it.”
She frowned, uncertain about his shift in tone. “You drew me into this dream because you say you can help me. How? Or is that unclear for you too?”
She did not mean to sound petulant, but she couldn’t help it. He hadn’t told her anything helpful, only tantalizing bits of information that had no solid use. Alexius’s face turned to the left, his brow creasing deeply. “Someone is here.”
She looked around. They were alone. “Who?”
Finally, his expression relaxed. “It’s my friend, Phaedra. She means us no harm. She probably wonders where I disappeared to.”
“Another Watcher?”
“Yes, of course. She’s helping with the search for information, part of what we have to—”
The next moment he vanished. One moment he was there, the following he was gone.
Lucia turned around in a circle, alarmed. “Alexius?”
And then the meadow, the Sanctuary, were gone, disappearing like broken glass falling away and leaving only darkness behind.
CHAPTER 5
JONAS
AURANOS
H awk’s Brow, the largest city in Auranos, was an excellent place to witness the true effect of having the King of Blood on the throne.
It was also a great spot for two rebels to seed some revolution before heading back to their camp in the rough forests of the Wildlands.
“Look at them,” Jonas said to Brion as they moved down the side of the road in the heart of the vibrant business district—shiny taverns, luxurious inns, and shops selling all sorts of wares, from flowers to jewelry to clothing. “Going about business as usual.”
“Auranians are certainly . . .” Brion paused to find the right word. “Adaptable?”
“Gullible’s more like it. It’s sickening.” A boy about their age strode past them and Jonas called out to him. “Do you live here?”
The young man had blond hair. He was dressed in the finest silk, a tunic the color of emeralds and decorated with gold-threaded details.
“I do,” the boy said, frowning as he swept his gaze over the pair’s torn and dusty cloaks. “You’re . . . not from around here, are you?”
Jonas crossed his arms. “We’ve come to Hawk’s Brow in search of information about how the people of this fine city are dealing with the new king.”
The boy’s gaze darted to others passing them by without second glances, and then to the far right where there were two of the king’s uniformed soldiers patrolling the next crossroads.
“Do you work for King Gaius?” he asked.
“Consider us independent researchers,” Brion replied.
The boy shifted his feet nervously. “I can only speak for myself, but I am more than happy to welcome a new ruler to Auranos. I have heard of his speech last week and all the wonderful promises he made—about the construction of the road and the betrothal of his son to Princess Cleiona. We’re all very excited about the royal wedding next month.”
“Do you believe it’s a good match?” Jonas asked.
His expression grew thoughtful. “I do. And, if you ask me, the princess should be thanking the goddess for such a lofty betrothal. It shows that King Gaius is willing to put aside hard feelings for a smooth transition to his rule. He puts his new citizens first. And, really, not much has changed despite the”—again, his gaze moved toward the soldiers in red—“increased presence of his men.”
Not much has changed
. Perhaps not for someone who spent his pampered life with his head stuck up his own arse. Jonas and Brion had talked to many in this city since they arrived yesterday and most had had the same response as this fool. Life had been easy before, and they believed if they did as King Gaius instructed and didn’t cause problems, life would continue on that way indefinitely.
“Are you aware of a growing rebel presence in Auranos?” Brion asked.
The boy’s brows drew together. “Rebels? We don’t want any problems like that.”
“I didn’t ask if you wanted problems, but if you’d heard of them.”
“I have
She frowned, uncertain about his shift in tone. “You drew me into this dream because you say you can help me. How? Or is that unclear for you too?”
She did not mean to sound petulant, but she couldn’t help it. He hadn’t told her anything helpful, only tantalizing bits of information that had no solid use. Alexius’s face turned to the left, his brow creasing deeply. “Someone is here.”
She looked around. They were alone. “Who?”
Finally, his expression relaxed. “It’s my friend, Phaedra. She means us no harm. She probably wonders where I disappeared to.”
“Another Watcher?”
“Yes, of course. She’s helping with the search for information, part of what we have to—”
The next moment he vanished. One moment he was there, the following he was gone.
Lucia turned around in a circle, alarmed. “Alexius?”
And then the meadow, the Sanctuary, were gone, disappearing like broken glass falling away and leaving only darkness behind.
CHAPTER 5
JONAS
AURANOS
H awk’s Brow, the largest city in Auranos, was an excellent place to witness the true effect of having the King of Blood on the throne.
It was also a great spot for two rebels to seed some revolution before heading back to their camp in the rough forests of the Wildlands.
“Look at them,” Jonas said to Brion as they moved down the side of the road in the heart of the vibrant business district—shiny taverns, luxurious inns, and shops selling all sorts of wares, from flowers to jewelry to clothing. “Going about business as usual.”
“Auranians are certainly . . .” Brion paused to find the right word. “Adaptable?”
“Gullible’s more like it. It’s sickening.” A boy about their age strode past them and Jonas called out to him. “Do you live here?”
The young man had blond hair. He was dressed in the finest silk, a tunic the color of emeralds and decorated with gold-threaded details.
“I do,” the boy said, frowning as he swept his gaze over the pair’s torn and dusty cloaks. “You’re . . . not from around here, are you?”
Jonas crossed his arms. “We’ve come to Hawk’s Brow in search of information about how the people of this fine city are dealing with the new king.”
The boy’s gaze darted to others passing them by without second glances, and then to the far right where there were two of the king’s uniformed soldiers patrolling the next crossroads.
“Do you work for King Gaius?” he asked.
“Consider us independent researchers,” Brion replied.
The boy shifted his feet nervously. “I can only speak for myself, but I am more than happy to welcome a new ruler to Auranos. I have heard of his speech last week and all the wonderful promises he made—about the construction of the road and the betrothal of his son to Princess Cleiona. We’re all very excited about the royal wedding next month.”
“Do you believe it’s a good match?” Jonas asked.
His expression grew thoughtful. “I do. And, if you ask me, the princess should be thanking the goddess for such a lofty betrothal. It shows that King Gaius is willing to put aside hard feelings for a smooth transition to his rule. He puts his new citizens first. And, really, not much has changed despite the”—again, his gaze moved toward the soldiers in red—“increased presence of his men.”
Not much has changed
. Perhaps not for someone who spent his pampered life with his head stuck up his own arse. Jonas and Brion had talked to many in this city since they arrived yesterday and most had had the same response as this fool. Life had been easy before, and they believed if they did as King Gaius instructed and didn’t cause problems, life would continue on that way indefinitely.
“Are you aware of a growing rebel presence in Auranos?” Brion asked.
The boy’s brows drew together. “Rebels? We don’t want any problems like that.”
“I didn’t ask if you wanted problems, but if you’d heard of them.”
“I have
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