Riya’s capital wasn’t ostentatious in its wealth, though it was obvious on more than a cursory glance. Stone lanterns were set at regular intervals, and despite the rain and mud, the streets were surprisingly clear of debris. The buildings were three, sometimes four, stories tall, painted white with wooden accents. There were enough awnings that I could keep from getting too wet if I hugged the sides of buildings. Mephi, on the other hand, trotted in the open street, stopping every so often to shake the rain from his coat – an action that did not endear him to passers-by. He shrugged when I gave him a mild admonishment. “I like the rain,” he said. I stopped to purchase dumplings for both Mephi and me, tossing them to Mephi and watching him catch them out of the air. They steamed as I threw them, the paper sack of them in my hand almost too hot to touch, the oil seeping through. In my satchel, the note to the Shardless Few pressed against Dione’s journal. He’d spoken about meeting Ylan Sukai – the first Emperor. This was something none of the legends or stories had mentioned. I wasn’t sure why.

The spy’s store wasn’t far from the palace, the door propped open. I ducked beneath the awning and felt cold water drip onto my neck.

Perhaps it was just the water, and the shiver that crept down my spine, but I had the strange sensation: I was being watched. I turned and saw only the people passing in the street. Mephi looked up at me, confused. “Everything fine?” he whispered.

I patted his head in response. But I wasn’t sure it was. The last time I’d felt this way I’d been attacked by one of the Empire’s constructs and almost killed.

Uneasy and unsettled, I turned back to the shop. An array of carved tortoiseshell items met my gaze. A man worked on yet another piece in the corner. He gave me a questioning look, which I waved away as I browsed his wares. Just paranoia. Still, the streets of Riya, which had felt safe just a moment before, now felt dangerous.

I picked out a comb, and slid the note to the vendor with the coin. He palmed both without even giving me a second glance.

Again, the sensation I was being watched.

“Jovis,” Mephi hissed out.

I whirled, and this time, I caught a glimpse of a foot disappearing around the corner.

15

Lin

Riya Island

My maidservants had finished preparing me for dinner when Jovis stormed inside my room, Mephi bounding behind him. “Are you having me followed?” My maidservants gave him wide berth as they left the room, sensing the anger roiling off of him like a storm front wind.

“Would it be a surprise if I was?” I asked. “You act like it’s within your rights to have more privacy.”