Page 78 of A Sky of Emerald Stars

Maez and I leaned in, inspecting the rudimentary drawing. It appeared to be a floor plan.

“This,” Navin said, circling his finger around the largest rectangular room, “is the grand hall. And here”—he moved his finger through a labyrinth of corridors to an oval room in the south corner—“this is the gallery where the vase is on display. The room is locked, though; we need to get Luo to open it.”

We paused as the barmaid came back with more drinks, two for each of us, and Maez thumbed her an extra crover in appreciation. We waited until she disappeared into the throng again before Navin continued.

“Once Sadie and I announce ourselves at the gate, we will most likely be escorted through the grand hall to get an audience with the King,” he said. “The King will want to make a spectacle of his brother’s new bride.”

My grip on my glass tightened. I knew this was the plan, but I didn’t love hearing it stated out loud. “The only spectacles I like to make are in the sparring rings,” I groused under my breath.

“Maez, you can go through the servants’ passageway”—Navin pointed to a little doorway at the bottom of the page—“and wait by the door to the gallery. I will present Sadie and ask that instead of her hefty bounty I may select three pieces of art from his giant collection.” Navin’s grin widened. “He’ll think me a foolish artist and agree. It’s a better deal than parting with that much coin.”

“And if he doesn’t agree?” I asked.

“He will,” Navin said. “I am highly doubtful that a King who loves gold as much as Luo wouldn’t rather part with a few artifacts gifted to his family—byhumanartists no less. Luo agrees to hand over the vase, and then Maez can help you sneak out the back.”

“Great,” I muttered. “I’ll justsneak out the back,shall I?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time you had to jump out a bathing chamber window,” Maez said with a laugh. “I doubt Prince Tadei will expect his bride to do that.”

“Especially if we can make it look like your hands are bound when they aren’t,” Navin said. “They won’t suspect you capable of running.”

“How are we meant to fake shackles?” I asked, gulping down the rest of my drink. The warm buzz helped alleviate some of the terror swirling in my gut.

“She might have something.” Navin nodded to an old woman who sat in the center of the room. She was knitting what looked to be a pair of mittens. A giant bag of yarn sat beside her, and the table was strewn with whorls of string.

Maez and I exchanged glances, ones that only our keen sight could see. She clearly was wondering if we were looking at the same woman, too. “How is she going to help us?”

“Let me worry about that,” Navin hedged. “We should also prepare to create a distraction where Sadie can run back to the wagon that way if all else fails.”

“That’s going to have to be one epic distraction,” I muttered.

“I have a few ideas,” Maez said, propping her elbows on the table and grinning. “But how am I meant to just waltz into that doorway without a bunch of servants immediately questioning me?”

“As I said.” Navin tipped the crown of his head toward the card game in the corner. “We came here to get supplies.”

As the crowd parted, we spotted them. Two burly men in dented bronze armor covering tawny fighting leathers. Their chest plates bore the arcing symbols of the moon phases, andthe hilts of their weapons were detailed with gold and gems like bursting miniature suns. Over the backs of their chairs, helmets hung by golden chin straps along with thigh-length tan military jackets covered in medals and badges denoting their rank.

Wolves. If the attire wasn’t enough to give them away, the sharpness of their features and keen, wary eyes certainly did.

“What in the...”

“What are they doing all the way out here?” I leaned into the table and kept my voice low, not wanting the Wolves to hear us over the rabble. “Playing cards with humans no less?”

“Some of the Onyx Wolf pack live on the islands surrounding Rikesh,” Navin said as he took another sip of ale.

Maez and I exchanged confused glances. “They don’t all live in the city with their King?”

“I’m sure they convene frequently, but no,” he said. “The pack is far more spread out than the Silver Wolves in Highwick.”

I’d never really considered how much Nero wanted to keep us under his thumb. The rest of the Silver Wolf pack had lived in elaborate townhouses surrounding his castle no more than a stone’s throw away. Soldiers were allowed to live slightly farther out for training, but we were all still right there in Highwick, where he could keep a watchful eye on everyone. King Luo seemed to have a far longer leash for his pack.

“I would’ve wagered a thousand crovers that no Wolves frequented this place,” Maez said as she studied the two men.

“That’s why they’re here,” Navin said with a shrug, waiting for us to piece the meaning of that statement together. When we only just stared back at him, he added, “Why do you think the Onyx Wolves come all the way out here?” He tipped his head to the table again as a human woman dropped into one of the Wolves’ laps, cackling as she ripped off a bite of bread and fed it to him. The Wolf’s hands were greedy and possessive as they fisted in her skirt and pulled her tighter. Her lust-filled grin matched his own. “They don’t want anyone to see theirphilandering.”

I dropped my gaze to scrutinize the table, afraid I might lock eyes with Navin. I knew byphilanderinghe meantskin chasing,but he was trying to be diplomatic for my sake. I hated that I was ever made to feel like my attraction to Navin was taboo, that we were meant to be a secret, that people would speak of us in whispers. I hated more that I still felt shame creeping up my cheeks along with a burning blush.

I cleared my throat and steeled myself to look up again. “What supplies specifically are you planning on acquiring from them?”

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