Gwen and Sel gave me blank looks.
Will flashed a cheeky smile. "Easy."
When she glared at him, he wiggled his eyebrows, walking right up to the elves without a backward glance. He pushed hard with both hands dead center in the middle of the X.
The sound of stone grating along stone echoed loudly in the quiet courtyard.
I had the overwhelming feeling we were still being followed, but every time I looked, no one was there. There was, however, a doorway where Will had just pushed, where a moment ago there hadn't been.
I paused, uncertain I wanted to enter blindly, but Will had already forged ahead without waiting for us. Gwen and Sel had similar expressions of surprise on their faces, staring blanking where he’d entered.
I hurried to follow, unsure if it would be the same as it had been in the Library, where once the door was open, it closed swiftly behind.
It was three short steps down into the entrance, and as I’d feared, once we were inside, the door shut. Even as my heart clenched, another door opened in front of us when Will put his hand on the handle and pushed.
It was another three stairs up and we emerged into a place familiar to me.
Will turned, giving me a wink. "Recognize it?"
When I slowly nodded, he pointed down the street.
"If you go two blocks to the left, the Library is right there."
I looked uneasily in the direction he was pointing. "I'm not so sure this is a good place for us to stay. We need to get further away, maybe find another gate to a different part of the city, or even somewhere other than Sunglen.”
"If you don't mind letting me guide, I may know a few other doorways. I know you’ve got your magic paper there," he eyed my hand, "but I have a few tricks up my sleeve. You see, this city can be an interesting place. If you know where to look, it becomes a lot easier to get around."
I looked at Gwen, wondering what she thought of all of this.
She was still eyeing him with a look of suspicion which hadn’t softened since he’d suggested she leave her wolves behind, but she didn't seem inclined to disagree with him now.
Sighing, I turned over my shaky leadership. "Fine. If you know a better place to hide, take us there."
Full dark had fallen by now. Any residual light from the suns was long gone, and there were no more flashes of light on golden spires pointing the way. The streets were only lit by the faint glow of the eerie green street lamps which bounced softly off the cobblestones and hid the dark and dingy corners of the alleys.
I wasn't sure what they used in the lamps, as we didn’t have anything like them in the Cliffs, but they reminded me of tiny captured fires. They flickered even though there was no wind, almost alive and even dancing. How could they last an entire night? Were they replenished daily, or was there some spell to keep them burning?
Will was already walking, thankfully in the opposite direction from the Library. The feeling we were being watched hadn't left me, so by the time he arrived at another doorway my nerves were on end.
He stopped. "This should be the way to the marketplace. I’ve used it multiple times when I wanted to slip away from the barracks for a bite of non-ration food."
Gwen, who'd been silent until now, interjected. "Are you sure the marketplace is the best place to hide if someone's after us? Won't we be more obvious there?"
"Nope. I find it easier to hide in a crowd than within an empty room. Besides, I'm not sure about you three, but I'm hungry. I know a few late-night vendors who stay open to serve people on their way home from work. I'll take you to my favorite guy."
Sel's stomach rumbled audibly.
I raised my eyebrows.
He just smiled, looking down at his midsection and patting it. "What? He mentioned food. My stomach heard him, loud and clear."
Gwen and I chuckled as Will smirked, then began walking.
We ended up in front of a corner which looked nothing at all how I expected a doorway to look. At least with the other entrance, there had been a statue to hide it. This was just an empty bench on a corner. Hardly something anyone would recognize as a doorway between places.
Will caught my skeptical look and winked again. "You'll see."
He sat on the bench, crossed his legs, and leaned back. Within seconds a hole opened beside the bench. He immediately sprang to his feet and sauntered through.
The sound of his footsteps scampering down a flight of stairs echoed as the others quickly followed. I sighed, entering another dark, mysterious passage followed by the wolves and heard the snick of the door sliding shut behind me.
"Oh man," Sel moaned, turning his head and sniffing loudly. "It smells so good here."
Will mumbled around the food in his mouth. "I know. It's my favorite place in the world."
Gwen and I ate, but I continued to scan the crowd. The doorway had brought us to the marketplace, and Will had been right about the food. He’d also been correct about hiding in plain sight. I didn't have the same feeling we were being watched, but I wasn’t confident we’d lost whoever had been following us.
It seemed too easy.
If he knew a way to hop around the city, surely others did as well. When I'd finished eating and my stomach was content, my mood was a little brighter. Turning to my friends and Will, who I wasn't sure how to characterize yet, I decided it was time to get going.
"I don't think were safe in Sunglen. Will, do you know of any gates to other cities? Surely if we can move between places in Sunglen, there must be ways to move to the other cities as well."
He swallowed his food before taking a swig from his flask. I wasn't sure what he kept in it, but he hadn't offered to share, and I wasn't about to ask. I did notice Gwen’s face soften when he slipped Swift a piece of venison as he answered.
"Sure, I know a gate to Greenwick. It isn’t exciting, but it’s where my parents live. We could hide there for a while if you don't think Sunglen is safe."
I looked at her. "What do you think?"
