Page 23 of The King of Koraha
“Yes. No legitimate antiques dealer will touch it without a certification.”
They left the main bazaar and headed south. Even with the detailed instructions on how to navigate the city, Rendor made a few wrong turns and had to backtrack a couple times. After about ten angles, his expression turned wary and he stiffened.
“What’s wrong? Are we lost?” she asked.
“No. Someone’s following us.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to blunder around some more to see if I can flush them out.”
“Wait, have you been making mistakes on purpose?” She hurried after him.
“Did you really think I couldn’t follow simple directions?” He was amused, which was better than being upset.
“Now that I’m thinking about it, no. But it seemed so real.”
“That’s the idea, sunbeam. When doing something illegal, it helps to not lead the guards straight to the scene of the crime.”
That was a bit of an exaggeration. “Are guards following us?”
“Not sure yet.”
Shyla could lower her mental shield to help him, but there were far too many people around. After a few more “wrong” turns, they exited a tunnel and the area opened up into an oversized hexagonal intersection where four guards waited along with a man who appeared to be in charge—his cocky confidence and impressive physique gave him away. Boots scuffed behind them and Shyla glanced over her shoulder. Four more guards moved closer, blocking their retreat.
“Follow my lead,” Rendor whispered to her before he stopped about three meters in front of the leader. “A welcoming committee. How nice.” He smiled, but there was nothing friendly about it.
The man, who was only a centimeter or two shorter than Rendor, straightened. “Surely you didn’t think you could come intomycity without me knowing, Rendor.”
“CaptainRendor,” Shyla corrected, hoping to deflate some of the unpleasant man’s puffed-up sense of importance.
“He betrayed and murdered his prince. You should be glad I didn’t call him traitor.”
Four
Betrayed and murdered. Those were fighting words. Shyla met the leader’s gaze. He was the captain of the guard of Qulsary. Disgust and anger simmered inside him, but he would obey his orders despite his desire to show his people what you should do to a traitor—kill him on sight.
“And you should be glad I don’t jump to conclusions and assume you’re an idiot, Captain Kilab,” Shyla said. “You’ve no idea what really happened in Zirdai. All you’ve heard are rumors. So shut your mouth until you’ve learned the truth.”
He was surprised she knew his name, but he kept it from his expression. “Why in the seven hells should I listen to you?”
“Call him a traitor and you will find out.” Shyla added heat to her gaze, showing him a small fraction of the power of The Eyes.
Uncertainty flashed for a moment before the man pulled it together. “The Water Princess has ordered me to escort you to her office. Follow—”
“Now?” Shyla asked.
The man huffed. “Yes, now.”
“I’m sorry, but we have a meeting with the King. Please extend our regrets.”
“You can’t—”
“Do you want me to insult the King?” Watching him grow increasingly flabbergasted was too much fun. “I’m sure you don’t. We can meet with the princess at angle one-sixty. If that doesn’t suit her, let us know an alternative time. I’m sure you know exactly where we’re staying.” Then she turned to Rendor. “Come on, Captain. We don’t want to be late.”
Rendor bowed slightly and led the way. As long as the guards didn’t rush them, she didn’t care where he was headed. She kept a link to Kilab, finding it amusing as he struggled to decide if he should force them to accompany him to the princess. In the end, he prudently chose to report back to the princess and let her decide.
Once they were far enough away from the squad, Shyla relaxed. Or she tried. Rendor’s continuing silence didn’t bode well.
