The powerful fragrance mixed of spices and livestock filled Ki's nose as she looked out over the sprawling and colourful market in front of her. The stand closest to her overflowed with vegetables, some she knew from back home like potatoes, carrots and tomatoes, but there were also some she had never seen before. There were small, round red and green peppers that were apparently very spicy and green cucumber-looking things called zucchini. But what filled most of the booths were the spices. Yellow, red, green and brown with such strong scents that Ki's nose felt overwhelmed. Both owners called out their goods to passers-bys looking to buy or trade. Next to the first spice booth was an elderly man selling handmade jewellery and Ki and Emmie studied the beautiful necklaces and rings. Ki decided to buy a golden bracelet with a small perl. It fitted nicely on her wrist.
It was fortunate that they were even here. For the past two days, Isadaya had been confined within the castle walls. The King and Queen did not want to risk their daughter's life so wherever she went a host of guards followed in her footsteps. Finally, after many heated arguments and discussions back and forth, the princess was allowed to go to the nearby market, accompanied by Ki and the other Howlers as well as Ansira and Akita. Isadaya had not wanted to bring any of the palace guards to not draw too much attention to herself.
Ki looked around at the bustling market and spotted Thatch and Ori by a stall that sold satchels and travel gear. Emmie moved up ahead to be close to Isadaya, leaving Ki to make up the rear of the group.
Studying a hand-carved wooden statue of a panther, Ki felt an unfamiliar presence hovering close by. She kept her head down and from the corner of her eye she could make out the shape of a man. She waited for him to make a move, not yet aware if he meant her any harm, though why risk it out in the open in the middle of a crowded marketplace. The man moved closer and Ki's body tensed, her gift tingling in her fingertips and she reached for the dagger she kept hidden in the waistband of her trousers.
Then the man whispered and Ki stalled in her movement.
"We should probably talk."
Ki turned her head the opposite way and glanced to where her friends were. None of them were watching her.
"Whatever would you need to talk to me for?"
"Trust me, you want to know."
"Do you expect me to trust a stranger?" Ki kept her focus on the many statues in front of her, picking up a random one and pretended to study it.
"If you want to leave Eslea alive, then yes."
Ki stilled, but before she could put the statue down the man moved right up against her.
"There is a tavern up ahead, The Dirty Owl. Meet me there in ten minutes. Alone. Ask for Heredis."
Ki swivelled around, but the man had disappeared. No one seemed to have noticed their brief conversation.
Heredis? She mulled over the name and whether or not she should go meet this man as she caught up with the rest of the group. She knew that it would be best if she told the others, but something kept her from sharing what had happened.
They walked on, Isadaya looking happy and smiling at finally being outside again. Her and Emmie chatted animatedly about the goods and whether they should buy something. They had gotten some Eslean coin for their stay by the Aethorin advisor, Harrod Fellan.
Ki weighed the pros and cons of going alone to meet this Heredis man. Would he attempt to seek her out again should she not show up? He clearly knew who she was.
Across the street she spotted a small building. A sign hung from the gable, swinging in the gentle breeze. The Dirty Owl. Ki tried to think of a reasonable excuse to break away from the group without raising suspicion. Falling back a few steps she slowly took off the bracelet she had bought earlier and hid it in her pocket. Then she called to the others.
"Oh no. I think I've lost my new bracelet."
The others turned around and Emmie came up to her. "You can't have lost it far from here. I will help you look."
"No. It's okay. I think I know where it was." Ki looked back to down the rows of stalls. "I think it was by the one with the statues. Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you."
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Thatch watched her with a slight frown on his forehead. Ki smiled reassuringly to him and nodded.
"I'm sure, don't worry."
The others nodded and started walking again, but Thatch remained where he was. Ki walked up to him and took his warm hand in hers. "Thatch. It's okay. I can look after myself." She sent him a warm smile and when he smiled back she felt bubbles in her stomach. She squeezed him hand and when he squeezed back she let go and turned around, walking swiftly away.
She walked for a short bit until she was sure he had taken off. When she turned she could see the back of him disappearing in the crowd. Then Ki doubled back and kept to the right side of the path. She slipped into the tavern and took in the dimly lit room filled with mostly men eating and drinking. The room was square with a bar in the right-hand corner. A man was handing over a steaming plate of rice and meat to another person as Ki walked up. Here goes nothing, she thought and waited until the customer had retreated before leaning in.
The barman was a stark contrast to Chi from her hometown. Chi was not quite as tall and a lot more round. This guy had short cropped dark hair and a small beard. He was tall and lean, wearing sandy-coloured clothing. He said something in Eslean that Ki didn't understand. Upon seeing her expression he nodded and tried again, this time in common tongue.
"What can I help you with, miss?"
Ki took a breath and made sure her voice was low enough for only him to hear.
"Heredis." She said it confidently and as if she knew what it meant. The barman took a step back and eyed her curiously. A nervous feeling washed over her and for a moment Ki was worried how he would react, but then he nodded and walked off, motioning for her to follow. She walked along the bar until he stopped at a door in the corner.
"Through here, second door on the left." Then he left to attend another customer.
