Page 88 of Twisted Bonds
Elora’s eyes dart to the left as if thinking about my question before giving a casual shrug. However, Amirah is the one who answers. “Even one is too many. Now we’re being overrun like an infestation.”
Her sneer is like a bonfire, burning heat washing over me. I shy back a little, retreating into myself. Elora clicks her tongue at Amirah’s remark, shooting her a stern look. But the damage has been done. My good mood is sullied by her harsh words.
Bobble’s hand tightens around mine, his thumb tracing comforting circles on the back of my palm. “How’d another human get here?” he asks. His voice is steady, but there is a hard edge to it that wasn’t there before.
Elora sighs, glancing at Amirah with a hint of irritation in her pale blue eyes. “A group of known criminals were mucking about on the outskirts of the city. When we raided them, she fell behind. We questioned her, but she didn’t know much. The king took pity on her, I think. Gave her some coins and let her go. I think I heard she’s at an inn on the west side of town, but that was weeks ago.”
I hum thoughtfully at that. Interesting that Cor’than let her go even though she was with criminals. Mercy is an admirable trait, not something I expected to find in him. Especially with all the stories Sunder has.
As we walk further into the city, I notice all the eyes plastered on us and hurried whispers as we bite into our skewers of meat. They’re smoky and succulent, with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. The meat is tender and juicy, falling off the skewer with a slight tug. Each bite is a burst of flavor, with hints of aromatic spices and herbs. The charred edges add a slightly crispy texture, completing the perfect bite. It’s almost delicious enough to make me forget the disturbance our presence is causing.
The more we meander through the city, the more I realize the faces are generally happy and well fed. Children frolic through the streets. No beggars line the small alleyways between timber row houses. Food in abundance is available among various market stalls or small inns. The people look clean, if a little dismayed by my presence.
“So what’s it like living in this beautiful city, Elora?”
She eyes me for a moment. “What do you mean?”
I give a casual shrug. “I’m new to this world. I’ve never been to a city this size. What’s it like living under a king? We don’t have them where I’m from.”
She bobs her head in understanding, gesturing for us to move to the side while a horse-drawn coach moves up the narrow street. “King Cor’than is a great leader. If he wasn’t, the parliament would have removed him by now.”
“Parliament?”
“We didn’t always have one. But when King Cor’than came to power--,” her words hurry and stop as if she realizes who she’s talking to. “Things were different, much more… equitable. The people were given a voice. Most people, at least. The noble houses all send representatives to parliament and vote on things that affect the people inside or beneath their houses.”
“You don’t elect your representative?”
“Elect them? What do you mean?”
“Like the people working in these markets don’t get to decide who represents them in parliament?”
She glances at me with a furrowed brow, clearly thinking I’m off my rocker. Still, I suppose having some balancing structure over the king is better than none. And having nobles represent you isn’t that different from home, where sometimes it seems like our laws are being pushed in the direction of the highest corporate bidder.
“So the people are happier?” I ask finally. Beside me I notice Bobble looking around and nodding to himself. He sees it too. This isn’t the people of some oppressive, evil king who slaughters for fun. I’m glad, of course. I never wanted to see anyone suffering. But what will I say to Sunder? How will he feel about this?
“I am. I think you can ask all of them and they will reply the same.”
Glancing at the orange glow of the sunset, I decide to take a look at the west side of town before nightfall. Beside me, Bobble lets out a loud yawn.
“Didn’t get enough sleep last night?”
He shrugs with a knowing smirk. “Maybe someone just wore me out is all.”
When we come upon a row of various inns, the task of finding the human among them starts to feel a little more daunting. “Is this where the other human is staying?”
Amirah rolls her eyes in open disgust, but Elora gives me an apologetic shrug. “I’m not sure. The king probably knows where she is, or some of the officers in our unit. But I don’t. I haven’t been assigned to watch her.”
“So she’s also being watched?”
“I believe so, yes.”
I duck into the first inn on the left. As good a place as any to start. With the way people react to me, I doubt it will take long to find out where this person is staying. Thankfully, our two guards take up post outside, leaving us to enter alone and hopefully without suspicion.
The innkeeper immediately approaches us with a friendly smile. That’s a good sign. She’s an older lady. Her white hair floats around her head like a halo, having escaped from the long plait down her back. When she looks up at Bobble, her eyebrows nearly reach her hairline.
“Oh my. Hello to you dear. How can I help you, Sweet Man?”
I can’t help but laugh as she ogles him. Her wrinkles spread smoothly across her face from the broad smile she’s giving him. Bobble puffs up and grins. If he were a cat, he’d fluff up his fur and rub against her leg. He grabs her hand in his with a sweeping bow. “My lady, we were wondering if you might have seen any other interesting guests? Perhaps not as chiseled and rugged as myself,” he winks, “but certainly a person of note. A human woman?”