Chapter 10

I adjusted the earpiece and pulled up my hood. It felt odd stuck in my ear, but the biggest adjustment was hearing the voices. In my entire life, I’d never had friends or anyone other than my mother, now I had the entire royal family in my ear.

“So how does it work?” Paisley’s voice came through it. “Seeing a trace?”

My shopping partner was Autumn, I glanced at her and noticed she had as much knowledge of market shopping as I did, which was none. “I’m not sure.” I said quietly, then stopped to touch a scarf hanging on a tall rack. “Not everyone has one, but if something is strong enough, it’s there.”

“So, if they’re pure evil, you see it.” It was Leone’s voice.

“Yes.”

“I see pure goodness, it’s the brightest.” Crissy chimed in.

I turned to see Autumn squatting down to tie her shoe, although she was looking all around and not really tying laces. “That sort of thing doesn’t stand out for me, just health, and heart I suppose.”

“Heart?” It was Emil’s voice in my ear.

“Black heart, like evil or ill intentions.” I clarified.

“That’s very convenient for us.” There was no mistaking Chase’s voice.

“What do you mean health?” That was Quinton, and I tried not to dwell on the hard tone in his voice.

“If a person is in pain,” I paused and looked down the next row of vendors, there was an odd green haze in the row. I stopped to concentrate; I’d seen that before, but always thought it was a pollution. “Like if they’re injured or chronically ill.” I inhaled, the air was fresh, not polluted. Shaking my head, I continued to move down the row.

“That makes sense.” Bethany’s soft voice was in my ear, “with your abilities, that you’d see things that are health related.”

“I’m hoping she sees lots of black.” Autumn turned and looked at me, “have you seen any black?”

I gave my head a slight shake. “Nothing yet.” Gnawing on my lip, I decided I was going to see if there was a gas stove or reason for the green haze. I motioned in that direction to Autumn and without comment we went down the row.

“There’s nothing happening in our area.” Alona reported.

“Kinsley and I are going to the far end and working our way back toward you.” Daxx reported.

“Eyes-wide, Miss Hinton.” Troy said in a commanding tone.

“Always.” A voice I didn’t know said through the earpiece.

I paused and stood in the green haze, looking at the people in the area. No one would have use of gas or anything that would give off that sort of pollution.

“I don’t see things,” Autumn said quietly, “but my gut says something is,” she glanced around unnoticed, as her hood hid the movement, “hinky in this area.”

“Hinky?” Michael’s voice wasn’t soft. “What the hell is hinky?”

A female chuckle sounded through the earpiece. “Off, not right.” Bethany explained. “We’ve been playing this word-a-day game on our phones.”

“A point for Autumn.” Paisley said quietly.

“Perhaps we can discuss the game later.” Victor’s tone was not amused. “What do you see, Autumn?”

She glanced to me as I held up a small bird carving. “Nothing off, it’s just a feeling.”

The hair on the back of my neck tingled. “I feel it too.” I confessed. The vendor smiled at me; I took that time to really look. “Do you have any doves?” I asked him, “my mother’s favorite bird.” His expression changed. I didn’t see anything bad in him. I taped the ornament as I set it down. “I’ll have to think on this one.” I turned to see Autumn was watching me. I gave her a slight shake of my head.

With her back to the stands, she looked around. “Reagan felt something, that’s why we came this way.”

“There’s movement behind the next booth.” Kara said quietly. “I can’t see what’s happening, but there are several people there.”

“Left or right?” Autumn asked.

“To Reagan’s right.” She answered.

“Don’t rush in.” Michael cautioned.

“Got it.” Autumn whispered.

I put my hand in my pocket where the small knife was.

“We’re heading that way.” Daxx said abruptly.

“Us too.” Paisley said.

“Proceed with caution, ladies.” Chases’ tone warned.

“Rafael, walk the horses toward that small white building, and you should be able to see us.” Kara said.

“We’re moving that way.” Emil said, “although with this ridiculous hat, I doubt I’ll be able to see a thing.”

Someone snorted, “you look like a gypsy.” It was Quinton, “and Raf looks like a bum.”

“Someone had to be down here, you and Arius darted for the tower like your asses were on fire.” Rafael said in an unamused tone.

“Arius could have played this part with his hair…”

“Don’t dis my man’s hair, Emil.” Paisley said sounded serious.

“I would never.” Emil apologized quickly.

I glanced at Autumn, she smirked at me and shrugged. “We’re going around the side of the building.” She said without question.

I followed her. The green haze was thicker. I blinked, trying to see if it was just the time of day as the sun was starting to set. It was still there. “Do you see the haze?” I looked at Autumn, she looked around.

