Page 16 of Crown and Dragon

“Should we run?” Tahlia whispered.

“Not yet. It could be anything. Stay calm.”

She shielded her eyes from the blazing sun. “I can’t tell if he is looking this way or not.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You’re sure?” she asked.

“Not yet.”

“I don’t like it when you’re not sure. You’re always sure.”

“That’s incorrect.”

“See? You’re certain I’m wrong.” Her lovely fingers left his wrist, and he mourned the loss like a lovesick youngling.

The guard was parting the crowd and coming their way.

He growled quietly. “We need to work our way out of here.”

“Got it.” Tahlia shot to the right, going across the crowd.

It was more obvious, but it was the fastest way to shift their direction. Conversations and the general noise of the people started up again, but the guard had his gaze set on Marius and he wasn’t slowing, his body parting the crowd like a prow on the water.

Tahlia was already taking a turn to join the throng walking across the bridge on the upper level, over the place where they’d just been. Marius trailed her, carefully easing folks aside as he went. This was easier for Tahlia because she was so small. She was halfway across the bridge by the time he reached her.

It was like her head was on a swivel. “Is he following us? Where is he?”

“Look straight ahead. Aim for the second street to the right. We will cross the river again at the next bridge.”

“Aye, aye.” She winked at him and kept on.

Finally, they were moving in sync with the crowd. The bridge sloped down to the street once more, and they skirted their way along the edges of the people. An open door beckoned from a basketweaver’s shop.

“Here. This is better.”

He put a hand to the small of her back and immediately wished he hadn’t because the feel of her shape caused his blood to flow away from his brain, heading south. He followed her into the shop.

“Oh, I love these!” She picked up a basket and stared at it like it was a lost treasure found.

“Do you?” The shopkeeper clasped her hands. Her eyes shone with delight. “It’s my newest design.”

The back door was clear, straight back. He cut past Tahlia and the basketweaver and into the dark of the back of the shop. Two small boys looked up at him from the corner where they were sorting what looked like the reeds that grew on the seaside.Marius whistled once, quick and high, a sound Tahlia would notice, but most would excuse as street noise filtering in.

Tahlia laughed at something the shop woman said, and she hurried back to join him. They were out the back door in seconds.

“What did you tell her?”

“That your ex was out front.”

Marius snorted and led her over the cobblestones and toward the road to the next bridge, if they needed to use it. But if they found the safe house first, they would just go there.

Only a small group of elder humans and a skinny dog walked down this side street. The turn was clear of guards so far. They slipped down the road, and at last, the blue-painted door of the safe house appeared at the end of a more crowded lane. In front of the door, a wooden gate circled a tiny garden. Marius pushed it open and Tahlia hurried through and tried the door.

“Locked,” she said quietly as she smiled at a passerby. She was handling this well, acting casual and masking their need to work quickly.

With a glance over his shoulder to check for the city guard or anyone who seemed too curious about them, Marius rammed his shoulder against the painted oak. He grunted as the door banged open. They rushed inside. He shut the slightly damaged door behind them.

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