Page 72 of Ties of Dust

“What do you think?” Cassius asked, as they moved toward the fountain.

“It’s delicious,” said Flora, holding the delicacy with one hand.

“We should find a vendor selling cobaltite goods,” Cassius said. “I remember you were interested to see it up close.”

“Yes,” Flora said. “I would like that.”

She spoke mechanically, her eyes on the man with the cart as they passed by him. She was distracted the whole time they were looking at the polished, dark stone, and Cassius picked up on it.

“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

“Maybe nothing.” Flora searched, but the man was no longer in view. “But I feel watched.”

The prince frowned, following her gaze around the market square.

“We’ve seen enough of the markets,” he said. “Let’s head for the park.”

Flora nodded, and out of force of habit, she fell into position behind Cassius as the group moved out of the markets. Just as the prince left the market square, a horse pranced past, forcing Flora to stop and separating her from the rest of the group.

She waited impatiently for the creature’s owner to get it under control. She couldn’t even see the prince anymore, and her tension rose as she wondered how far they were pushing their twenty-foot boundary. Just as the horse was finally moving along, and Flora was able to start forward, the man leading the horse stepped back in front of her and gripped her arm.

An angry protest was on Flora’s lips, but it died when she looked up and realized whose hand was around her arm. It was the man from near the fountain. He’d unhooked his horse from the cart, and like a fool, she’dbeen too focused on catching up with the prince to recognize him.

“I’m sorry, Miss,’ the man said before she could speak. “I didn’t mean to hold you up. My horse is spirited, Miss, it was just an accident.”

“Yes, all right, no harm done,” she said tightly, her spare hand drifting toward her dagger just in case.

Up close, the man didn’t seem at all threatening, but there was still something suspicious about his manner. She tried to pull her arm away, but he held on tenaciously.

“I saw you were with the prince, Miss, one of his guards or servants or something,” the man rambled on. “I won’t get in no trouble for holding you up, will I?”

“Not if you stop holding me up,” she said flatly. “Let me go.”

“Oh, so sorry, Miss!” he declared again. He released her arm, but still blocked her way, his horse positioned in such a way that it was near impossible for her to get past. “I meant no disrespect by it.”

With the words, Flora felt the sudden pressure around her waist that told her Cassius was now twenty feet away. His stride was strong, and she stumbled sideways a step before the pressure eased. He must not have realized she wasn’t right behind him until the tether pulled him up.

“I must go,” she said curtly.

“Wait.” The man grabbed her arm again, still looking anxious.

“I’ve asked you not to touch me,” she said through gritted teeth, pulling herself free.

The pressure had started again, and it was difficult for Flora to make the movement inconspicuous as she was dragged awkwardly sideways. The prince’s guards were probably trying to urge him onward.

All at once the pressure stopped, and she let out a breath. She side-stepped the still talking man, about to pass him when Cassius came into view, his face forbidding.

“Why are you accosting my guard?” Cassius demanded of the man, entering the conversation with unnecessary aggression.

The man quailed under the harsh question. Flora cut off his stuttering apologies.

“All is well, Your Highness,” she told Cassius. “Apologies for delaying you.”

Her eyes conveyed the unspoken message,let’s go.She was eager to get away from the exposed position of the market. As they at last left the square behind, she glanced backward and froze.

“What is it?” Cassius, more attuned to her this time, paused as well.

A group of people was passing, and when her view cleared again, Flora stared at the fountain. The figure was gone.

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