Ki looked at the door. She had come this far, she thought and grabbed the handle. On the other side was a narrow hallway with doors on both sides. Ki walked up to the second one on the left. The floorboards creaked under her and when she knocked on the door a voice immediately called for her to enter.
The room inside had no windows, but was lit with several candles, casting shadows on the bare walls. A table stood to the left, empty except for a plate with a few leftovers from a recent meal, two cups and a dusty bottle half full of liquid. Four chairs stood around it with one of the chairs currently occupied. The man from the market smiled at her, his face a flicker of shadows. Still she recognised him immediately. The curly dark hair covering most of his ears and the neatly trimmed dark beard encasing his mouth. This was the same man she had seen at the harbour, who had been watching her amidst the crowd of people.
Ki's first thought was that he wasn't as attractive as Thatch or Rylan, but there was something about him, a presence that commanded her attention.
"You know I still don't trust you," Ki said, looking the man straight in the eye. The corner of his mouth turned upward in a slight smile, but it changed his entire face. He was handsome when he smiled.
"And you're wise not to," he replied casually as if it was obvious that she shouldn't. He gestured to the chair opposite himself. "Please sit, Miss Arynn."
"Should I even ask how you know my name?" Ki asked as she sat herself down. She didn't feel in any immediate danger. That wasn't why he had told her to come here. In any case, if anything should happen she could link herself with the others and send them an image of where she was.
"You and your friends coming here is a very big deal. I mean, just look at the spectacle you made right after your arrival in the harbour city."
"Was it by chance that you were there as well?"
He didn't reply, but merely smiled.
"I take that as a no then." Ki folded her arms across her chest and leaned back, studying the man. He was older than her by several years, at least ten years older, but not old enough for any grey hairs to have appeared yet.
"Since you know my name I think it is only fair that you tell me yours," Ki said.
"You are quite right, Kianna. My name is Luka."
"Luka. Would you also enlighten me with what Heredis means?"
Luka smiled yet again, seemingly his preferred facial expression.
"Heredis is my...last name, if you will."
"And do you live here, Luka Heredis?"
"If by here you mean in the back of The Dirty Owl establishment, then no, Miss Arynn, I do not. However, I do frequent this place and I happen to use these rooms quite a lot."
"For what?"
"Various conversational purposes."
Fine. He didn't want to spill everything and Ki should have known that.
"You said you had something to tell me should I wish to leave Eslea alive. Rather dramatic way to go about it if I must be honest."
Luka took the bottle and poured a dark liquid into the two cups.
"First, let us toast to the royal family."
Ki raised an eyebrow at him.
"It is tradition to toast to the rulers of Eslea as a show of respect and obedience."
Ki took the cup and raised it slowly, her eyes not leaving Luka, who smiled politely at her and returned her watchful gaze. He lifted his cup a little heigher and toasted.
"To the true royal family of Eslea." He drank, but Ki didn't. Now she knew why she was here and who she was dealing with.
"You are part of the rebel group, aren't you?"
"I knew you were bright. I was counting on it."
"What do you want from us?"
"Since you know about the rebels I assume you also know what they want and the story behind it all."
"If you are referring to what happened back when the Belisar family took the throne, then yes, I have been informed."
"Then you know that the Belisar family are usurpers and ever since Edgar Belisar took the throne, this country, once thriving and flourishing has steadily declined in prosperity. The Belisars raised the taxes, condemning more and more to poverty. They care not for the people of Eslea, but only of war and violence."
Ki nipped at her drink, letting the strong alcohol past her lips and warm her throat and belly.
"Before Edgar Belisar the royal family, the real royal family, the Victari, were beloved and they cared deeply for their country. Edgar Belisar poisoned and murdered innocent children, murdered King Sotar and drove Queen Winnia to take her own life. The Gods cursed the Belisars with a gift-less life, yet people did nothing."
"Then, thirty-five years later, a prophecy was made that spoke of a saviour who would free the Eslean people from Belisar tyranni."
"Hadira," Ki said and Luka nodded, filling his cup again.
"Hadira came to be after it was believed that the youngest daughter, Princess Solis, escaped into the jungle. That Princess Solis survived in the Eslean mountains and grew up, hidden away. And when she was older, she fell in love with a hunter and became pregnant. She gave birth to a son, the rightful heir to the Eslean throne and no one knew except for her and her maid, Goshia. Not even her husband knew who she really was."
"If those whispers are even true. Who is to say it is not something people talked about to stir things up?"
"Oh, I can assure you that they are real. And I can tell you that the heir is ready to claim what is rightfully his, which is why he started forming the rebel group. You see, if you know where to look, there are plenty of Esleans who are against the Belisar rule and wants to fight."
Ki's eyes suddenly widened and her breath hitched in her throat. Luka knew more details about this than Ansira had. A quick counting in her head and she knew that the heir would have been born thirty-one years ago, give or take. She looked at Luka, really looked and knew.
"It's you. You're the leader of the rebels."
Luka didn't object to her realisation, but let her continue, the smile still playing on his lips.
"You're the Victari heir."