Page 87 of Fractured Shadows

He’s silent for a minute before he sighs, and a bit of smoke curls from his nostrils. “Fine, but you have an hour. If you’re not back, I’m coming after you, plans be damned.”

I nod. “I shouldn’t need long. I’ll find the closest food and bring it down. It’s the least I can do.”

When I talk to Marne about my plan, she shows me a grate that leads up into the Gilded Lands through an alley. I brush myself off and climb through the grate, and I’m grateful to see it’s protected by a large dumpster sitting near the wall, making it more shielded.

I dust off the bits of dirt on my clothing and step out into the sunshine, and I nearly lose my breath.

In the Shadow Lands, the sunshine is muted by the air pollution and the shadows that coat every surface. In the Dead Lands, it’s hidden behind whatever dreariness fills the sky. In the Gilded Lands, however, the sun shines down unhindered, touching every clean surface and making it sparkle. Bitterness makes me want to wipe some dirt on the walls to make them feel what I’ve felt my whole life, but instead, I adjust everything on me and hope I can blend in.

When I step into the sunshine, the sunlight catches on my outfit, and Nero’s scales shimmer with iridescence, drawing eyes to me. A woman dressed in a flowy dress and jewels immediately comes over, and I tense.

“Where did you get that beautiful fabric? You must tell me.”

“Oh, um, a friend gifted it to me,” I reply. “I don’t think you can find it in any shop.”

She pouts. “Pity. It would make a lovely dress.”

She disappears back into the crowd. A few more people stare at me as I walk, but most continue about their business, and I relax. The market is thriving in a way I’ve never seen before. At the market in the Shadow Lands, you can get stale bread and old fruit that’s almost or already rotten. Here, the fruit is fresh and whole, and the bread looks like it just came out of the oven.

Then I realize I have no money.

How am I supposed to purchase food with nothing to my name?

Curious, I wander up to the nearest baker sitting with his fresh bread. “Excuse me, sir. I’m afraid I’ve forgotten how things work. Do you accept—”

“Oh, you’re from the king’s castle, aren’t you? The girls who come down never know what they are doing,” he says. “If you’re wanting to purchase something, just tell the vendors to add it to the king’s account, and it’ll be settled at a later date.”

I blink. “That’s it?”

He nods. “The king’s girls can’t be expected to carry coins. Too dainty.”

“Oh, uh, can I get everything then?” I say hesitantly.

He pauses where he’d been opening a brown paper bag. “I beg your pardon?”

“I’m putting a feast together,” I murmur. “It’s a surprise, so I need this kept between us. I even want to hide the food so I can slowly take it in and set it up. There’s an alley just around the corner…”

“You want everything?” he clarifies. “And then you want me to put it in an alley?”

“Yes, sir.” I nod. “If you don’t mind. It would all go on the king’s account of course.”

His eyes widen. “Oh, of course. Of course. I’ll get it packed up for you right away. Which alley would you like me to hide it in?”

The smile that pulls at my lips makes him flounder as I direct him toward the alley. I continue my way through the market, doing the same at the fruit stand and the butcher, buying as much as they will allow me to purchase, putting it all on the king’s credit. A sense of sick satisfaction fills me as the alley is filled with food, and then when I know it’s getting close to an hour, I return and open the grate. I’m met with Nero’s yellow eyes.

“Make way,” I declare, and I start passing food down to him, his eyes widening.

“Parum anguis,” he says in surprise as we fill the underground cavern with packages. “How?”

“Apparently, the king has credit, and he allows some of his girls to come down to the markets to purchase whatever they want.” Marne grins as she passes out food. “So feast in the name of the king’s pocketbook.”

There’s a small cheer as the fresh food is passed between everyone. Marne comes over and hands me a large loaf of bread. “You are something else, Cora.”

I take the bread gratefully and touch her shoulder. “I’m just trying to help.”

She nods. “It’s far more than anyone has done. We thank you.”

That day, we all eat like kings and queens.

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