I kicked my horse into a canter, breaking away from the group as the road opened onto a broad street packed with merchant carts and people. My guards yelled, but I didn’t slow. The crowd parted, and I reined in my horse. Nearly leaping from my saddle, I wove through the vendors and shoppers and ducked into the privacy of a nearby alley, collapsing against the wall.

Anxiety writhed in my stomach. Pain, fear, anger—they infected every wing. Infected me. Where did we even begin to fix things? One crow might protect us from war, but what about the decay spreading from within?

Something prickled at the back of my neck. I pushed off the wall, turning, and nearly slammed straight into someone. I stepped back, hands raised, and found Ericen staring back at me with a smirk.

“You ran off,” he mused. “Your poor guards are frantic.” His gaze lifted over my shoulder. “Something interesting about this particular alley?”

“Anything’s more interesting than talking to you.” Before he could respond, I marched back into the crowd. The cool air wafting off the canal chilled my hot skin, and I made straight for a nearby House Cyro cart, where I paid for an orange cake in an attempt to pretend I’d simply been in a hurry to get dessert. Except my fingers fumbled the coins, and I gave the vendor a silver talon instead of copper, and I nearly dropped the cloth-wrapped bundle in my attempt to pocket it.

I forced in breath after breath, trying and failing to fight away my anxiety, and moved to the edge of the canal. Except the murky water, once kept pure and glistening by water crows, reminded me of why I’d bolted into the alley to begin with.

Ericen appeared like a specter beside me. I stiffened. He moved so soundlessly.

“You’re shaking. Is something the matter, Princess?”

Before I could respond, footsteps echoed from behind, and I faced my guards as they emerged from the crowd panting and flushed. I winced.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, withdrawing the orange cake from my pocket. “I saw the vendor, and there wasn’t a line, and that never happens, so…” I trailed off when I caught Ericen’s smile. As if to say I could lie, but only because he let me.

The guards straightened, the one in the lead bowing his head. “Of course, Your Highness. Please just give us warning next time.”

I nodded, swallowing hard and addressing the prince. “If you’re not going to explore the market, let’s go.” I didn’t wait for an answer before cutting back through the crowd to where a guard held my horse. Thankfully, Ericen followed.

We mounted and set off along the next wing, riding in tangible silence. I glanced down at the orange cake in my hand, and my stomach roiled in response. I let it drop to the ground.