Chapter 15

Yelena POV

A piercing light was shone into her eyes. Groaning, she covered her eyes with a hand and tried to go back to sleep.

"You shouldn't be here," a voice whispered into her ear.

Startled, she sat straight up, only to hit her head against a barrel of onions. "What the-!"

An angelic-looking boy sat beside her, tilting his head. "You're not from the castle. I'd have recognized you."

She groaned and rubbed her head as she looked around for guards.

"Don't worry, I told them that my mommy needed their help when they wanted to get onions. You're safe for now," he assured her, grinning until dimples appeared in his cheeks.

She looked at him in appreciation. "Why are you helping me?"

He shrugged as he scrambled up to peer over the side of a barrel. "You seemed nice, and mommy did want some help winding some yarn. Say, why are you here?"

"I need to - " She stopped as the little boy suddenly ducked down behind the barrel with her.

She stopped breathing as soon as she heard Valek's voice a few feet away. "Corin, your mother's been looking for you for the last ten minutes. Dilana's starting to get worried now, so you should get out from behind those barrels."

Corin stood up and grinned innocently. Without changing his facial expression, he squeezed her hand as if assuring her he would be back later. Without a word, he scrambled off the cart.

As the two walked away, Yelena heard Valek berating the little boy on wandering around alone while travelling. Now, she could only hope her luck didn't run out.

Nutty POV

Nutty and Janco had searched through the entire marketplace. All the stalls had closed and all the storekeepers had left for home, and there was no sign of Yelena.

Now that it was morning, the Ixian soldiers were leaving for home from the Citadel, but Janco had requested and received permission to stay in Sitia as part of the diplomatic party that remained for several more weeks.

tburied her face against Janco.

Janco looked down at her, troubled. From what Nutty had told him through letters, Yelena had seemed to be a stubborn sort of woman, and there was no saying what she could have done during the night.

"Just...just how desperate is Yelena to call off the impending nuptials with this Walnut?" he asked carefully.

Nutty sniffed and wiped away a tear. "She absolutely hates him. Ever since we were children, she's gone out of her way to avoid him entirely. And considering the things he's said and done to her, I don't blame her."

Her eyes widened as she came to the same conclusion. "You think that after the meeting with Valek crashed and burned that she ran away to escape the wedding!"

Janco shrugged. "It seems plausible if he's as horrible as you tell me he is."

"Oh, he is. But surely, she knows that her parents won't stop looking for her! Her brother loves his little sister, and would never accept a disappearance like this."

"Her parents won't stop looking for her...in Sitia," Janco said slowly.

"In...Sitia. You don't think that...No, she would never...she..."

"She's gone to Ixia!" they said together, looking at each other with wide eyes.

Maren POV

She glared angrily at the punching bag as she took out her frustration. He'd pushed her away, again! And then, even though he'd planned on staying as part of the diplomatic party, he'd left this morning without saying anything to anyone. Leaving her here for several weeks, with no way to see him.

A page brought her a note and she stopped hitting the bag to take it.

It read:

Dear Maren,

My beloved cousin has just left for the Citadel as I write this letter. I will depart immediately after so we may meet to discuss our plans. Meet me behind the locksmith's stall in the market at midday on the day you get this. I will wait for you.

-Walnut

She glanced out the window at the sun nearly overhead. Cursing, she quickly ran out to find the stall. Sure enough, a man with dark brown hair was peering around as if waiting for someone. Just as she was about to approach him, a cry rang out that caused him to turn.

A rather pretty girl with Janco's arm around her was staring at him in horror.

"Walnut, what the hell are you doing here?!"

Dun DUN DUNNNN!

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