Page 71 of Marked

I moved forward, my footsteps muffled by the soft grass beneath me. The knoll sloped gently downward, leading us toward a narrow bridge that spanned over a rushing river. As we crossed the bridge, it swayed under our weight, the wood creaking and groaning.

The towering outer wall of Wast cast a cold shadow that seemed to stretch forever and offered no warmth. As we approached the stone wall, the guard perched high above the small entrance to the city turned away, his sharp gaze scanning the horizon instead of inspecting us. Armor clanked as other guards stationed along the wall moved away from the entry point.

My brother winked.

We passed through the small gate where another guard was supposed to be stationed, but wasn’t, and headed down a quiet side street.

“We have an hour,” Paul said.

I still didn’t get why we had to sneak through the city like thieves. I understood why announcing our presence at the city gates would be ill-advised, but why couldn’t we come during the day when the gates were open and not controlled?

I swallowed my questions and followed my brother into the city and onto the bustling street.

The noise and closeness of other people made my skin crawl. I might’ve lived on these streets when I was younger. I might’ve arguably thrived in the setting at one time, but now, all I felt was a stifling discomfort, and the need to run away to my forest.

The smell of cooked meat, hot stones, campfires, and body odour flowed over me, and I shut a mental door on the memories trying to resurface.

“We are almost there,” Paul said over his shoulder, as if I didn’t know where the Death House was myself. When we fled the orphanage, we’d ended up running with a gang of young misfits. We took shifts and specific areas, and mine was often to stake out the Death House. No one guarded a dead body, and if street rats like myself hadn’t ripped off all the valuables at the time of death, it meant a treasure trove of possible stolen goods awaited my attention at the back entrance while the Death House workers unlocked the gates.

I shook off the memory and focused on the here and now.

Paul turned back to the road but halted and threw up his hand. I stopped at the same time as Ace, and we exchanged a look. Ace shrugged.

He had no idea why we were stopped either.

“Move.” Paul quickly jogged to an alley and pressed his entire body to the stone wall to shield himself from view.

We followed.

The stones were cool on my face. My heart raced, the beat of it consumed my hearing.

What were we hiding from? Galeons weren’t outlaws. People with magic were welcome in the cities. We worked for the queen.

I was from the city, for phaan’s sake.

A group of guards walked into the courtyard. In the center, a woman with long silver hair moved with fluid grace, her head held high, her chin tilted up. She wore a scandalous dress. The neckline dipped down to the belt line, exposing a generous portion of her full breasts and double leg slits lead all the way up to the underside of the belt line so she flashed the entire length of her well toned legs with each step. A raven with shiny black feathers perched on her shoulders.

Queen Titania.

“Phaan,” I whispered.

Standing behind me, Ace leaned over my shoulder and whispered in my ear, “Is that the queen?”

“Don’t you recognize her?” Paul asked.

“I was fourteen when she came to Perga. I remember how Mouse cowered behind her skirt, but I don’t remember much about her face,” he said.

The queen often used her magic to distract people from noticing her and she’d taken us to Perga with only one guard. Though I still didn’t understand the queen’s motives, it was clear looking back she wanted the trip to remain a secret. She wanted us to remain secret.

“Didn’t you meet her again when she assigned you as Emi’s partner?” Paul asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Can’t say I had the pleasure,” Ace replied.

I rolled my eyes, but my mind reeled. How did Ace get assigned as my partner without meeting the queen?

How did he work as her assassin if…

“She was away for some meeting when I arrived,” Ace continued. “Sent her regrets along with my orders which included tracking down your ugly ass so I could give you her letter for Emi and also so you could help me break the news to your sister.”