She grabbed her satchel and staff, before racing out of the room, passing a terrified-looking Madam Tomkin on the landing as she ran down the stairs after them. Reaching the ground floor, she saw Madam Tomkin’s skinny husband, Goran, staring in the direction of the departing soldiers.

When he saw Chloe, he only shrugged. ‘She had the look, and I don’t want any trouble.’

Knowing she needed to find out where they were taking Liana, Chloe sped from the guesthouse and scanned the busy street. It only took her a moment to spy the crowds all giving a wide berth to the spectacle of Liana being forced down the street, struggling in the grip of the soldiers. Chloe began to run as she tried to catch up, but they were moving swiftly. She almost lost them when they turned into a side street, but she sprinted as fast as she could, seeing them turn again before becoming obscured by a crowd.

She’d almost caught up to them when the magus turned back, his eyes scanning. Wondering if Chloe, red-faced and panting, had something to do with what was happening just ahead, people in the crowd began to stare at her.

The sorcerer was about to spot her when she felt a hand grip her upper arm. A rough pull jerked her out of the crowd and into a sheltered doorway.

A short, stocky older man with a completely bald head looked up at her and put his finger to his lips. ‘Chloe,’ he said. ‘You need to come with me. We’ll find a way to help your friend, and perhaps you can help us save the king.’

The bald man led Chloe a short distance to a large tavern and drinking house. It had three stories and dozens of balconies on the upper floors. The lower level, open to the street, had enough seating for a hundred, but only a few people huddled on the stools, leaning on the tables, conversing and drinking tea.

‘It’s called The Trader’s Rest,’ he said. ‘Our rooms are above. You have lodgings?’

‘I did, but I’m not going back.’

His wary gaze checked in both directions before he nodded. ‘We’ll get you settled here.’

He continued to scan the room as he led Chloe past empty tables to a quiet corner, but even she could see that no one was paying them any attention. When they’d reached the back of the room, he offered her a seat at a table a little away from the rest and asked for tea when a boy came round to take their order.

‘My name is Cob. I’m a friend of—’

‘Cob?’ Chloe gasped with relief. ‘Dion told me about you. I know who you are.’

‘I don’t need to ask, do I? You’re here for the same reason I am.’