The streets were busier today already. The damage from yesterday’s firestorm appeared extensive. And with the sun’s rise, people had risen too to repair their homes and comb through the wreckage. As badly as she was hurting, the sight of all this destruction only made her feel more certain that she was making the right decision. She would not let Pavan become like Calibah—nothing but stories and myths left to haunt the ruins. She had read the story of Calibah’s siege and Finneus Wolfram’s last desperate attempts to save his people more times than she could count in her childhood. She had seen herself in the outsider that was Finneus—a noble Stormling by birth, but an adventurer and sailor by calling. He had not been what society expected of a noble lord, but in the end it was he who rose up in the city’s darkest moments.

It was Aurora’s turn to do that now. She had not been a particularly good princess. But she belonged to Pavan, and Pavan to her, and she would fight for it until her dying breath, as her childhood hero had done upon the seas.

When they reached the location of the rebellion’s hidden shelter, Taven was waiting for her, visibly distressed.

“Thank the goddess,” he said. And then he bowed to her right there in the street.

“Stand up,” she hissed. “Someone could see.”

Jinx only snickered behind Aurora.

“I do not care,” Taven answered. “You are alive. Better if the people know. They’ll be more inclined to fight back.”

It was not like Taven to be so careless, or so emotional. But of course, she had no idea what he had been through these months. She was about to find out though, and her stomach tossed with dread.

“Let’s get inside. There’s a great deal to talk about before we get to that point.”

He removed the fake plants covering the door, and gestured for the girls to go first. Then he followed down after, pulling the camouflage back in place as he closed the door.

Today, there was a lantern already waiting in the first room. Taven picked it up and led them to the door on the right side of the room. The door, it appeared, was kept locked, for he knocked—three times in rapid succession, followed by a pause, and two more slower knocks. Aurora heard a lock slide, and then the door opened, revealing a man standing guard, armed with a wickedly curved blade. Beyond him lay a shockingly long corridor lit by skyfire lanterns. There were a few rooms off to each side; most appeared to be stockpiled with supplies. Taven continued past them all to a closed door at the end. This time there was no secret knock, merely a few quick hard raps.