Sineater

Starna dried us off as soon as we got on the dock.

It took a few minutes, but if we were walking around the dock soaking wet, then guards would get suspicious. Thankfully, the booth we were next to was empty, which allowed us some cover. As close as she was to me, we probably looked like a pair of lovers who had snuck off to get some time alone.

I pushed that thought progression out of my mind. I needed to focus on getting into the city and rescuing my cousin.

As soon as we were dry, the two of us left the booth and started walking down the pier. Starna was trying to walk quietly and moving like she was trying to sneak.

“Starna.” I shook my head. “You have to belong here. If you walk around like you have somewhere to go and something to do, most people won’t think twice about you being somewhere you aren’t supposed to be.” I nodded at her. “But if you try sneaking around people notice and start getting curious.”

I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her close to me. “Have a good time. We’re here. We’re trying to shop and we’re having a blast.”

The smile on her face was more nervous grin than smile, but I was going to take it.

I guided her into the fray of booths that were still open despite the scarce customers. The customary yelling and advertising was gone though, as it appeared that the booths were open simply because the vendors couldn’t get back into the city.

Talia’s shop door was closed. The handle wouldn’t turn and the door wouldn’t budge as I tried to open it. I banged on the door a few times.

“Why would she close?” Starna looked around. “Everyone else is open.”

“Maybe she went to the wedding.” The thought scared me. My entire plan hinged on this shop being open so I could get into the city. I banged on the door again and tried to gauge how much trouble there would be from the other vendors if I simply kicked it in.

The door opened just a crack as I was about to bang again. The brown-furred lepan, Blanch, peeked through the crack.

“We’re closed.” Her voice shook as she spoke.

“Tell Talia that Sectum Irongut is here and needs to talk to her.” I stuck my foot in the door so she couldn’t shut it. “It’s about Krav Morstum.”

The Lepan’s yellow eyes widened when I mentioned the Grim and she vanished from sight. There was still a chain on the door, but it would be a lot easier to kick open now.

The chain vanished and the door swung open, but there was no one in the shop. Starna and I walked inside and the door slammed shut once we were clear of it.

“Throwing around names can be dangerous.” The Gorgon stepped out of the shadows behind the door. Shadows that shouldn’t have been there with the way the shop was lit.

“Then how about this one? Sectum Malus.” I guided Starna behind me. “I got the impression from Krav that you are loyal to the crown and want to help. Is that true?”

“The old rock finally told you.” The bald Gorgon pulled off her covering as she walked past me towards the back of her shop.

“No.” I followed after her. “I remembered on my own.”

“I told him that spell wasn’t going to last…” Talia grumbled so softly that I barely heard it.

“You knew?” I registered what she said. “Wait, what spell?”

“We didn’t want you to say something about who you were, so we suppressed your memories from before the accident.” Talia sat down in a chair. “We did it to protect you.” She put her head in her hands. “Not that it’ll do any good now.”

“I’m not going to let the wedding happen.” I walked over and squatted in front of her. “I didn’t keep her safe. Twice.” My failures made me wince. “But I can’t let that traitor take her. I can’t.”

“What are you going to do?” The Gorgon looked up at me. “There may be a dozen loyalists left in the city. After fourteen years, nobody wants a civil war. They just want the status quo to continue like they’re used to. It’s just you against all of the golden guards and most of the senate.”

“How many would stand beside him in front of all of the diplomats if Arkun was exposed?”

“That was your plan?” Starna shook her head and sat down.

“What?” I looked between the two women. “They couldn’t possibly still support him if they know what he’s done.”

“You don’t know much about politics.” Talia sighed. “You have no way to prove that Arkun led the coup or to prove that you are in fact, the prince. It wouldn’t matter if you walked in there with a recording of him drowning puppies. None of those diplomats are going to lift a finger to disrupt the status quo even if they know what he’s doing is evil. Because disrupting the status quo means uncertainty and uncertainty means they could lose their own power or positions.”

“So we have to keep it in-house.” I tried thinking. “The Princess can declare that she’s being forced to marry the Regent and assume the crown herself. She is rightfully in charge, so the guards would have to follow her or it would be treason.” I looked for a glimmer of hope. “She’s not speaking out because she doesn’t think it will do any good because no one will care to listen to her.” I felt my power buzzing. “We know there will be at least one person there who will listen. All we need is a few more.”

The Gorgon looked over at Starna, then back at me. “It’s not going to work.” She held up a hand to stop my protests. “If you want to throw your lives away…” She walked over to the entrance of the secret room. “I’ll help you get into the city, but that’s as much as I'm willing to risk.”

Anger burned inside me as I walked past her. “It’s attitudes like that that have let people like Arkun stay in power.”

I didn’t wait for her response as I jumped down, bypassing the ladder. I was done listening to excuses of why people were going to let this evil thing happen. I didn’t care if they were too afraid that it wouldn’t matter. I was at least going to be heard.

I was at least going to try.