"As long as his parents are fine with wolves, it’s fine with me. I think it’s best to get out of Sunglen." She glared at Will. "But don't try to get me to leave my wolves behind, because it’s not happening."
He raised both hands in front of him before he placed one over his heart. "I promise. In fact, they have a little farm so there's plenty of room for them. If you make them promise not to eat any of the livestock, it should be safe for all of us there."
She looked at her wolves for a moment and I could tell she was silently communicating with them. When she looked at him again, some of her frostiness had faded. "Fine. We’re in agreement."
He stood, brushing his hands off on his pants. "Let's be on our way. This one takes us through a less-than-decent neighborhood, but I think you'll appreciate the gateway a little more this time, Rhin."
It was my turn to look at him suspiciously, but he'd already turned.
We followed him through increasingly narrow and dirty winding back alleys. The sensation of being followed returned as a creeping prickle on the back of my neck. I could tell I wasn't the only one who felt it, based on the way our footsteps hastened. So, while I was happy when he stopped in front of a tree, the lonely looking dead-end made me uneasy. What had he meant by, "I'd like this one”?
It looked horrible, half-dead and hanging on to life by a few straggly leaves. How could such a poor excuse for a tree serve as a gate to anywhere?
He smirked, leaning on the poor thing.
"Appearances can be deceiving. I believed you of all people would understand." He stared steadily at me.
I flushed, feeling somehow as if I'd been judged and found wanting.
He was right.
I hated it when people called me princess and how others thought of Gwen and Sel, but I'd never let their opinions stop me before. Now here I was, judging a half-dead tree and finding it lacking.
The image of the tree on the plaque in the door at the Library flashed through my mind. It had been large with ro
ots that extended to the bottom and bare branches to the top of the plaque, but without any leaves. Had it been half-dead, or had it been all the way dead?
A tingle crept across my neck as I considered the symmetry. I was barely catching the edges of something here. Filing the thought away for later, I followed Will down another dark rabbit hole with stairs.
Chapter 19
I tried to fake it, but I caught myself flinching at any unexpected sound. This tunnel was longer than the others and when we finally arrived on the other side, I had an overwhelming sense of relief.
Will had glanced back to make sure we were still behind him a few times, but otherwise continued to whistle a jaunty, irritating tune until we left the tunnel. The only good thing I could appreciate so far was that the nagging sense of being followed had abated. I wasn't sure for how long, but I appreciated the vacation, especially considering Will wasn't even trying to be quiet now.
"How much farther is it?"
Gwen’s tone had lightened, and she sounded curious instead of angry for the first time since she’d punched him in the nose.
She still watched him warily, but I thought she’d relaxed the farther from the market we’d come, not to mention that when he’d shared his meat with Swift, I’d seen her look confused, then soften. That simple step had likely gone further in winning her over than the fact he’d offered to help us escape in the first place.
Will held a finger up to his lips and we fell silent. If he thought we shouldn't talk, there was likely a good reason. After another unending maze of streets and alleys, we arrived at a small house on the edge of the city.
Will flashed a mischievous smile and, with a rakish air, knocked loudly.
I wasn't sure what time it was, except it was long past nightfall by now. But before long, the sound of footsteps approaching the door grew louder.
A light came on, visible through a small window at the top of the door. The cheery yellow glow was a stark contrast to the darkness otherwise surrounding the house.
When the door opened, I almost expected an ur’gel or creature to leap out, but instead I saw an older woman. Her grey hair was tied neatly back with a leather strip, streaks of light brown the same color as Will’s providing color against the white of a long nightdress. She only came up as high as his shoulder and seemed tired, as if we’d woken her from sleep. But the moment she saw who was at the door, her half-closed dark blue eyes opened wide, lighting up with vitality as small wrinkles at the corners creased with a smile.
A small cry of joy escaped as she opened her arms and embraced him while the rest of us stood back awkwardly and waited. "Oh, how I've missed you, son!"
She pulled back, wiped a few tears from her eyes, then held him out at arm's length to examine him thoroughly. "What are you doing here? I didn't think you had any time off for another fortnight."
His gaze shifted uneasily to me.
For the first time I realized maybe he wasn't supposed to be helping us. I raised an eyebrow, but he’d already turned back to his mother with an innocent smile.
"It's fine, Mother. I'm helping these travelers out. They’re on a quest to save the world."
He’d been serious as he answered her, but it made me wince at how naïve we sounded.
"Oh? And how exactly is this ragtag group—do I see wolves?—going to achieve such a marvelous thing?"
"Not now, Mother. Can we come inside? I'll tell you everything, but it's been a long day and we could use some food, some rest—"
Before he could finish, his mother had sniffed us and wrinkled her nose. "And to wash up as well, I'd hope."
She sniffed again, gesturing us into the house with her head as she held the door open. One by one we filed in, including the wolves, who she watched with a look of subtle amusement on her face. Animals appeared to bother her as little as they had bothered Marthe.
Once inside, his mother was every bit as efficient as the tavernkeeper had been. It was obvious she hadn't been expecting company, but within moments of our arrival, she’d prepared a full spread. I watched with awe as she pulled a loaf of bread out, cutting thick slices off, then turning her attention to a block of cheese from a small icebox beside the door. She cut off several squares apiece, adding fruit and a dark brown spread to the plate, then took meat out of another container.
