Page 201 of Glow of the Everflame

“Politics,” I sighed. “Posturing. Bribes and deal-making. Trying to scare me into bending my will to them.”

She shook her head and sniffled. “If they thought that would ever work, they haven’t spent much time with you.”

A loud snort rang out behind me, and I shot a glare over my shoulder. Taran grinned back from where he and Alixe leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree.

It turned out coming to Mortal Cityalonewas a non-negotiable for Luther. I had strongly considered another solo escape on Sorae, but I compromised, allowing Alixe to escort me so she could veil me from sight with her magic. Taran, being Taran, invited himself along, swearing himself to total silence—a promise he’d already broken at least a dozen times.

“Don’t forget, if the deliveries of herbs stop arriving, or if you need anything else, speak to Luther.” I gently pulled out of Maura’s arms and laid my hands on her shoulders. “With any luck, the next time I see you, I’ll be coronated. Then we can make some real changes around here.”

Her lip quivered as she pressed her palms to my face. “I wish your parents could see you now—the incredible woman they raised.”

My throat went tight. “Thank you,” was all I could manage to get out.

“I will pray to the gods to watch over you.” Her caramel-brown eyes darted to the Descended behind me, and her voice slipped to a whisper. “The Kindred and the Old Gods alike.”

I fought a smile at her frightened stare as she gawked at my Descended friends. It wasn’t so long ago that I would have had a similar reaction. With their tall, muscular bodies and flawless beauty, Taran and Alixe made an intimidating pair even without their powerful magic.

“Is Lana here?” I asked.

“No, she’s off visiting friends in Arboros. I’ve got her refilling our inventory while she’s there.”

I smiled wistfully, remembering how my mother and I used to make trips together to the lush southern realm to visit their well-stocked healers.

“Do you want me to pass along a message when she’s back?” Maura asked.

“No, I... I’ll see her when she returns.”

Maura returned my sad smile, an unspoken hope passing between us that I lived long enough to fulfill that claim. We shared a final hug, her eyes again welling with tears, before I shooed her back into the center to return to her work.

“One more stop,” I announced as I strolled back toward Taran and Alixe and they fell in step beside me. “I’ll need some privacy for the next one.”

I kept my gaze fixed on the road, though I caught the probing look Taran shot me from the corner of my eye.

“I’ll keep us out of sight,” Alixe said, inclining her head to Taran. “And I’ll keephimout of earshot.”

Taran huffed, and I gave her a grateful smile.

“I’ve never been to this area of Mortal City,” she admitted. “I escorted King Ulther once or twice to dedicate a statue, but we stayed on horseback and never strayed from the main roads.”

“Really?” I raised my eyebrows, then looked to Taran. “And you?”

He shook his head. “Your family’s home is the closest I’ve ever come.”

“Neither of you ever served on the Mortal City patrols?” I asked.

“Corbois guards don’t get assigned to conduct mortal patrols. Except—” She cringed. “—as punishment.”

“Working with mortals is a punishment?” I gave a harsh laugh. “That explains quite a bit.”

At least they both had the decency to look ashamed.

I struggled against my mounting resentment. I didn’t know their exact ages—an introduction-gone-wrong to an elder Corbois had taught me the hard way that asking a Descended’s age wasextremelytaboo—but I had to guess they’d been serving in the Guard for many years, if not decades. For neither of them to have set foot in the streets of Mortal City...

No wonder the Descended cared so little for mortals when they were entirely isolated from how we—they—lived.

No, I corrected myself. ‘We’ is right. These are your people, and you will always be one of them.

“Change of plans,” I declared. I linked my arms with theirs and headed for a small side road. “Alixe, keep us hidden. It’s time for the two of you to learn what it’s like to live like a mortal.”

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