Page 72 of A Sky of Emerald Stars

“The oxen know to keep to the outskirts,” Navin said. “But it’s faster through the center of town. Now to find Maez.”

“Where is the seediest tavern in this place?” I asked, shouting to be heard over the music and banter. Despite my current predicament, it felt good to be in a city again. I missed the chaos and bustle after days in the desert.

Navin considered for a moment before saying, “The Sand Snake, but I don’t think—”

“Take us there,” I said, thinking of our days as new soldiers and all the decrepit holes-in-the-wall that we used to frequent. “If she’s alive, that’s where she’ll be.”

“You’re so sure of your friend?”

“I’ve known her my whole life,” I said, suddenly feeling the absence of Maez like a missing limb. “I left my entire family and pack to save her.” I’d followed Grae, who was following Calla, yes, but Calla was going after Maez and I knew I needed to be a part of it. She was like another sibling to me, and I couldn’t bear the thought of her locked up in a castle for the rest of her days. The fact that Nero hadn’t even tried to save his niece still broke me. I was ashamed that it was the first time I truly questioned the pack leader... but once I did, I started to question everything. Now, with space and distance from Nero, I saw all the manipulation as clear as day and couldn’t quite comprehend how I’d spent my whole life under Nero’s thumb without feeling the way I did now.

We veered off the main street. The space grew quieter and more covered in shadow until we were in what was clearly the sordid underbelly of Sankai-ed. The decor and buildings might’ve been different, but it smelled the same as every other den of iniquity I’d frequented. People gambled down alleyways, drunks lay curled on stoops, and the sweet smell of spice was replaced by the stench of booze, bile, and piss. Crows of laughter pealed into the air, emanating from the one building lit with candlelight—the Sand Snake, I presumed.

“If we’re keeping up this ruse,” I said, as we drew nearer to the creaking doors, “you’ll need to tie my hands.”

Navin pulled the scarf from around his neck and started wrapping the fabric around my wrists. “Here.”

“You know I can get out of this,” I said, lowering my voice to a hiss as people watched us from the shadows with wary curiosity.

“I know that,” he said. “Buttheywon’t unless you plan on sprouting fangs and fur. They think you’re human.” He tipped his chin to two shirtless humans pummeling their fists into each other while others threw coins into the gambling pot. “And if a brawl breaks out, I want you to be able to defend yourself.”

I clenched my jaw as he pulled the fabric tighter and it burned into my skin. “I could take them with my hands tied behind my back.”

“I know you could,” Navin said, giving my leg one final squeeze before slowing the horse to a stop.

I glanced at him and then at the mare. “Maybe one of us should stay out here,” I said, eyeing the mare. “Or I think your horse and saddlebags will be gone when you return.”

“Fine,” he said. “You stay with the horse; I’ll go search for Maez. I have a feeling not many people will want to answer your questions dressed like that.” He took a step in and then stopped himself, and I knew he’d wanted to kiss me. I grinned at him wickedly and he shook his head in equal frustration. “Don’t get up to any mischief,” he warned and then turned and pushed through the double doors into the tavern.

Unfortunately, this was the sort of place where mischief found you whether you were looking for it or not.

Three humans appeared from the alleyway almost instantly as Navin disappeared into the tavern. The front one cocked his head at me and looked me up and down.

“Why don’t you run, girl?” he asked, adjusting the rough-spun wool of his vest that he wore around his barrel chest with nothing underneath. In my head I named them Vesty, Lanky, and Beardy, the three most useless-looking rapscallions I’d ever seen.

“Go on,” Lanky said. “We won’t tell ’im that you’ve run.”

I narrowed my eyes at the three of them. “And then you can loot his saddlebags, hmm?”

“You’d protect your captor?” Beardy asked, the beads in his beard clinking as he shook his head. “Come on, girl—get gone.”

“I am exactly where I want to be.” I frowned at them. “Now why don’tyoufuck off. Or go fuck yourselves. Either way—”

“You got a mouth on you, don’t you? We’ll handle that. And we’ll be taking that horse whether you like it or not,” Vesty said, unsheathing a rusting blade from his worn leather belt. I threw my head back and laughed. That thing looked so blunted it probably couldn’t slice a stick of warm butter.

“What’s so funny?” Beardy gritted out, grabbing his own hand ax from his belt. It looked like an old carpentry tool, except the blade appeared dulled to no more than a blunt instrument. Still, with enough of a wallop, it could probably break a bone, but it wasn’t quite the intimidation he probably thought it was.

I sized each of them up—their weapons, how they stood and maneuvered, the sides they leaned to, the hands they favored. It had been a while since I’d had any fight training; seemed a shame to waste the opportunity.

“Come on then,” I goaded. They were lucky I didn’t have my knives on me. “Let’s see you try and take this horse.”

I decided then and there I wasn’t going to free my hands—I wanted it to at least be sporting for them.

The three of them exchanged bemused glances before they charged at me. I easily sidestepped Vesty and kicked out the back of his knee, sending him flying into a pile of horse dung. Lanky’s fist glanced past my cheek, and I ducked under his rebounding blow. Bolting inward, I shouldered him backward, giving me just enough time to whirl on Beardy.

Short and stout, Beardy was a few inches shorter than me, which made him the perfect height for me to smash my forehead into his nose. I heard the crunch and then his scream as he dropped his ax and his hands flew up to his face. I kicked out, my boot colliding with Beardy’s chin in a brutal uppercut that sent him toppling backward unconscious.

Lanky grabbed me by the hair, yanking my head back with a sharp jolt. Normally, I’d elbow him in the gut, andtechnicallyI could still if I just ripped my hands free, but I still wanted to prove to myself I could do this without the use of my arms. My combat instructors would’ve been so proud. Perhaps it was a foolish move, but at least it made crushing them a little more fun.

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