She placed the large plate in the center of the table along with smaller plates for serving, gave Will a look, and went back into the kitchen. He passed the plates out silently, taking a bit of everything for his plate before sitting down. We followed suit, and had just sat when she returned a moment later with hot cider in large mugs.
The apple-cinnamon smell wafted through the kitchen and I felt more at home than I did in my own room at the castle. I’d eaten only a few hours earlier at the market, but the rich warmth of the kitchen seemed to multiply my appetite and I was grateful to eat such a lovely assortment of food.
Will’s mother waited until we were fed and watered, and once even Sel was leaning back in his chair, she crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow as she turned to Will.
"All right, young William. Details, if you please."
I sat up straighter in my chair.
Her words hadn’t been directed at me, but she had the authority of a schoolteacher, or my father. She was clearly a woman used to people doing what she wanted. As I looked around the small kitchen, it crossed my mind for the first time that maybe leadership and strength had nothing to do with your possessions, your position in the world, or even your physical attributes.
I'd never considered that a woman of humble means would have the very quality required to lead an army, and yet instinctively, something told me this woman did. She sat calmly, not shouting or acting out, simply waiting with a solidness for her son to answer.
I watched as he composed his response carefully. Would he develop that air of command someday? He had the courage already, but he still seemed young and inexperienced. As I looked at her again, I hoped I would develop the backbone she had now.
"They came to Sunglen the day before yesterday. I happened to see them approach the guard post. Something about them made me curious, and yes, a little suspicious."
I caught surprise flash over Gwen’s face as my eyebrows went up, but Sel listened calmly as if hearing last week’s news.
"I spoke with my sergeant and requested permission to follow them. As a potential threat to the city."
My eyes went wide and a gasp escaped before I could stifle it.
Will shot me an apologetic smile.
"I was pretty sure you weren't dangerous, but when I noticed the slaver had an obsession with Gwen and her wolves, I decided it would be better to stick around." His eyes lingered on Gwen briefly.
I felt my hackles rise. I didn’t like being tricked, even if it had been for a good reason, but tried to calm down. I realized he was speaking again, and turned my attention to his words.
"It was a good thing, too, because today he made his move. If I hadn't been there, he likely would have taken the wolves and killed Gwen."
"If it wasn't for you?"
Gwen’s voice raised and she glared at him incredulously. "It was your fault he almost won in the first place. If it hadn't been for Rhin and her sudden unexpected fighting skills, we'd all be dead."
Gwen looked at me and I flushed.
I still thought it had been the passage about Beru I'd read in the Library which had somehow imbued me with his skills. Clearly, the Library had plans which required me to stay alive, at least for now.
"Anyway, after the fight, Rhin suggested taking off. I knew Gwen wouldn’t be eager to have me along for the ride, since she'd punched me in the nose moments earlier." He paused to rub his slightly bruised nose.
His mother looked at Gwen, amusement twinkling in her eyes. "Continue. I think I like you, young lady. By the way, you can all call me Ethel. So, your friends decided to leave Sunglen?" She relaxed her shoulders, her lips still curved in a smile as she waited for Will.
"I grabbed my bag and doubled back. I’d already told my sergeant I was going to tail them, and may have mentioned the slaver." Will winked, proudly lifting his chin. "You'll be glad to know a few soldiers collected him shortly after we took off down the alley. They would've gotten him in front of the tavern before he woke up, but unfortunately, I got the message to them too late."
“Wait, what?” I drew my eyebrows together, confused when he’d done any of this.
Will smiled smugly. "While you and Sel were at the Library, I kept an eye on Gwen. When the slaver returned, I sent a message back to my regiment he was going to try something, and gave them the location of Wentir’s tavern, but the barracks are just far enough away they didn’t arrive until after you’d already knocked him out. The scuffle we heard in the alley was them … detaining him."
"Wait, so if he is out of the way, why did it feel like someone was following us this whole time?"
"I don't know. But obviously, whatever it is you’re looking for has stirred a lot of interest in Sunglen. Which is why I think it's best we spend the night here, out of Sunglen and out of the way."
I pressed my lips together. The idea of a person following us who wasn't the slaver was more bothersome than I'd expected. At least with him, we knew he wanted to steal the wolves and kill us. Being followed by an unknown person or persons when you didn’t know their motivation was infinitely more frightening.
Before I could ask anything him if he knew where we should go next, a knock came at the door.
Will’s mother looked at him, raising her eyebrows, but he held both hands up, obviously as surprised as she was. She narrowed her eyes, then moved to the doorway, gliding soundlessly to grab a large stick from behind the door before she peeked through the small window opening in the door.
Whoever she saw on the other end was someone she knew from the way she immediately put the stick down, throwing the door open with a broad smile.
"Jarid! Wonderful to see you. Come in."
She scooped him into a hug almost as big as the one she'd given Will, ushering him inside the house before shutting the door and locking it behind her. She paused with one hand on the last lock, raising an eyebrow as she looked at us in turn.
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