“No. It’s almost dusk, but I don’t see anything.” She slowed, pushing her hood back.

“Haze?” Crissy asked, “or fog?” There was a slight pause. “There’s a difference between them.” Another pause. “I looked it up. Is it fog? I need to know.”

I squinted and looked around. “I wouldn’t call it fog, it’s not thick, but it’s…”

“Five people have gone into that small building.” Rafael said.

“That shed isn’t big enough to hold five people.” Quinton stated.

“Tunnel?” Autumn’s stance changed.

“There aren’t any in this area.” Victor said in a low tone.

“Not legal ones.” Leone added.

“Any of the vendors pop on your radar, Reagan?” Alona asked.

“None I’ve seen so far.” I followed Autumn, not sure what we were going to do once we reached this shed.

“Do not engage until we are there, Autumn.” Michael’s words sounded like an order, but his tone was pleading.

She snorted, but didn’t comment.

“Two more went in.” Kara said slowly.

“Keep the door in your sight.” Rafael told her.

“Already done.” She whispered. “I’m not sure my arrows will reach that far though.”

“We’re porting behind the shed.”

“Be careful, Arius.” Paisley said.

“Can you get close enough to stop the door from moving?” Quinton sounded out of breath.

“On it.” Paisley whispered.

“There’s no one around the front now, Autumn.” Rafael told her.

Autumn nodded to me and moved cautiously around the side of the small building.

“Paize has the door.” Daxx informed everyone.

We rounded the corner to see Paisley, Bethany, Daxx and another dark-haired woman standing there. Paisley held her hand in the air, pointing toward the door.

“Ready?” Autumn looked at Daxx, she nodded.

“Wait for us.” Arius said.

“Now.” Autumn said and then yanked the door open and stood there. “It’s empty.”

“What do you mean?” Chase asked.

“She means the shed is empty.” Daxx said as she stuck her head in.

“Trap door in the floor?” Quinton was now standing beside her.

“Not unless it’s made out of dirt.” Daxx told him.

“Leone, get Clairee and Romulus here, now.” Arius said in a low voice.

“Michael, have Ira find the market’s director. I want every vendor in this row interviewed. Someone has to have seen something, even if they’re not involved.” Troy appeared beside Daxx.

She glared at him. “Were you cloaked?”

He gave her a cautious look. “There was no way you were walking through the market without a guard.”

Daxx pointed to the other woman. “Guard.”

“King.” He countered.

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but there is a small group of people running away from the market like the devil is chasing them.” Kara said quickly.

Rafael tossed his frayed cloak to the ground. “Direction?”

“Uh, to your left, Raf.” Kara told him.

Rafael nodded. “Leone…”

“Bronx and I are on the horses heading that way.” Leone said quickly.

“There’s nothing out that way.” Quinton glanced to Rafael, “A few fields, then the wasteland.”

“Maybe they’re meeting someone out there.” Alona’s voice came through the earpiece.

“I think we caught them off guard.” Emil said as he looked inside the shed. He stepped back out and looked at Bethany. “Can you sense magic or spells?”

She shook her head. “I’m not that skilled yet.” She sighed, “I might be a natural witch, but learning how to use it is complicated.”

He nodded. “Should we send the patrols to look?”

“No.” Troy was typing on his phone, “it could be a ploy to pull them from an area. The patrols stay their course.” He glanced to Arius, “I’m sending the ladies’ guards out to search.” He looked down at Daxx, “They’re the only ones not currently occupied.”

“Is there fog?” Crissy asked quietly.

Everyone looked around.

“Not here.” Emil answered.

I looked around as well. The green haze was gone.

“Keep an eye out for foggy areas, Leone.” Victor said abruptly.

“Fog. Got it.” Leone’s voice was choppy. I realized they were on running horses.

“Rafael, have the first years stay at the yard. I’ve been asked to call Prince Bastian.” Chase said quickly.

I wondered if the prince had news of my father, but with everything happening thought it best to not ask right now.

Rafael nodded. “I’ll send Kinsley back to keep a watch over them until the next shift gets there.”

The woman I didn’t know nodded. “I’ll go now.” She grinned. “I have my own porter set now for the castle and the yard.”

Rafael tapped the screen on his phone and then putting it to his ear.

“This was a big let-down.” Daxx looked around, “I was hoping we’d get to kick some ass tonight.”

“We may yet.” Victor stated. “The vendors are being rounded up.”

“Where are we meeting them?” Alona asked.

Troy looked at Quinton. “We’ll wait at the meeting room until they’re all gathered. Leone, stay on the line.”

“Yeah.” He sounded out of breath.

Autumn looked in the building once more. “Call if you find them. I need the workout.”

“Will do.” He sounded amused.