Page 29 of Fate of Echoes and Embers
Her eyes whipped open.
“The crest is dark blue. Two crossed swords over a trexan?—”
“Gods,” I cursed, frowning. “Perhaps we should let it be.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed. “A powerful magical relic, possibly ancient, and you want to… let it be?”
Of course not. But the owner of that shop would likely have something to say and I would prefer he not.
“It is an antique shop,” I said. “You can settle and get a meal while I investigate.”
Kael’s rare, but not subtle, laughter caught the attention of two sailors walking past us. They looked at him, and then Mev. I could hear their whispers of “the lost princess” as they passed. “We will be coming with you.”
“It feels like… something important,” Issa said, ensuring they would come along.
Reluctantly, I led our group down the alley. “This way. Issa, stay close.”
As I said the words, a group of three men stumbled from a less reputable tavern. Mev’s pearl-white hair must have caught the eye of the largest of the three. Without even a glance at Kael, he made a sound of appreciation and took a step toward her.
A flash of steel from the corner of my eye reminded me that Issa had been trained by her father, a ruthless warrior who had defended Hawthorne’s borders tirelessly, according to Kael. At the same time, Mev raised her arm, but no magic was needed. He was already being lifted by Kael, the man’s friends heading quickly in the opposite direction.
“Kael,” Mev said in an even tone. “Let him go.”
“I intend to,” Kael replied as the man demanded the same. As if he were a leather satchel, Kael tossed him a good distance away. The drunkard grunted but extended his legs.
“He’s alive, at least,” I said, watching as Issa put away her blade.
“Not for long, unless he disappears quickly,” Kael said, loud enough for the man to hear. Somehow, he managed to stand and stumble away toward his friends.
“Gyorians,” I muttered, shaking my head.
“You do not agree with his methods?” Issa asked.
My eyes darted to the blade now at her hip. I’d seen her use it once, hunting, and had no doubt it would have been lodged in the man’s throat before he was even hit by whatever magic Mev had planned to use on him.
“Sometimes, more finesse is called for.”
Issa pursed her lips together to keep from smiling. “And what, precisely, would you have done in the same situation?”
I thought about that one, my pulse quickening at the thought of Issa being mine.
My partner. Mine to hold. To kiss at will. To make love to. Travel the seas of Elydor with, teaching her to sail as we’ve done these past few days?
A very, very dangerous thought.
“I would use my natural charm to talk our way out of an escalating conflict. Leveraging words is not something a Gyorian would ever consider, I will admit.”
“And if that didn’t work?” she asked as we stopped in front of Bram’s shop.
“I might make a pointed remark to undermine the man’s confidence, ensuring he knew I could easily deal with him as a Thalassarian but choose not to.”
“We’d call that a psychological advantage in my realm,” Mev added from behind.
Kael grunted. I assumed it meant he disagreed with my methods.
“And how would a Thalassarian deal with him, being there is no water nearby?” Issa asked.
This would be fun.
