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"Good," Aren says in English "That will s simpler You and Naito will lead the way McKenzie and I will follow Lena, you’ll stay five to ten paces back Don’t look like you’re with us If anything goes wrong, fissure out Understood?"

His gaze travels over theree He doesn’t look at lanced in estures toward the door "Go"

Naito dons his hood and follows Kelia out Lena leaves next Aren’s going to have to say soeout of here without more information

"Who’s Lorn?" I ask

He stares at the crates stacked against the wall "Pull on your hood"

"Where are we?"

"Somewhere you shouldn’t be seen Your hood, McKenzie"

"Are you worried the king’s soldiers will recognize ainst the wall, I’d retreat fro all at once I don’t breathe as his gaze follohat I assume is a chaos luster across my face Another one flashes across my hand

Aren steps toward htly as if he’s about to say so He takes a second step, then another He’s within an arth I can feel the heat of his body, smell cedar and cinnamon

He jerks my hood over my head "Keep your skin covered"

Aren’s seriousness scares the shit out of ain and try to slow rips h the cloak "We’re in Lyechaban"

"Lyechaban!" Somy heart rate; it triples its pace "Are you crazy?"

He harrumphs "Indeed"

"These people will kill ainst an escape attempt" He pulls my hood lower, puts an arm around my shoulders, then forces le, so I stay pressed against his side I wish ic doesn’t work on hues ofto the woollike material, desperate to hold it in place I’m careful to keepin the Realm and this city when I very much do not There are certain places where humans aren’t welcome in this world Then there are places like Lyechaban

I try not to let theeither side of the road, on Kelia and Naito, who lead the way east, toward the briny scent of the ocean We’re in a poorer district of the city You can always tell by the as These are made of wood and brittle stone and none are painted with a coat of silver