Page 127 of The Last Syphon

Inara wasn’t worried. She was far too engrossed in the conversation.

“It would take a long time to teach you everything I know,” Prince Walder replied. “And I have a feeling you would not be an easy student.”

Inara pursed her lips. Okay. That was fair to say.

“How long have you been soul-linked with Tydus?” She instead asked, deciding she would come back to it later. And, she definitely would.

A look of admiration and wonder flashed across his usually hard and stoic face. “Since I was seven.”

“Seven?!” She almost shrieked in surprise. “You’re kidding. How did it happen?”

He winced, as if not entirely proud of what he was about to say next. “A friend dared me to sneak into his den to steal a golden chalice.”

Inara’s eyes bulged out of her head and she laughed uproariously, unable to believe it. “You are joking!” She slapped the back of her hand against his chest, making him startle. “You mean to tell me you gave me all this crap for sneaking into Fraener’s den and soul-linking with him when you did the exact same thing?”

His brows came down into a frown. “The circumstances were a little different.”

“No,” she snorted with a laugh. “They weren’t. They’re pretty much identical.”

The sound of laughter and screams of joy drifted upwards from the city splayed out before the palace. Curious, Inara focused on the spot. Her eyes heated, and then she was zooming forward through the darkness, rushing past the trees, dozens of houses, and seas of people until finally, she reached what had captured her attention.

A smile lit up her face. She snapped back into herself and looked at him. “Do you know what’s going on down there?”

He didn’t even glance in that direction, his focus remaining on her. “It’s the markets. The lower cities throw them every month.”

Excitement bubbled up in her belly. She jumped to her feet. “Come on. Let’s go.”

“Go where?” He asked, confused.

“To the markets!” The villages within the Borderlands did something similar every month. Residents from all over would come together and put up stalls where people could buy and trade a variety of goods. Crafts, weapons, food. Anything and everything. It would become a grand event with music, happiness, and laughter. Some of the best times in her life were at those markets.

He simply stared up at her, aghast. “I-I can’t go there.”

“Why?” She rolled her eyes at his expectant answer. “Is it against the rules?”

His mouth opened, but nothing came out. His usual frown took root.

“Come on, Overlord,” she dragged out with a groan. “Live a little. Rules are made to be broken, you know.”

“No, they’re not. That’s literally the opposite of their intended purpose.”

Inara shrugged and sighed. “Fine. Stay here, then. If you want to have some fun for once in your life, you know where to find me.” Hand to her chest, she sighted the rays of light streaming from the markets and jumped.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“Oh, look at this! No! This. Isn’t it pretty? Oh my Fates, is that a chupacabra over there? I’ve always wanted to see one of them in person! They’re just as cute as people described.” Inara ping-ponged from one stall to another, her mind overflowing with excitement.

Prince Walder trudged behind her, looking every bit as uncomfortable as she was sure he felt. His hand was permanently resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist, eyes scanning everything. Everyone. The tension locking down his spine was permanent, she was sure. He looked jumpy. On edge. As if he expected to be stabbed in the back—or front. Anywhere, really.

Inara felt the complete opposite. She enjoyed markets more than anything.

The liveliness surrounding her instantly put her at ease, her smile wide and beaming. There was a certain atmosphere at markets such as this. The fast pace of it. The haggling. The hustle and bustle. It all excited her. Left a warm and fuzzy feeling in Inara’s soul, and after the night she’d had, she fucking needed it.

People ran to and from each stall, their arms full of new goods they’d just purchased. The scents of a variety of different foods swirled around her, making her stomach rumble and mouth water. Some of the best foods she’d ever eaten were from the markets. Ox stew. Rabbit pudding. There was even something she’d tried once called worms on a stick. It sounded disgusting, she knew, but it was actually quite delicious.

Inara wondered if she could find something similar here…and convince Prince Walder to eat it. The idea made her laugh.

The atmosphere of the markets was electric, buzzing, unlike anything she could ever describe. Ever put into words. Music played in the air, accompanied by laughter. People were yelling and screaming at one another, but not in an angry or hostile way. More in an attempt to capture one’s attention and keep them from going to someone else’s stall.