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The hooves of horses drew closer, wheels jostling behind. The quick crack of a leather whip. A light blue carriage endowed by two white stallions pulled up onto the gravel. The carriageman rose to open the carriage door and bowed.
Prince Aurean turned to shake the hands of Lelitkin and other merchants. The deal had been secured. Massive shipments of Kils'oj and jusar would start filtering into the Kingdom, hopefully so if Tern stopped flirting with him and did her work.
"My endless gratitude is loaned to you, fer Coronam," said Lelitkin, bowing. The other merchants bowed.
"The gratitude is ours, Lelitkin," said Prince Aurean, diplomatically, trying to hide his attempts at pacing this farewell. The golden embroidery on his shirt was painfully scraping against his skin.
Lelitkin stood back up.
"The performance today was marvelous. Give my dearest regards to them."
"I will make sure to," he replied.
"Good night, Lelitkin." He nodded to the other merchants. "Gentlemen."
They bowed collectively. By the time they rose up the carriage was already jostling away.
"A bastard if there ever was one," muttered Lelitkin, as the merchants hummed their agreement, went inside, drank glasses of scotch, talked politics and left.
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Acelius was following Nia through the streets. Memories of the performance sparkled and popped in his mind like bubbles of champagne. The way her eyes had glittered. He'd wanted to poke them out. Her words pouring out of Amenia's mouth. He'd wanted to choke her. She was idly walking, with nowhere to go.
She knew he was with her. And he knew that she knew. He didn't know why she didn't say anything.
They walked for what felt like hours. The life of a moth. The life of a whale. Until she stopped to lean over a railing of a bridge. A thin canal ran underneath. Acelius joined her, letting one hand hang over the wooden pole, the other deftly playing with the beads in his hair.
"Isn't it funny how we always meet at the edge of a world?" she asked, scraping her nails against the wood. He saw the topmost layer of wood retreat in three, neat lines, piling under her fingernails.
"I think they're just several opportunities for us to push each other over."
She chuckled at that. "Don't flatter yourself. You'd never have the chance to push me over."
"Too weak?" he asked, a bit of flame igniting in his voice.
She shook her head, "I'd get there first."
He shrugged. "I'd pull you with me."
"Fair play. Though I don't think falling from here would do much damage than a few broken ribs."
Acelius looked underneath. She was right. He could almost see the floor underneath the water. "Do you want to check?" he asked, innocently.
"I might as well. I already know everything that's going to happen."
"Tell me," he said, intrigued.
"Tomorrow. Early dawn. The bells will ring. And people will leave houses. The whole city will whisper. Of an alliance. A fatal one. And a princess. There will be panic and patriotic confidence, and the fragile flame of hope."
"How many Jusar?"
"I bet seven. And you?"
"I don't claim anything."
She turned around to face the opposite way, her elbows drawing back to rest on the railing. Nia turned her face, her hair moving with her. Her blue eyes glinted in the dark, they said, make it fun.
He sighed. "Fine. I bet this ring," he said, pursing his lips as he pulled one off his middle finger. It had a thin golden band, and a small emerald diamond on it.
She plucked it from his hands and examined it.
"So you think I'm wrong?"
"Oh Stealers no. I just think the city will shout." He drew closer, so his mouth was next to her ear. Her hair tickled against his cheek. "Whispering is for the inhuman," he whispered.
Acelius walked away, his hands in his pockets. Cool night breeze, filered through his tunic.
He heard a muffled thump and a drop of body. He cast a look over a shoulder to see Nia sprawled on the ground, like a broken doll.
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Author's Note: Thank you for reading!! I honestly can't believe we're six reads away from 1K. AAAAHH!! i love y'all. vote and comment and come back soon for the next part.
Love,
Cora. ✮
YOU ARE READING
unraveled
Fantasy"I've seen rats with better attention spans than you," she said onto his face. And then the boy was there pulling her onto her feet and off of him. "But have you seen them with such beautiful faces?" he asked, standing up, brushing off th...
