AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Petra studies me with more reserve. “Where are you going with this, Ivy?”
I fling my hand vaguely toward the world beyond the estate’s walls. “If we can bring the rest of the captured daimon over to our side, we’ll have stolen one of the Order’s biggest advantages. All we have to do is get to them.”
Thirty-Two
Rheave
As the wagon jostles over the pits in the road, I keep my shoulder leaned against Ivy’s. While the charms we wear mostly conceal us from sight when we’re not touching, I can still sense her beside me, but I prefer to be able to see her clearly too.
Maybe it’s the same for her. She tucks her hand around mine and tips her head closer when we sway with the movement of the wagon. From the blurred form I can make out at her other side, I think she must be holding on to Casimir as well.
It’s good that she has both of us. We won’t let any harm befall her on this precarious mission we’ve set out on.
The memory of how we ended up here brings a swell of deeper affection into my chest. I twine my fingers more tightly with hers.
If the baron’s people had their way, my fellow daimon would have been severed from the body the sorcerers forced him into. He may still choose to leave it—but now it will be his choice and not anyone else’s.
I spent much of this morning informing him of many of the delights I’ve discovered that our more physical forms allow. He was especially fond of the sounds he could form with the lute in the baron’s music room.
Now, if our mission is successful, dozens more captured daimon might find their freedom without needing to give up all those new opportunities. They can make the bodies that started as our prisons their own like I have.
They can help us stand up to the scourge sorcerers and create these trials in time to stop Lothar’s plans.
As long as we’re not caught before we can even get started.
The wagon slows, I assume because we’re approaching the city gate. Wheels rattle and hooves stomp ahead of us and behind. We hold perfectly still in the cramped covered space where we’re huddled among sacks of grain and crates of nuts supposedly for sale at the markets.
The woman driving the cart is a stablewoman who normally works under one of the noble allies we’ve gained. There’s no reason for any scourge sorcerers to see her as a threat. But we’ll still be in trouble if they realize what she’s concealing.
Somewhere off around the far side of the city, a few other allies will be setting off a magical disturbance. If all goes well, that should draw the attention of any sorcerers who are monitoring supernatural activity in the city—draw it away from checking the new arrivals all that closely.
The wagon rolls forward and stops, forward and stops. We chose a time of day that Ivy said isn’t often busy, but there must still be a bit of a line.
Finally, footsteps thump around the side of the wagon. A couple of bulky men lift the canvas flaps at the back and peer into the dim space.
They can’t see us thanks to our charms, and the sacks and crates are small enough that they couldn’t suspect any human is hiding inside them. Their eyes sweep over the interior for several long seconds during which Ivy’s grip tightens on my hand.
Then they step away with a satisfied nod. “Continue.”
The wagon jerks forward and continues rattling along for many minutes with slight hitches to one side or another as we take a turn. Ivy gives my hand one more squeeze and lets go.
Her form turns wavery, but I know what she’s doing because a moment later, the lid lifts off one of the crates she’s moved to. She’s retrieving the other cargo we hid.
Carefully, she pulls out the cube of fine netting. A few dozen small butterflies cling to the sides with faint flutters of their wings.
I smile at them, though the insects can’t see me. I called them into this temporary home, making an appeal to Inganne and pleading for her help. The steady current of the winged insects that trickled to us through the air made my heart leap—almost as much as the startled joy it sparked in Ivy’s eyes.
The wagon’s wheels grind to a halt. We must have reached our chosen stopping point.
Casimir touches my shoulder lightly so I can see him properly for a moment. “Safe travels,” he murmurs, and then stoops to tug one of the lower sacks out of the pile.
That one is full of printed pamphlets that he’s going to bring to the Black Talons. We’re hoping that the gang members will stick to their promise to help by both distributing information about the upcoming kingship trials and taking in any daimon we can snap out of the scourge sorcerers’ spell.
The canvas flap sways with his departure. The mesh cage of butterflies has disappeared into the circle of Ivy’s arms, but it comes back into view along with her form when she bumps her shoulder against mine. “We’d better get going.”
I follow Casimir’s example, nudging the flap aside, confirming no one is in view of the small space next to a wall where our driver backed up the wagon, and slipping out as quickly as possible. I know from our planning conversations that we’re in the middle wards, not too close to the prominent center of the city but near enough that there should be a fair number of Order members watching over the inhabitants.
When I emerge, the many voices carrying from around the square reach my ears more distinctly. I make out sellers hawking food, clothes, and other goods for sale and passers-by chatting about their shopping or how their day is going.
