even go near it. I'm sure Matt and Bob have just gone to start shops in a new town."

Eirwyn's stomach knotted. It wasn't her first time hearing about the Robins' work, but it was the first time she'd heard of a town in the forest.

She finished her ale but her stomach kept rolling. It was probably stress related. Heavens knew her brother could make a saint sick from stress.

She pulled her hood up and stood, her legs shaky. She frowned as her stomach cramped. Then she ducked through the hallway to the kitchens. Her shadows wrapped around her prevented the staff from seeing her, and she found the privy attached to the back wall of the tavern.

She shut the door just in time to retch. Her forehead beaded with sweat, and she took a deep breath when she was done. She picked up her cloak and wiped her mouth with the inside hem.

When she stepped out, she could barely see the stars for the darkness. She went to the water spigot by the stables and rinsed her mouth out before starting the walk back to the palace.

It'd be faster to go through town instead of through the secret entrance. The way she felt right now, she wanted to be home as quickly as possible. Helga had long tried to talk her out of walking, especially at night. But with her light magic and the birds' help, she could avoid most unsavory people.

She strode swiftly through the dim alleyways, wrapping her shadows around her like a second cloak to obscure her features. If anyone saw her, they'd blink and question their eyesight. It was how she'd been sneaking in and out of town for years.

Helga had no reason to worry. Despite her fancy dress and obviously expensive cloak, she had no fear as she walked through the narrow streets.

Eirwyn passed a beggar in a narrow passageway whom the birds weren't worried about.

"Spare some coin for an old man?"

Eirwyn danced out of his reach, picking up her smooth silk gown to avoid having it touch him even as she dug in her pocket.

She handed him three coins. "Here you go." Then she turned and continued on her way.

Her stomach twisted, and she turned onto an even narrower alley to get back to the palace by the shortest route possible. When she went up the steps to the next street, she tried to distract herself from her stomach by thinking of what changes this wedding would bring.

Some birds cawed overhead, and she looked up. A lone man stood waiting at the top of the stairs. She frowned, but at the birds' message, she spun on her heels. Her heart raced at their warning. Two men in shadows stood at the bottom of the alley.

She paused, her breath catching in her lungs as they began to walk up the steps. She looked behind her to the man at the top. He too was walking down toward her. They were going to box her in, and the birds were not happy as they began to circle above her.

She wrapped the shadows around her tighter, then the two men at the bottom of the stairs were jerked back. A huge, hulking figure moved with such speed, even she couldn't see in the shadows. The two men crumpled in a heap at his feet, then he stepped over them and came up the stairs two at a time.

"Duck," he hissed.

---