Page 70 of A Dance of Shadows

The prince’s mouth quirks up on one side. “I suppose it’s my honor to contribute however I can.” He shifts his own hand in a message of his own.Need time.

Of course he will. I can give him that—and at the same time play up the impression that I don’t enjoy having him around.

We reach the immense city square less than a minute later, drawing to a halt not far from a sprawling covered marketplace. As I slip out of the carriage, I’m surprised to recognize a couple of the figures standing near the outer stalls.

Viceroy Ennius and one of the Darium marchions appear to be deep in conversation with a couple of other men I don’t know—locals, from the style and vibrant hues of their clothing. As I linger by the carriage, mostly out of view, Ennius passes one of the unfamiliar men a coin. They shake hands, and I catch a brief comment—“Pleasure doing business with you!”

The locals head deeper into the market. The viceroy stalks off along the edge of the square with his companion.

Watching them go, my brow knits. “Are the Darium nobles making deals with Lavirian merchants? I thought trade agreements between the countries were supposed to be overseen by the emperor.”

Raul has been observing from over my shoulder. He speaks with a trace of an edge. “They’re supposed to be arranged with the approval of both the emperor and Queen Benvida. But it’s not surprising some try to circumvent those rules. It’ll benefit them somehow.”

Like the courtiers offering concessions to me and Marclinus in Cotea. Except in this case, they’re cutting the main authorities out altogether, both the local royalsandtheir imperial rulers.

I don’t like the implications of that fact, but this is hardly the time for me to dig deeper. I have plenty of more pressing concerns of my own.

The scent of spices and frying oil lace the air. The cobblestones gleam in their silver-and-beige patchwork. Despite the early hour, city folk are strolling through the space to and from the market and the buildings along the fringes. But I see no indication of where I might find a sacred armband.

My guards have descended from their seats as well. I need to put on a show of tracking this relic—a show that’ll take a good long time so Raul can play his part.

I meander along the edges of the square, letting my gaze drift over the buildings as if I’m being guided by some vague supernatural impulse. Here and there, I pause and study a particular detail for longer or close my eyes in feigned meditation.

When I feel I’ve put on a clear enough act, I turn to Raul. “One of the visions that’s coming to me is of a book—brown leather with gold gilding, something to do with the history of the city. I have the sense it’s important to this quest. I should continue following the path Elox reveals to me—perhaps you could search the palace library for such a tome?”

I’ve made the description generic enough that hopefully he’ll be able to grab a book that matches without too much trouble—and spend the rest of the time figuring out how to assemble a suitable replacement artifact.

Raul frowns as if he doesn’t like being ordered around. “I was supposed to assist with guiding you around the city, not go off running errands.”

I set my hands on my hips with an imperious air. “You’re supposed to help me however I see fit, aren’t you? This task is what would be most useful to me.”

He sighs. “Fine. How will I find you again once I’ve unearthed this ever-so-important book?”

“I believe a temple may be involved… I’ll have to visit at least a few of those within the city. Meet me at the main temple of Elox. If you’re not there when I arrive and I need to move on, I’ll leave a message there.”

“Right,” Raul says in a flat tone. “I’ll walk back to the palace, then.”

But he swivels his hand surreptitiously in a silent message.I belong to you.

I have to restrain both a smile and a bittersweet pang of emotion. “Please do.”

I turn my back on him as if dismissing him, returning the gesture at the same time.

The Lavirian carriage driver knows the way to the city’s primary temples. I start with Prospira, which feels fitting after the emphasis Linus put on her yesterday, and then move on to Sabrelle—as unlikely as it seems that Elox would hide her relic in her own place of worship—and Creaden.

At each of the grand structures, I putter around the outside and wander through the worship rooms as if waiting for visions and seeking out clues. My guards trail behind me gamely.

I don’t expect they have much idea of what a dedicat being led by her godlen would look like anyway.

After many soft exclamations as if some new epiphany has struck me, along with multiple peals of the hourly bells throughout the town, I judge that it would be reasonable to head to Rodrige’s Eloxian temple next. I only have two bells left before I’ll need to return for the pledging ceremony.

I’m stepping out of the Temple of Towering Glory beneath Creaden’s sigil when a scarlet gleam catches my eye.

My head jerks toward the light. A ruddy spark flickers at the end of one of the streets winding away from the temple.

A floating reddish glow like the one I saw during my plea to Elox.

I stand frozen for long enough that one of my guards inquires, “Has something disturbed you, Your Imperial Highness?”

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