16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

T he morning started with a debate over whether there was a way besides pretending to be together— romantically . He repeated the sentiment—that it'd be easier to go unnoticed and that two people "madly in love" attending a ball was the perfect cover. Couples were bound to be looking for somewhere private.

"Any plans for today?" Caelus asked.

I shook my head and continued washing a plate. "Any reason?"

"For this to work, it'd be better if you were more comfortable around me."

I grabbed the cloth from his shoulder and started drying the clean dish. "I'm not uncomfortable around you." In a platonic sense, that was true. But I didn't want to be seen as na?ve either.

He chuckled. "Humor me, then."

I tucked the plate into the cabinet. "What did you have in mind?"

He smirked and simply said, "You'll see."

I finished getting ready for the day, and before we left my aunt's home, he paused in the doorway. "You don't have to do this. We could find another way."

I bit the inside of my cheek and shook my head. "I can do it." For Teeg .

Caelus led the way to the city's center. Colorful tents lined the area for the Frostfire Festival. He stopped in front of one hosting a game that appeared simple: use a ball to knock over as many of the stacked bottles as possible. He handed me one and kept the other for himself.

I gestured to the display. "How, exactly, does this help?"

He lightly tossed up his ball, catching it with ease. "You need to loosen up a little."

I glared at him. "Are you saying I'm tense?"

He grinned and leaned in, whispering, "Unless you're interested in another activity couples often partake in to ease tension, this will have to do."

I backed away a step, my ears flaming. Playing along, it is . But I wasn't sure that playing a game would help.

He stepped up and threw, sending all the bottles tumbling over.

Show-off.

After the bottles were reset, I aimed and threw, hitting them with ease. The air filled with citrus, and they came crashing down. I scowled at Caelus, but the man suspected nothing and handed him two ebony coins with Lord Ebonhammer's emblem—a chipped mountain with a shooting star—on them.

Under my breath, I said, "You cheated."

He laughed, stepping away.

I hurried after him. "I didn't need your help."

He leaned in close as we walked, and his warm breath caressed my ear as he whispered, "They cheat too. Makes it a fair game." His fingers twined with mine, fitting together. I started to step away at the unexpected touch, but the warmth of his hand tingled up my arm as he pulled me along to another booth.

It's just practice for the ball.

He stopped in front of a different game that had throwing knives with a few targets set up several feet away.

Two men were failing miserably, sending the sharp points flying in all directions. A dartboard would have been easier and less deadly. What were these people thinking? Before I could voice the question, Caelus offered me a handful of throwing knives, keeping half for himself.

"Is this how you woo women?"

He smirked. "On occasion." He drew the knife back, lining up his shot, and then threw it. The blade flew, hitting the target's center. "But given your reaction last time, I don't think I'll be wooing anyone with a dagger."

I narrowed my eyes at him, but my face burned at the memory of the morning after I'd killed Klareth.

Facing the target, I got into position and drew back my arm. I took a deep breath and threw the knife. It hit the center next to his.

"Strange for the high bitch to have you trained with weapons but not your power."

"Activity exhausted me. Exhaustion helps with . . ." I trailed off.

Caelus drew back again, the flex of his biceps visible even beneath the sleeves of his clothing. He released the blade, and it penetrated the center once again. "You find me distracting, don't you?"

My mouth went dry. "What?"

He chuckled. "You didn't finish your thought, Tempest."

I looked away, not wanting to see that infuriating smirk on his face.

I mentally palmed my forehead. Gods, I'd been too busy watching him. But we only had to pretend to be romantically involved. That didn't mean I had to pretend I didn't find him attractive. Maybe it didn't have to be as difficult as I was making it for myself.

I took a deep breath, readying the blade. "Being exhausted helps with the emotional outbursts of my power." I released it, hitting the center.

I didn't watch him this time, but his blade hit the center again.

We continued to take turns, neither missing. We'd drawn a small crowd around us. I started to aim my last knife.

