Page 13 of A City of Flames

She wasn’t wrong about my odd clothing, judging by how many stopped to stare at what I wore. I made no effort to argue back since I’d quickly realized I was not in my village anymore, and neither did I want to make enemies on my first night out in the city.

We ended up walking until night fell, and oil lampposts littered the streets. At the same time, Freya spoke of everything at high speed, which I never knew humanely possible. I tried to grasp everything she said as we’d entered the second district: Salus, full of russet brick libraries, institutes, apothecaries, and galleries. Opposite it, separated by a tinted orange river, were blacksmiths and food vendors singing out their prices on spices and encouraging civilians to buy a populated brew called Flame Spewer. An unhealthy amount of cinnamon gets poured into the ale before being set aflame. The supposed added ingredient of goblin blood is what makes one belch up fire, and from that, I knew I had to try it.

That is why we’re now standing in front of a stall being served. Freya is not a fan of it due to her worries about how dangerous it apparently is.

I eye the glowing chartreuse color and flames dancing above the drink as I screw my eyes shut and inhale it down my throat. The heat coats my insides, warming me deeply. When I open my eyes, Freya only looks at me, waiting for the fire, yet nothing comes.

“I think it’s quite delicious,” I say to her, licking my lips as I turn and extend my wooden mug out to the vendor. “More, please.”

The man stares at me, arching a thin brow, and laughs a horrid boisterous sound. “I’m almost certain you can’t even afford another.” His eyes take in my clothes. “Let alone hack two of those.”

I guess I will be making enemies tonight after all. “Well, I guarantee anyone who can’t hack them are rather revolted by having to look at your face, you pri—”

“Thank you for the beverage, sir!” Freya smiles, wrapping her arm around mine and pulling me away from the man’s livid gaze. The mug clatters onto the ground as I look at him, raising my chin with indignation.

My glare on the man dissolves as Freya takes me out onto the main center where the oak tree rests, and eateries and taverns encircle us. The city has fewer people at this time, and I’m thankful nightfall isn’t as humid as earlier since the breeze cools me significantly.

I stroll further near the oak tree but pause as I reach the last district I hadn’t entered yet. The roads silent and dark in comparison to other sections, like they’d swallowed up any form of life. Ripped drapes hang off dank stone walls varying in different sizes, and buildings spiral down in a slope to the center. Filth stains the ground, making me question whether I’m hallucinating as I step towards it before Freya drags me back and starts walking in the opposite direction. “Let’s not go through there.”

“Why?”

“The Draggards district is sort of... rough. People slaving creatures, selling them, brothels and—” She shudders. “Witches.”

So, this is where Ivarron sells the creatures I capture for him. I wonder how Freya would react if I told her I’m a trapper. “Witches?”

She nods as I stumble against her hold on my arm, trying to keep up with her small quick steps. “They don’t do anything, but if you ever wander through The Draggards, you might see bizarre displays of eyeballs and dead snakes.”

I lift my brows in interest. The years spent visiting Ivarron’s home, I was no stranger to that view. While Illias paled at Ivarron’s jar exhibits, I was one to find them normal considering who I was working for.

“You’ll also see a lot of people placing their bets already for arena fights between different creatures. So don’t look too alarmed when there’s a random brawl on the street.”

I glance at Freya’s relatively calm state as she lets go of me. Lorcan had spoken of arena fights the day he asked me to join the venators, but I didn’t know much of it.

“Let Solaris and Crello bless you, child.” A mother and her child pass us, both with peaceful smiles.

“Solaris.” Freya bows her head at them.

Involuntarily, I mimic her before going back to the matter at hand. “Where and when do these fights occur?”

“Outside of castle grounds.” She looks towards the marble gates. “Twice every fortnight, they hold these fights at Aurum Arena, and hundreds come to watch and make wages on which creature might win. It’s also where we’ll face the trial to become a true venator.”

A deep inhale at the mention of us facing the trial causes my insides to turn. Everyone had already begun their training months ago. Although Freya didn’t question why I’d joined now, I do wonder if I’ll be capable of facing the trial alongside others. No matter how hard I believe in myself, I have to have some realism.

We continue walking as Freya forgets the trial topic and explains her love for trying out new hobbies. But I’m quick to come to a stop when something posted on the side of a rustic tavern draws my attention. Squinting my eyes, I waltz up to it.

It’s a washed-out wanted poster and there is nothing but a sketch of a man shaded to darkness, making it hard to see what he might indeed look like. A mask covers the top half of his face, and the name Golden Thief is written in cursive at the bottom, accompanied by a warning of it being a dragon shifter.

My sudden awareness of the word dragon shifter brings me to the possibility of who exactly it is.

“Oh, you’ll see these posters everywhere in the city.” Freya joins beside me. “It gets rather tedious hearing everyone talk of how he—”

“Why do they call him the Golden Thief?” I ask, not peeling my eyes away from the poster.

“He’s known to go around stealing anything of value before leaving a gold coin—a trademark of his.”

My tone comes out nothing more than unimpressed, “Doesn’t sound like much of a threat.” Other than him being a dragon shifter. Still, I had to have some confidence in myself for the sake of my brothers.

“No one knows the true reason behind why he does it but some believe he does it to irk sellers so that they can use that gold coin to replenish stock for him just to steal it all again.” Freya frowns to herself as I look at her. “I can’t tell if that makes him a genius or not.”

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