Page 40 of The Shadow of Polaris

“No, I insist. We’ll pay.” Handing the man his stray produce, Aryx slid a gold coin across the fruit-stand and tossed me a plum.

Scowling, I caught the deep purple fruit and tucked it into my cloak.

“Bless you,” the man called after us as we crossed the street.

“Plums? Really?” I glared at him as he bit into the skin of his fruit, the juice rolling down his lips. Heat pooled in the pit of my stomach as I thought of those lips against mine. I clenched my jaw, disgusted by the physical reaction I had in his presence.

“What can I say? They’re my favorite.” He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and chuckled at my now crimson cheeks.

“Say another word and you die,” I spat. My fingers twitched against the sheathed dagger on my thigh. Aryx snorted and took another bite.

“We have one more stop to make before we leave the city,” he said, leading me down a narrow alley. Strings of honeysuckle hung from the trellis above us. Their odor was a pungent reminder of Tethys and her venomous beauty. Arcturas trotted behind us with lowered ears. She, too, must have recognized the scent.

The alleyway opened into a vast courtyard inlaid with clean, bleached brick. White stable doors lined the exterior walls. A young stable boy, no older than ten, swung open the center door and ran toward us.

“Ryx!” The boy shrieked happily, leaning into Aryx’s tight embrace. Lifting him into the air, he twirled the boy around gleefully.

“Judas, it’s good to see you!” Grinning, Aryx placed him back on his feet. “You’ve grown since I saw you last. You’re nearly a man.”

“I’ve missed you! Mother didn’t tell me you were coming to see us today, otherwise I’d have Kratos ready for you.” Judas’s face lit up as he beamed at us.

I shuffled against the brick, tucking my hands in my pockets, rubbing the smooth skin of the plum delicately between my fingertips.

“I brought you something from the North.” Aryx dug through his satchel, pulling out a small metal tin. “These are the best cakes you’ll ever taste. I had to track them down before I left. They’re usually only made for Festival.”

Judas grasped for the tin, lifting its lid with wide eyes. The two butter cakes glistened as he scooped a taste of cinnamon icing.

“Thank you, Ryx!” He plucked one into his mouth, grinning with stuffed cheeks.

Between bites of the second, he said, “I’ll bring Kratos around for you. He’ll be so excited to see you.”

The small boy hurried back into the stable, loose red curls bouncing across his petite shoulders with every step. Moments later he returned, pulling a stallion by the reins.

The horse, with its sleek, white coat, stood 20 hands high. It was a giant next to the others in the stables, and it made Judas look even smaller than he already was. Snorting joyously, the stallion nuzzled against Aryx’s forehead.

“Alright, alright.” Aryx stroked down its long snout. “I missed you too.”

Kratos trotted toward me and sniffed at the long braid draped down my shoulder. I brushed my fingers across his nose. A black spot of fur shrouded his left eye.

“Elpis, this is Kratos,” Aryx said as the horse nudged me again. “I guess he likes you. I’m not entirely certain why.”

I threw him a sharp look.

“He’s been with me since he was a foal. You won’t find a faster steed anywhere across the realms.”

Judas approached me uncertainly, his tiny hands clasped behind his back.

“It’s okay, Judas, this is Elpis. She’s from Ursae.”

His eyes lit up, and a grin stretched from his lips.

“Really? What’s it like there? Is it true you only live off butter cakes there? You don’t look like you live off of cakes alone?” He erupted with questions. Aryx chuckled beside us as he left me to the wrath of the ten-year-old.

“Well, um, I guess I just exercise a lot,” I murmured.

I don’t think Judas heard my response, though, because he continued to spew questions about Ursae, not pausing to take a single breath. When he was nearly blue in the face, Aryx cut him off.

“I’m sure she’ll be happy to answer your questions later, but I need to speak to your father. Is he around?”

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