"Lord Ebonhammer should remove House Quinn's portrait from the castle," said someone in the crowd.

My chest tightened as the dagger released, and it hit the edge of the target. I searched for the source of who'd spoken but didn't find them. Perrin had been the first and only person besides Esteban, Aunt Celeste, and her daughter to know who I was. Could someone else recognize me?

Caelus took my hand and pulled me away from the game and the small crowd. Thankfully, they were dispersing after my near miss.

Someone called out for us after only a few feet. He'd won thanks to my miss, and was offered a prize. I let Caelus handle it, wiping my sweaty palms on my pants.

People were enjoying their day, but I couldn't stop myself from listening to see if anyone else was talking about House Quinn. I hadn't gone searching for paintings of my parents and didn't know how commonplace they might be outside of Dusmir. Had they had their portraits added to books on the kingdom's history?

My breaths came swift and shallow. I didn't know what would happen if people found out I'd survived. Would they fault me for abandoning them? I'd been seven, but all they'd see would be the adult I'd grown into. It would be too much if people knew—too much to be a Divine and a sudden member of the Dawn Conclave. I wanted to wander off and hide away.

Before I could act on the thought, Caelus appeared, handing me a small brown bear. Blinking several times, I took it.

With his thumb and forefinger, Caelus lifted my gaze to his, his expression concerned. "Did something happen?"

I cradled the soft stuffed bear to my chest, my breaths slowing. "I'm fine," I lied. Finding Teeg and getting home were more important than who I was born as.

After a few games and a break for food, the sun was in the middle of the sky. I didn't hear anyone else speaking of the Quinns. I prayed to the gods it would be the last I'd hear of it so I could focus on the reason I'd come to Tiruhm in the first place.

We started over an iron bridge heading toward the city's slums. While the structure appeared sturdy, I stayed away from the edge overlooking a chasm.

"Why are we headed here, of all places?" I asked.

"There will be a specific event rewarding the invitation. My informant should have figured out which by now."

"An informant?"

"More like a gnome with an explosive personality."

The buildings that inhabited the slums of Tiruhm were not like the rest of the city. They were mostly made of wood and had seen better days. I wondered how they were still standing. Roofs looked like they were ready to cave in, and one home had a metal sheet covering part of a gaping hole.

Urine mixed with the rotten wood created an odor I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to wash away.

We stopped in front of a metal shack—the only iron building we'd seen. The smell had lessened, but I couldn't tell by how much, given how it stuck to my skin.

An explosion sounded from inside, and I reached for the door. Caelus grabbed my hand, and a shock rippled between us. "I wouldn't do that."

I didn't protest and stared at his fingers around mine. He didn't seem like he noticed the shock any of the times it'd occurred or act as though it even happened. Shouldn't it have hurt?

He pulled his hand from mine and rapped his knuckles against the door. The sounds of objects falling and being pulled and placed against metal sounded on the other side. I shot Caelus a questioning look, but he stared at the rusty metal, arms crossed, not at all concerned while waiting.

The door burst open with a plume of black smoke. I took a few steps back, coughing and trying to fan it away with no luck.

"Tall Boy! I see you're back. Got a guest with you too. Come in, come in," a soot covered gnome said. He came up to just below Caelus's knees in height and wore spectacles around large, softly pointed ears that protruded up. There were attachments I'd never seen before on his glasses. And his hair was . . . white? Gray? He was covered in so much soot, I couldn't be sure. He disappeared back inside before either of us said anything.

Caelus didn't hesitate, stepping into the shack.

I stayed outside, gaping at the scene. Going inside this place has to be a mistake.

A hand shot out, and I met those storm-colored eyes. "Coming?"

Curiosity had me placing my hand in his and letting him pull me inside. A static shock passed between us again, and I pulled away. Caelus shot me a confused look but said nothing.

