Rene pulled out a scroll and ran a finger down the list. “He said the gold for the court merchant would be given out at a few stops until we meet again. Please keep your side trips to the antique shops to a minimum, any more like this one, and we’ll be in trouble.”
“I can try. It is not every day I get to buy forbidden books about the past or the other kingdoms’ inner workings. Only Konrad gets to see what the other kingdoms are like anymore.” Faust got up and crossed to the window, pushing it open. “All the history books never stay around for long, and you always had to sneak them in anyway.”
“There’s only so much we can carry, please remember that.”
Faust pulled the window back in and paused. A warmth brushed against his senses, caressing his magic in a longing way. That man was here somewhere.
“My lord?”
Faust gasped, slipping on the sill. He stood straight and closed the window. “Yes?”
“Is something the matter? Was there something outside?”
Faust shook his head and took a seat on the bed again. “I was just thinking,” he lied. “What if someone recognizes me? Will all the knights try to execute me?”
Rene frowned and sat beside Faust. “That is why the king ordered you to lie low. We don’t know the extent of Emoris’s orders, but we can safely assume the Kingsley Knights and anyone with a deity’s blessing are our enemies.” He ruffled Faust’s hair.
Faust batted at his hands. “Rene.”
The historian chuckled. “We’ll be farther away before you know it, but I need you to stay here while I get supplies. The king tried to make this as painless as possible, but it will only proceed that way if you listen.”
Faust reluctantly nodded.
“The guild will protect you if we are separated. You can go to any shop they run, and they’ll hide you.” Rene picked up the book on the bed and dropped it in Faust’s lap. “Now, read to your heart’s content while I secure our travel.”
Faust pouted. “Yes, sir.”
Rene grabbed the scroll list on his way out the door.
Faust flipped the book open and waited for the sound of Rene’s footsteps to fade. He continued to wait for Rene’s magic to be a good distance away before snapping the book closed. He had warmth to find. That man knew who was after him—something his brother didn’t.
Faust peeked out the door. No one in sight. He stepped out, shut the door, and ran down the stairs.
Chapter Five
Faust continued to wander the streets until the lanterns flickered to life with the green flames of Emoris. It had grown dark fast, leaving shadowed and dangerous paths of eerie green light. It was always strange to watch, and he never understood how the deity could control the flames from such a distance. Those flames carried Emoris’s power through the lands as if he were marking his territory, but these flames looked different than the ones in Limorous. They were a strange mixture of Emoris’s dark green and Lathil’s much brighter green. It was possible Emoris’s reach didn’t extend as far as he thought, but it certainly made Faust feel watched.
The warmth he sought was closest to the outer wooden wall of the town, but there were fewer lanterns in that direction. It might have been a better idea to bring Rene with him, but Rene wouldn’t have let him investigate.
Faust halted and turned to his left. The warmth was the strongest in the last set of buildings.
Three lanterns were lit far down the alleyway just off the main street, but they weren’t the flames of Emoris. Soft orange and red mixed in a natural dance of fire accompanied by faint crackling. These lanterns used ore, the fifth magic stone. Most considered it a fake as it could not be used for anything but fuel. It was an excellent fuel for airships at least, but it was bold to use natural flames so close to the capital of Alios, like a rejection of Emoris and Lathil’s rule to use them.
A slow smile twitched upon Faust’s lips. He didn’t get to enjoy natural fire in the castle often. The prince walked into the alleyway, pushing his glasses up. He admired the three flames before he stopped at the door, surprised it was unmarked.
“What do we need again?” a female voice called from inside.
Faust panicked. He had nowhere to hide.
The door opened, and a beautiful woman stood before Faust, her skin and hair dark. Her brown eyes bore into him, questioning. The fur along her clothing and smaller trinkets of jewelry signified she was from Windilum. Even her ears and hair held the typical ornaments from the Kingdom of Windilum.
The woman put a hand to her hip. “What’s someone like you doing here?”
Faust fumbled. “I lost my way?”
She bent down, her face level with Faust’s. “Lost? I doubt that, pretty boy.” She straightened and shoved a young man off her arm when he came to the door.
“Oh, he is pretty.” He looked Faust up and down. “Hey, boss, one of your boys came to see you!”
“I am no one’s boy,” Faust snapped.
“Oh! He’s feisty. Come in. You obviously came here for a reason,” the woman said. “I’m Zara.”
Faust hesitated. The warmth was in this place, and the closer he looked, Zara held a red aura to her, but it wasn’t just her. Several people held the same aura, and the sense of fire was strong here. Fire stones were all over the room. This was a Windilum establishment. He took one step back.
“Don’t just stand there, kid.” A man hauled Faust inside.
Faust stumbled, the door closing with a bang behind him. He gazed around the room and pushed his glasses securely on his face. The tavern was covered in dark wood, fine tapestries, and an abundance of trophy weapons along the walls. Square tables were spaced out haphazardly where groups gathered with cards, drinks, and hearty laughter. There were a few tables attached to the walls with bench seats making the place a bit quaint.
“So, what brings someone as rich-looking as you to our tavern?” Zara stood by Faust’s side. “Come to offer us a job?”
Faust had no idea what she was talking about.
“I bet he’s here for the boss still,” the man said from the door and walked over to the bar to grab a glass.
“He looks like a fancy brothel male trying to avoid discovery,” another man added.
Faust gritted his teeth, biting back the need to defend himself from such a crude statement, but a throwing knife sank into the wall next to the man with a thunk, and the room fell silent.
Faust blinked. The warmth was coming closer.
“What’s all the ruckus down here?” a deep voice asked.
“Ignas,” Zara said. “I believe you have an important visitor, so you better be decent!”
“When am I ever not decent, Zara,” Ignas said as he reached the bottom of the wooden stairs. He turned his attention to Faust and raised his eyebrows in interest. “Well, well, look what the flames attracted.”
Faust held his breath, captivated by the same grey eyes that pierced his soul back in Limorous. The man’s skin was a lighter bronze than Zara’s, but his form of dress was a strange mixture of tunics and furs, and his jewelry was limited to his ears and flashy necklaces.
Ignas stopped in front of Faust. “Whatever can I do for such a pretty face? I haven’t seen you around before now. Did you come from Limorous?”