Page 9 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
She’d been ten years old when she joined the circus. That was five decades ago now. For an Elemental, sixty was young, but for a human, she should have been showing her age. Loren had joined years after her and was around twenty years younger, but lately, he’d begun to look older.
Most of the Elementals in the circus were pretty ignorant of the human aging process, but Harrow knew it was only a matter of time before Loren or someone else noticed her appearance, and she’d have to choose whether to reveal her secret or leave her home forever.
In the meantime, she avoided Loren as much as she could, which wasn’t always easy. She got the impression he sought out her company, likely believing they had a connection as the only two humans in an Elemental circus.
“Oh, I’m fine,” he replied around a mouthful of food. “Been busy all day helping the boss work on security at the front gate. After what happened at—”
“Loren.”
He stiffened and twisted around.
Everyone’s heads turned as the boss himself strode through the tent. Along with his imposing height, Salizar had olive skin, dark hair, and the same pointed ears as all Elementals. In his case, they were proof of his Enchanter blood and the Air magic he possessed, but he always kept them hidden beneath a short top hat.
The common theory was that he pretended to be human to put his customers at ease. Though the illusion only went so far. After the display at Beirstad, there was likely no one in that particular region who didn’t know what he was.
He never went anywhere without his formidable enchanted staff. Malaikah called it the “witch stick,” and the circus had been abuzz ever since a few of them had seen the weapon in action last month. Oli had retold the story a dozen times, each telling more grandiose than the last.
For the most part, however, Salizar had never given anyone he employed reason to fear him. He kept safe those he considered under his protection, but Harrow wished the Goddess’s blessing on anyone who crossed him or got on his bad side.
Loren stood immediately and came to stiff attention as Salizar approached their table. For years, he had served as Salizar’s personal assistant. “Sir.”
Everyone stared and conversation hushed. It was rare indeed to see their aloof leader in the common areas. He tended to keep to his caravan or private tent, always pitched beside the big top. He would show up for performances and in times of need and then disappear again, and there was no one who dared disturb him.
“I’m going to the market tonight,” he said, “immediately after the performance. Assign another to cover your duties—I want you with me.”
Loren tensed visibly at this pronouncement. “Just us two, sir? Shouldn’t we bring a few more?”
“No. Be at my tent after the show.” Without waiting for a response, Salizar spun on a heel and strode away, long coat swooshing behind him.
Loren looked pale.
“What’s happening?” Harrow asked him, her senses immediately on alert. “Why are you going to the market?”
“I don’t know.” It was easy to see he was lying. “Excuse me, Harrow.” Before she could say another word, he hurried off in the direction Salizar had gone, leaving his plate of food behind.
Lenny rolled his eyes and grabbed it, shamelessly adding the contents to his own plate. “Bloody Salizar. Always so mysterious.” Harrow noticed he checked that their boss was out of earshot before speaking. “If I could make lightning like that, you bet I’d be shocking people left and right.”
Claudia snatched Loren’s bread roll and took a bite. “If you did, you’d bring another mob down on your head in days. I still don’t think it was wise to stir things up that much. We’ll never be able to go back to Beirstad now.”
Lenny scoffed. “Like we’d want to anyway. I’ll stay far away from anywhere that greets us with torches and spears, thank you very much.”
The conversation continued as they divvied up portions of the abandoned meal, but Harrow barely heard them. She was still staring after Loren, suddenly feeling that sense of dread and impending upheaval all over again.
First, she’d had that strange premonition, and now she was seeing flashes of her lost memories. Why now? What had changed?
Regardless of every rationalization, she couldn’t help but feel certain that whatever the Water had been warning her about hadn’t yet come to pass. And she couldn’t help wondering if the coming darkness was somehow connected to whatever business Salizar had at the market.
Chapter Three
He spent the next month in a cage. Tall enough for him to stand and wide enough for him to spread his arms apart, its steel frame was built onto the base of a four-wheeled wagon. There were old scratches on the wood floor from claws trying to gouge an escape route.
This was not the first time someone had been kept in here. A man-sized cage designed for easy transport could mean only one thing:
His captors were flesh traders.
The realization made him crave their deaths all the more. He passed the hours dreaming of their painful demises and the creative ways he could deliver them. He came up with a great many scenarios, for there were a great many hours to pass.
He would crush the skulls of the men who sneered at him through the cage by forcing their heads between the narrow bars. Or perhaps he would impale them with various implements spotted lying around the camp. One who enjoyed whipping the animals a little too much would be strangled with his own weapon.
