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“Southerners,” the other guard sneered. “No respect.”
“The festival thatmytents were ordered for, in Greenshire. How will I make it in time if I’m here cleaning up your mess? And why would I wear that thick thing in this weather?”
One guard asked, “All these carriages contain festival materials?”
“Tents, dinnerware. Precisely,” Thessa answered.
Both guards stepped back. “Then you wouldn’t mind if we checked?”
“Well, we don’t need your permission, now do we?” The second guard snickered.
As they approached carriage number two, the driver eyed Thessa warily. Unlike the first driver, this one was visiblyshaking. Swallowing the lump in her throat she formed what she hoped was a reassuring look on her face.
Thessa joined the soldiers amidst their sloppy inspection. “See anything of interest?” she asked, poking her head in between them. “Oh, please do be careful with those ewers. The porcelain was imported from Sanabria.”
Both guards ordered her to step back.
Thessa complied, knowing better than to push them too far. After they’d made a decent mess, they moved to the final carriage—her carriage.
Ignoring the pulse bounding beneath her skin, Thessa managed a flat smile.
On their pursuit, the first guard asked, “Where’d you say you were headed?”
“Greenshire.”
“Specifically?”
“T-three miles west of the Anderan River.” She’d stuttered and they heard it. “We better be going. Thanks for your blessed service.” Thessa signaled the drivers to reboard.
The beady-eyed guard sneered, “Not until you tell us what’s hiding in this carriage. Or should we find out for ourselves?”
No.
Thessa wanted to scream it.
They’re coming.
In a panic, Thessa blocked their path.
The guards tossed their flames in the sky, warning her.
But their magic flickered to nothing as the air was choked from their lungs. Serpents had snuck up behind them, slithering up and around their necks.Just before they collapsed, clawing at their throats, Soren opened the carriage door. “They were awful anyway.”
She sighed, stepping over the struggling soldiers and intothe carriage. Soren ordered the drivers to take care of the rest before slamming the door shut.
Thessa sighed. She was falling in love with a monster. “We won’t win the Troika’s favor if you keep killing their soldiers before we attempt a truce.”
“They’ve taken everything from me. They won’t take you too.”
She crossed her arms. “Spare me. If they thought there were whispers of a rebellion, consider this shouting.”
“Oh, it’s about time we shouted.”
Thessa went silent, focusing on the shapes woven into the window covering instead.A few lavender-infused inhales later, the carriages were moving again.
“And the horses?” she asked.
“We’ll let them rest somewhere more secluded.”