Page 68 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

“It’s all right,” Gryska says, placing her hands on her hips. “Ya can tell ‘em it’s a stupid plan.”

“Stupid,” Ronan says with an even wider grin. “But effective.”

Asheros looks at me, his mouth still curved into that devilish smirk. “If you have a better idea, Bladesinger, then please, do enlighten us.”

My brows knit together, and I narrow my eyes. When I commanded the Guard, networks of spies positioned throughout the Courts were my best source of information. Eyes and ears from within the inner workings of the major cities, who reported directly to me.

Right now, that’s not an option I can utilize. What’s important is finding Arella, and at the moment, resources aren’t our strong suit. I’ll have to take what I can get. No matter how ridiculous.

I let out a sigh. “Just do it.”

“Yes!” Ronan exclaims with a fist in the air. Rubbing his palms together, he adds, “It’s go time.”

“Stay close,” Asheros tells me, Kheldryn, Gryska, and Savell, his tone shifting to become more serious. “We’ll regroup once we’ve gained the information we need.”

Nodding, I force myself to swallow any last-minute remarks.

Asheros hands me our mount’s reins. “Take this.”

I do, keeping a relaxed but secure grip on them.

Shadows bleed from Asheros’s feet, rising to swallow me in a protective shield. Turning to face the road, he slips away from us and into the crowd with Ronan and Orim at his sides. Ronan and Orim’s horses trail behind them, forcing the crowd to part around them.

Kheldryn and Savell slink back against the building, moving parallel to Asheros to keep him in view. Gryska and I follow, keeping our focus on the people filling the street.

Asheros, Ronan, and Orim stop to talk to an elderly couple selling knitted garments outside of one of the shops. Orim talks with his hands, his motions lively and animated. The woman smiles, seemingly charmed by him. Ronan nods at something said and then rests his head on Orim’s shoulder.

Orim lightly pats Ronan’s head.

Shaking my head in bewilderment, I grit my teeth to contain my laughter.

The woman’s expression melts at their display. Leaning forward, she places her hand over her heart. She says something I can’t hear and then reaches out to Asheros with a knitted item in her hands.

Smiling at her, Asheros accepts it and dips his head. Locking eyes with me through the crowd, Asheros motions his hand forward, as though to urge us ahead.

I nod, and glance at the others before flicking my eyes back to him. The three of them say their goodbyes to the elderly couple and make their way farther down the street before taking refuge beneath a shop’s awning.

Kheldryn and Savell are already moving, Gryska and I at their heels. Savell weaves through the crowd and then he and Kheldryn join Asheros under the awning.

Since we have two of the horses, Gryska and I wait for an opportunity to cross. I squint, though it does little to improve my vision. I rely on Gryska instead, angling my head to get a better sense of her presence.

After a rickety wagon passes, we step into the street, tugging the horses after us. Once we join the others, Asheros lowers the shadows around me.

“So?” Kheldryn asks, placing a hand on her hip. “Do you know where we’re going?”

“Yes.” Asheros’s grin is triumphant. He raises the knitted square. It’s a simple-looking stitch made from cerulean and silver dyed wool. “We even got a present for her, free of charge.”

“How’d ya manage that?” Gryska arches a brow.

Orim proudly puffs out his chest. “I told the woman running the shop that it was our dear cousin’s birthday.”

“And if we didn’t make it to her house,” Ronan adds with a trembling lip, “she’d be all alone.”

Savell opens his mouth, then closes it. He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “You know what, I’m not even going to ask.”

“Come,” Asheros says, taking our mount’s reins from me. “Let’s go visit our dear cousin, shall we?”

The gods must be smiling down on us because Arella Kellener still lives in Esvelon.

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