The servant mutters something under his breath before closing the door. The lock on the other side scrapes into place.
What in heaven’s name am I supposed to do now? Where will I stay? I knew a few young women who used to live nearby, but not being able to fly to the Scathian entrance means I probably won’t be shown in.
What am I going to do?
There used to be an inn nearby. Maybe they’ll give me a room at a decent price for what remains of the night.
I drift toward a side street where I remember the inn being, eventually finding a wooden sign swinging above a black door. The innkeeper takes one look at me and says they’re all booked up.
Back on the street, muted morning light paints the buildings, the streets, and even the people in shades of gray. The toe of my boot catches on the threshold, and I pitch forward, falling straight into a man walking past.
“Watch it,” he snaps, shoving me off him.
I murmur an apology, taking in the now bustling street. Where did all these people come from? I’ve never seen Kumulus City as busy. Then again, I used to lounge in bed until noon and spend most of my time above the clouds. Is it always like this—and at such an ungodly hour?
I try three more inns, but all the proprietors claim they’re full.
My leaden eyelids feel too heavy as I stumble around the back of a building, desperate for a place to rest. At this stage, even the damp, darkened doorways look appealing.
Eventually, I come across a Pegasus stable. Inside, there is no sign of a stable hand, only two black-winged horses. The place smells like hay and musky hides, but I’ve smelled worse. I slip between the rolling doors and duck into the last empty stall in the line. Hay pokes my back as I curl into a ball and tuck my cloak around me like a blanket.
Everything will be all right.
Life will look brighter once I get back to my mate.
“Oi! Get up, you,”a deep voice snarls.
Something hard nudges my side. The world slowly comes into focus, and I find myself blinking up at a stone-faced man with pock-marked gray skin holding the reins of a white-and-brown-speckled Pegasus.
Memories come crashing down like bricks, striking one after another.
I’m in Kumulus.
In a stable.
My mate is alive.
My aunt is not.
I shove upright and gather my hair back from my face, finding bits of hay and heaven knows what else wrapped in the tangled strands. “I’m so sorry. The inn was full, and?—”
“And you thought you could hole up here for the day without payin’ a bob?”
“No. You’ve got me all wrong. I tried to pay the woman, but she told me there wasn’t room.”
The man scoffs.
“I did. I have coins.” I collect my pack from where I’d been using it as a crude pillow. “I went to every inn, but no one would give me a bloody room.” Tears spring to my eyes, blurring his face. “I just got back into town last night only to find the aunt I’m supposed to stay with has died, and I tried to get into an inn, but no one would let me stay and I didn’t have anywhere else to go and?—”
The Pegasus snorts, its ears flattening to its massive head. “Heavens above, girl.” The man pats the animal’s wiry mane. “Don’t start wailing. You’ll only anger the beasts.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll…I’ll go.” But gowhere? Even if I wanted to go to the castle straight away, they won’t let me inside in this state.
The man stares at me for the longest time before huffing a curse and tying the animal’s reins to the post outside my stall. “Come with me.” He holds out his hand.
After what happened to my wings, I know better than to blindly trust anyone. “Come with you where?”
His eyes narrow. “Do you want a bloody room or not?”