Spirits of Light and Shadow (The Gods of Talmor) by India Drummond Page B

with dark bands woven around the hem, but nothing made her stand out as a conduit.
    Korbin glanced up at the door and tried to look abashed. “Sorry. We were just leaving.”
    The other rider, a man named Deto, gave a tolerant grin. “You know you’re not supposed to bring companions here, Korbin.”
    Korbin turned, and Octavia sat up next to him, burying her face in his shoulder, playing the part of a woman caught in a dalliance. “Just don’t tell Captain Parsetrosic.” He stood and helped Octavia to her feet.
    “We’ve all done it at one time or another,” Deto said, chuckling.
    “You just in?” Korbin asked, surprised at how relaxed the other man was.
    “Yeah, rode through the night. I’m exhausted.”
    “Get some sleep,” Korbin said.
    Deto nodded, then grinned. “I could say the same to you.” With a cheeky bow in Octavia’s direction, he said, “A pleasant day to you, good lady.”
    “Come on,” Korbin said to Octavia, shooting Deto the obligatory exasperated stare. He led the conduit out of the room by the hand, grateful that Deto hadn’t yet seen the posters bearing their names. This would certainly be the last time they could take shelter in an outpost.
    Once they were outside, Octavia dropped his hand and regained her normal, cool demeanor. “Don’t apologize,” she said as he opened his mouth to do just that.
    Hesitating only a moment, he nodded. “All right. Let’s go. And quickly.” Side-by-side, they walked toward the North Circle, trying to avoid the notice of the few people already on the streets: a baker, a laundress, a street cleaner, a lampsman, a farmer taking a cart toward the market square, a pair of priests, and a tired-looking comfort-girl. Soon, the city would be bustling.
    Taking the backstreets, Korbin guided Octavia toward Eliam’s house. “We’re almost there. It’s going to be okay.”
    She seemed to grow more uncomfortable with every step. Her doubtful look told him she already regretted her decision to follow him. He didn’t blame her. For all she knew, he was leading her straight to someone who would arrest them both. For a moment, he wondered why she trusted him at all.
    At the rear entrance to Eliam’s street, Korbin paused. “Stay here.” When she stiffened, he added quickly, “Try to look like you’re waiting for the butcher’s across the way to open. I’ll only be a moment. If I’m not back before they open…” What? She’s on her own? He couldn’t bring himself to say that, but he wasn’t confident what would await them at Eliam’s. If the senate knew Korbin was a rider, did they also know of his friendship with their youngest member?
    She pressed her eyelids closed and nodded. “I understand. Thank you.”
    He wanted to offer her a reassuring squeeze of the hand, but such a gesture hardly seemed appropriate. “No need to thank me, Senne. I got us into this mess.” Before she could agree, he ducked into the next street and moved toward the quiet path leading to Eliam’s manor.
    There were servants about, but none appeared alarmed when he showed his face. Instead he received the usual polite greeting and quick bow as they went about their business, careful not to interfere with his.
    “Is Dul Eliam up yet this morning?” he asked a manservant, who replied with a raised eyebrow, making Korbin feel a fool. Of course Eliam wouldn’t be up. Gentlemen of rank didn’t rise early unless they were as driven and obsessed as Korbin’s father.
    “I believe the Dul had a late engagement, sir,” he offered. “Perhaps it would be best to check in shortly before midday.”
    “Of course,” Korbin said, wondering if that late engagement had anything to do with his arrest warrant. He wandered away casually, resisting the urge to watch for the man to go inside. Instead, he relied on his hearing. When he could hear no more activity in the back garden, he returned to Octavia. She looked calm yet wary and uncomfortable in front of the butcher’s