Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(70)

When the trail finally came to a halt, I was standing outside the local tavern as the sun set, listening to the jumble of voices inside. That wasn’t the sound of a village overwhelmed by the regiment awaiting a notorious criminal’s return. It was the clink of glasses and celebratory day’s end.

Still, just because I couldn’t see or hear them didn’t mean a patrol wasn’t present. I wasn’t taking any chances.

I tied my steed to a shaded fence and then ducked along the backside of the village, hiding under ledges and shadows as I made my way down the familiar alley. It was easy, really. Most of the villagers were already inside. Warm candlelight peaked through heavy curtains, and the familiar wafting scent of stew and rosemary hit me as I passed.

The only movement outside was the repetitive scratching of branches against the buildings’ walls and the chickens scavenging for food. Occasionally I heard someone making their way across to the well, but that was in the town center, and I was skirting the back.

I had just turned the final corner when I lost my footing and stared.

The apothecary was still lit up from within. Even as far away as I was, I could hear the lilt of conversation over the wind. Shadows moved inside and someone was laughing—a light tinkle, like my mother’s.

No one would be laughing if there were guards.

In all of two seconds, I was sprinting down the path, all semblance of stealth forgotten. My parents were inside, filling orders just as they always had, hours into the night.

And then as my hand hovered above the door, I started to back away. There was another female voice, too. A younger one. And now that I was here, the light tinkle of the first was a bit too high. It was the two apprentices that ran the shop with my parents. And I didn’t hear a man’s voice above the din.

What am I doing? But I couldn’t bring myself to turn away. I had to know. I hadn’t come this far just to run. I would face the truth, for Alex.

Refusing to spend any more time debating the chances of my parents’ escape, I set to pounding on the door as loud and as fast as I could. The sooner I disappeared from the street, the better.

A moment later, the door swung open and I found myself facing Teegan. Her jaw dropped, and she stood there staring as the older girl shoved past, eyes bulging.

“Ryiah?” She didn’t stare like the other; her hand was locked on the frame.

I didn’t have time for niceties. I shoved my way past and slammed the door shut behind us, turning on both of them.

“Where are my parents?”

The first was still gaping, but the older, Cassidy, was clutching a knife. She must have grabbed it while my back was turned. I could see the distrust in her eyes.

“You tried to kill the king.”

“I tried to do a lot of things.” I advanced on both girls, brandishing a casted sword to remind them of who I really was and what I was capable of. I didn’t have time to explain. “But that’s not why I am here. Now tell me—”

“They ran,” Teegan said. Her lip trembled as the blade pointed at her older sister’s throat. “Two days ago. They just packed up and left us here to manage the shop in their stead.”

“When did the patrols arrive?”

“Yester—”

“The knights put up those posters.” Cassidy cut her sister off with a start. “They told us what you did, Ryiah. That you tried to kill the king.” She was glaring at me, despite the blade. I had to give her credit; she was brave. “Is that why your parents ran? Are they rebels too?”

Both girls looked tense.

“They’re blameless.” I withdrew the sword. There was no point in sticking around now. My parents were safe, and who knew where the patrol was now. They could be in the tavern or watching the ridge.

“Why did you do it?”

I locked eyes with Cassidy. Does she really want to know, or is she trying to stall me?

“The Crown doesn’t have its people at heart.”

The girl studied my face, and I held her gaze with my own. No wonder my mother had chosen to apprentice her; she reminded me of myself—a younger version, if I had chosen to remain home instead of chasing my dreams at the Academy.

“You must be hungry.” Cassidy motioned to the younger girl to go fetch a basket of bread. “Teegan will pack you enough to get to wherever you need to go. Would you like a bite to eat?”

For a moment, I considered her offer. I needed supplies—potions would help, and my stomach rumbled just at the mention of food—but this was all too convenient.

I was about to make my excuses when Cassidy’s eye caught my own. A lump in her throat bobbed as her gaze darted toward the curtain, and then back to my face. “Stay,” her words were light, but her expression was not, “I’ll make some tea.”

“Now that you’ve mentioned it…” My hand twisted the door’s handle and the squeal of its hinges was all I needed to alert whoever was hiding behind the pair of curtains to my left. The girls darted right.

My casting shot off just as the mage emerged a second too late. My magic sent him sprawling against the wall.

I turned and fled.

Cassidy’s screech followed me out the door. “The rebel is here!”

So much for loyalty. To be fair, she thought I was the enemy. I might have done the same, were our roles reversed.