Page 147 of The Eye of the Fifth
Naal had underestimated the girl’s keen mind.
But had she underestimated her kindness? Her fierce loyalty? Did she truly believe Kyra Daeiros, granddaughter of her beloved mate, to be capable of siding with Droria’s greatest evil?
No. There was more at play. An ulterior motive of the Earth Warden’s that Naal was yet to understand. There had to be.
???
Avaldale, Vrethian.
Kyra.
Avaldale was unrecognisable.
Usually teeming with carefree, ignorant humans bustling about the streets, it now had a bleakness to it that had nothing to do with the change in the seasons. A city on the edge of its nerves, a scent in the salty air divergent to the norm-
Fear. That’s what the docks smelt like as Kyra stepped off the tiny ship she’d paid some Nythanorian fisherman an extortionate amount to take her across to the earthland.
Almost a week and a half later, and it was a miracle the Eternals hadn’t tracked her down yet, though she knew they wouldn’t be far behind.
Which meant she had to get this done fast.
She would think about what had happened in the crypts once Oslan was free. She would face whatever punishment Naal would give her.
But right now… she had a bargain to fulfil.
The Eye seemed to grow heavier in her satchel with each passing minute.
‘Bit late for a shipment, isn’t it?’ a Union soldier said as she stepped off the ship, approaching her with a wary hand on the hilt of his sword. ‘Do you and your crew have clearance to dock here?’
‘Clearance?’ Kyra scoffed, barely daring to lift her hooded head should he recognise her. She had a feeling the excessive number of Union cunts roaming the city had something to do with her. ‘Since when do you need clearance to dock in this shithole?’
More soldiers swept by them and onto the deck of the ship behind, and Kyra prayed that the amount of coin she had given the timid captain was enough for him to keep his silence.
The soldier before her said, ‘What business do you have in Avaldale, traveller?’
‘I live here,’ Kyra said impatiently. ‘I didn’t realise it was now illegal for Vrethans to come and go as they please.’
‘The city has been under duress these past months,’ the soldier said with a hint of regret. ‘And itisafter curfew. You’ll have to come with me-’
From beneath her cloak, Kyra swiftly whipped her dagger from its sheath, placing its point at the soldier's waist, right between his ribs. ‘You’re not taking me anywhere. I have an important meeting with Lady Lilion Perdy and unless you’d like to tell the Lady of Shadows thatyouare the reason I didn’t make it, I suggest you and your hounds look the other fucking way and let me pass.’
It was a long shot, using Lilion’s name as leverage.
The soldier went still, but not with fear. Instead, recognition lit his blue eyes. ‘Kyra Dae?’
She remembered him then. It was the same Union soldier who had marched her into the Citadel to meet her death all those months ago. The young one with the pretty face, with the soft naivety to his voice. Kyra grinned up at him, but did not relinquish the placement of her dagger. ‘Hello again, soldier.’
His mouth twitched. ‘You’re still alive.’
‘Shocking, I know.’ Kyra cocked her head to one side. ‘Are you going to help me keep it that way?’
The pretty soldier peered nervously over his shoulder. ‘You shouldn’t be here,’ he said in a rushed, whispered voice, then motioned to the Union pigs swarming the docks. ‘That’s what this is all about. When you left, some of the fae from Valfell started infiltrating the city in the dead of night, wreaking havoc. Setting things alight, destroying crops, stealing things from the Citadel. Their magic is back. The Governors have told everyone thatyou’rethe one behind the attacks. There’s a bounty on your head.’
Oh, good. Gone for months and still somehow being blamed for shit. ‘Do you believe them?’
After a moment, the soldier shook his head, then held his chin high. ‘I choose to believe the Earth Warden isnota terrorist. Even if most believe the opposite.’
Kyra blinked at his open honesty, even in the face of adversity. ‘That makes you smarter than most, my friend.’ This was a soldier who, perhaps, never wanted to join the Union. Who had no other choice. He couldn’t have been older than eighteen, and Kyra knew the Union paid their soldiers well. If he had a family to provide for… perhaps being in the Union was the only way to do so. He clearly had no love for the job.
