Of Whispers and Daggers ✓ [TLRQ #2]

Chapter 3 - Idyne

Dedicated to Awgy for being chaotic.

The swinging tapestry stretches shadowy figures on the tunnel walls, like cackling shades dancing through Antium's dead trees. I flatten against one dark wall, and across from me, Jacin does the same. Leavi's calls reverberate down the hall, and my eyes squeeze shut. I'm a child again, my sister screaming for help as she's carried away by the Kadranians. Flames devour our village as our parents' blood wets the dusty streets.

"Set their houses on fire," the voices in my head sing. "Spill their blood."

My muscles go taut. This isn't then. These men aren't the Kadranians. If I go after Leavi now, we'll both be caught.

The tapestry swings open, torchlight silhouetting the tall, tight stance of a soldier. I stand frozen. In and out, blood slicking the blade of my silverglass—it'd be so easy to get him out of my way. But stabbing Aster's people won't gain me any favors here, won't save Leavi, won't avenge my sister.

The soldier grabs at my arm, and I dance back. Jacin steps forward, fist slamming the larger man's jaw. His eyes roll into his head, and he topples. My gaze snaps to Jacin shaking out his hand.

He shrugs. "I didn't think we wanted to go the direction Leavi did."

I grin. Maybe bringing the odd-jobs-boy wasn't just a piece of whim.

Without discussing it, we pull the man's limp form into the tunnel, then hurry away from the tapestry. A couple halls over, I gesture at him to slow as I flip my hair over one shoulder. Meaningfully, I say, "We're supposed to be here, aren't we?"

Slowly, he nods, and we stroll down the passages. He asks something, but I ignore him. Thank you, shamans, for giving me everything I need to blend in here. I smile as I walk. You'll regret it.

Finding the stairs, I murmur, "Go into the hall and tell the first person you see that you've gotten turned around. Ask for directions to the Inner Ring guest chambers."

He frowns but nods. "Alright." He looks more like a farm boy than a visiting lord, but it's boulders over pebbles better than my patchwork dress with bones and feathers woven in. I glance at my bare feet, remembering that the Morineause probably also expect people to wear shoes.

As he goes down, I wait just around the curve of the stairs, glad he's listening to my instructions without argument. Sometimes it's so hard to get people to do what you want. Glee bubbles in me as, hand in my pocket, I finger the amulet I stole off Alaar's corpse.

The shamans are certainly going to regret it.

Several minutes pass before I hear Jacin speak, but the dumb little girl he asks readily gives him the directions. I wait for her footsteps to recede before coming down.

He opens his mouth when he sees me, but I summon a wild grin and say, "This way, shall we?" I stride the direction the girl instructed. It'd be a shame to accidentally let the group from the Kuddly Kitten Inn start thinking I'm nearly as sane as they are.