City of Keys by Kat Ross
Author:Kat Ross [Ross, Kat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781957358048
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Malach saw the smoke rising over Nantwich before they reached the walls. Scouts rode ahead, returning to jubilantly report that the city had fallen to the Kvens.
Our new allies, he thought, still stunned that Luk, of all people, had broken from the other Curiae.
He glanced at Falke. âGet your hood up, Severin.â
The pontifex of Novostopol slumped in the saddle with a dazed expression. It lifted Malachâs spirits.
They passed through the city gates, garrisoned by the Wolves now. The company numbered twenty mages, all young and handpicked by Malach for their level headsâand more importantly, their loyalty to him. Sydonie and Tristhus rode on either side, gaping at the tall buildings and broad boulevards. The Arx had spared no expense when it rebuilt after the war. Nantwich wasnât a large city, but the elegant baroque style rivaled Novostopolâs oldest, wealthiest districts.
Shiny automobiles lined the curbs. Traffic lights flashed, though not a soul moved in the streets except for Kven soldiers on horseback. The patrols eyed their red cloaks warily, giving the mages a wide berth. Not for the first time, Malach wondered exactly what heâd gotten himself into.
He reminded himself that Nantwich was just a stepping stone. The ultimate goal was his own city. Not as it stood nowâa looted husk occupied by Falkeâs Ravensâbut a place of beauty and light.
The children had never seen a car that wasnât rusted out. Never peered into a single shop window. Most of the mages hadnât, either. When they entered a deserted commercial district, Syd leapt from the saddle and ran to a smashed plate glass window, sticking a hand through to fish out a beribboned sunhat and jam it on her head.
Malach reined up. âMake it quick, Syd.â
âOkay, Cardinal!â A pair of huge sunglasses followed. She struck a pose, hand on hip. âHow do I look?â
Whatever Sydonie did, Tristhus had to copy her. The younger boy slid from the saddle and ran to the shop.
âWatch the glass!â Malach called. Rachel squirmed in front of him.
âWant one, too,â she whispered.
It was the first words she had spoken on the journeyâto him, at least.
âGet a hat for Rachel,â he called.
âTake whatever you want,â Valdrian added with a dry laugh. âSpoils of war.â
All the mages descended from Bal Kirith bloodlinesânot Bal Agnar. Malach had made sure of that. They knew Syd and Trist and tolerated their antics with gruff indulgence. In turn, the children understood precisely how far they could go without earning a cuff, or worse. No one even attempted to supervise them except Malach, not that they listened to him.
Trithus found a silk top hat. It kept falling off, but he seemed determined to keep it. Syd picked out a manâs derby with a feather in the band. She handed it to Malach, who set it on his daughterâs head.
âCan you see?â he asked with a laugh.
She nodded, though he knew she couldnât. Malachâs laughter died as he gazed at the column of smoke drifting into the sky. Maybe it was better that way.
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