Page 76 of Godsbane
Even cloaked in the common brown, every trace of his persona removed, he exudes power. Calispower. Now that I know he’s a god, I can’t see him any other way. How he walked among us disguised as a mortal, I’ll never know. He’s a force to be reckoned with, and while all of Corinth may not know the true reason, they recognize it, fear it, and respect it.
Perhaps the most attractive thing about Cal isn’t his honed physique or the downright sinful things he does with it, but the fact that he sees me as his equal. Not something to be used, extorted, or controlled. The first person to see my true power shattered the pretty little porcelain box I hid it inside all these years. He pulled the veil from over my eyes and gave me the first piece of my true identity.
An identity that still doesn’t feel complete.
The revelation of my heritage does little to settle the decaying power that swirls in the shadows surrounding camp and lurks in the shade of the passing trees. The magic that claws at theunderside of my skin like a rough stitch. The constant reminder of the doom that awaits me.
We reach the port city just before nightfall on the third day. The last stop on the Ruby side of the Alloy River is especially dangerous. Marks has to believe I’ve returned to Emerald or we lose the one element we can’t magically wield but have to have: surprise. If I’m spotted here, the plan we’ve managed to string together will unravel.
Soldiers, dressed in the gray and gold uniforms that signal their allegiance to Corinth, are stationed at the docks. Marks left his own men on this side of the river to replace the regional guard, a clear sign of the distrust we correctly anticipated.
Cal’s face is too recognizable to these men, so there’s no point trying to hide him. He exchanges his modest cloak for one in a striking raven hue, putting the first phase of our plan into motion. He’ll secure passage for himself tonight, and in the morning, he’ll bribe the same soldier to look the other way when he brings along a woman that he happened to meet in the tavern.
It’s a ridiculous idea, but it’ll work. A woman on the arm of a powerful man is rarely looked in the eyes. So I’ll swish my hips when I walk, lay my head playfully against his arm, and swallow down my pride until we’re in the safe cover of the Kingswood that waits on the other side.
“I’m not known for traveling with a … hired companion, so you’re really going to have to sell this one, princess. You sure about this?” Cal asks.
“It’ll work,” I reassure him. “Go do your soldier thing. I’ll meet you in the tavern.”
I slink into the shadows and watch him stalk towards the docks. Cal dons his role as Captain of Corinth with expert ease, the mask of the menacing warrior slipping perfectly into place. There aren’t many people milling about today, but those that aresidestep quickly to clear a path for him. The soldiers spot him coming, straightening to attention as he approaches.
He doesn’t need me for this part.
Magic tingles across my skin before I can turn to make for the tavern. Slow, heavy footsteps sound on the cobblestones behind me, my hand instinctively drifting to the ivory-hilted dagger sheathed against my hip. The man stops beside me, the hoods of our cloaks concealing both of our faces, but I recognize him instantly.
“What are you doing here, Kieran?” I spit out.
“Same thing you are, Ivy. Securing passage to Amale.”
“Why aren’t you already across?” I turn to face him, taking in the brown roughspun of his cloak hood as he stares ahead towards the river, the ruby color of his region nowhere to be found.
“Don’t worry, Marks and his faithful following have already crossed.” Kieran meets my gaze, his russet eyes accentuated by a large, circular bruise covering his socket.
“You look like shit.” The words escape my mouth before I think better of it.
“Yeah, well you told your boyfriend about what happened at the summit all those years ago and he decided to turn our performance for Marks’ spies into a real fight.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I correct. “What performance?”
“Of course he didn’t tell you,” Kieran scoffs. “Don’t say anything, Kieran. I’ll tell her, Kieran.Bullshit.”
Finished with his mocking, he turns and heads into the weathered tavern. I follow quickly behind him, growing agitated at his lack of answers. Reaching out, I grab ahold of his arm and spin Kieran to face me.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You’re going to want a drink for this.”
Kieran pulls from my hold and stalks to the bar, flagging down the barkeep to order two tankards of ale with a fake smile. Beers in hand, Kieran directs us to a large table along the side of the wood paneled walls. I pick a seat, pulling out the woven-bottom chair facing the door as he slams the tankards down and sits without removing his hood.
“Start talking,” I command.
He takes a long gulp before wiping his mouth on the back of his shirt sleeve and motioning for me to do the same. I comply— only because the drink has never left my sight since Kieran acquired it—and I drink down the slightly warm, foamy hops without breaking eye contact.
“You might be,” he leans in to whisper his next words, “agod, but you’re not the only special person here.”
I force my face to remain neutral and unfazed by his declaration. I don’t know what Kieran knows—or thinks he knows—but he won’t get any information from me.
“And I suppose you believe yourself to be special?”