An explosion had most certainly gone off in the little metal shack. Soot covered most of the surfaces, and the corner farthest from the door was charred. A table sat in the middle of the room before a forge that seemed to function as a fireplace and stove. Before it was a chair small enough for a child.

"I'm Stumbleduck!" He grabbed my hand and shook it.

My eyes widened at his name, but I accepted his handshake before I could be seen as rude.

Stumbleduck spun around, almost dragging me with him, but he let go. He examined the site of the explosion. "You're lucky you had a young lady with you, Tall Boy. Might not have disarmed the door otherwise."

"Disarmed the door?"

Caelus shrugged.

"Yes, disarm the door! I can't have just anyone wandering in."

"I find it hard to believe that anyone wants to wander in," Caelus said, wiping his finger along a soot-covered table.

I stood in disbelief, listening to the two of them. Explosive had been the perfect word to describe Stumbleduck. But somehow, he had information about which event Lord Ebonhammer planned to reward invitations through. Finding Teeg was in the hands of a crazy old gnome who exploded regularly, by the look of his home. Is this Divine punishment?

"About our visit," Caelus started.

"I know why you're here." Stumbleduck grabbed a hunk of iron in the shape of a small man and whirled around. "I won't be telling you anything."

"Excuse me?" I said.

Caelus stepped toward me, bending his head close to me. "Don't worry," he whispered. The warmth of his breath caressed my ear. I started to turn toward him, but he took another step forward, placing himself in front of me.

"I'm too old to care about a fool's errand." Stumbleduck pressed the chest of the iron man, and it opened.

"I forgot to mention why I need one of those invitations. We're planning to meet with Travok."

The little iron man came flying at Caelus. Too fast to see, Caelus pulled out a dagger and, with deadly aim, threw the blade at the doll. It went flying into the metal back wall of the shack. The doll shattered.

Caelus wrapped himself around me, turning me away from the explosion. Shards of shrapnel pelted around us. My ears rang, and I covered them, but the damage was already done. Smoke filled the room, sending me into a coughing fit, and my eyes burned. The door shot open, and a gust of wind blew the smoke out of the shack, leaving only the faint scent of gunpowder mixed with citrus.

The ringing faded, and it was then that I noticed Caelus's hand rubbing soothing circles along the middle of my back. Once my choking had subsided, I peeled away from him and faced the gnome. "You threw a bomb at us?"

"You're lucky I don't throw another! Out. Get out. Both of you."

"Alston," Caelus said.

Alston?

The gnome's eyes narrowed, becoming clearer than they were before. His hand went for another of those metal toys.

"I don't think so," I said, taking a step closer to the gnome. "I need to see Lord Ebonhammer. There's a child missing."

Stumbleduck looked at me—really looked at me. His eyes were still clear, and they turned downcast, attempting to hide whatever emotion flickered through them. But I saw it. It was the kind of immense sorrow that left an open wound deep in the chest. The kind I'd felt when my parents died. When I'd watched Klareth murder Tryssa. When I'd killed Dorian.

When he looked up, it was gone, that haze over his eyes once again. "The tall one behind you better make good on his promise." He went over to the dressers next to the bed and pulled out a sealed envelope and gave it to Caelus.

Without a word, Caelus ushered me out with a hand on the small of my back.

Away from the urine-tainted air, I asked, "Are you going to open it?"

He retrieved the envelope from his pocket and flipped it over in his hands, as though he was debating what to do. To my surprise, he turned and offered it to me.

I pried open the wax seal. Inside was a small card that read Treasure Hunt. At the bottom, it read Two days .

"Wait, we only have two days to prepare?" I asked.

He peeked at it. "Seems that way. We've got a lot of preparing to do if you want to be convincing," he said with a wink.

"But what does it mean by ‘treasure hunt'?" I asked.

Caelus started walking again. "A game."

I followed him.

"But we won't know what the treasure is until the day of."

That wasn't much to go on, especially if the treasure ended up being something only citizens of Tiruhm would be familiar with.