Gideon hummed to himself, sitting high on his horse. “We’re rich, we’re rich, we’ve got gold for months to come! Rich, rich, rich…”

“For someone who’s a fan of bardic magic, you’re not much of a musician,” Jet remarked dryly.

“That’s what I need bards for,” Gideon replied.

Angel stretched luxuriously, settling down on the horse. “Bardic magic can be communicated through dance, as well. He doesn’t have to be a musician.”

Jet snorted. He glanced at Gideon. “So? Can you dance?”

Gideon shrugged. “You’re the one who’s decided I want to be a bard. I never said anything like that.”

“As much as you obsess about bards…” Jet said, shrugging back.

“Didn’t you say bardic magic is fake not long ago, and they’re all whores? Jet… are you saying you want me to be a whore?” Gideon asked, frowning in confusion.

Jet frowned at him. “I said no such thing.”

“It’s okay, Jet. I’ve seen a lot, wandering the world. I won’t hold it against you, no matter who it is you love. Unfortunately… you just aren’t my type,” Gideon said gently, giving Jet an apologetic look.

“Who said I—” Jet spluttered, staring at Gideon.

Gideon reached out and patted Jet’s shoulder. “It’s okay. No need to be shy. I understand. I really am too handsome for my own good.”

Jet slapped him away, scowling. He pushed Bluebell faster and rode ahead of the group. How on earth did his mind end up there? I was just asking him about his obsession with bards, how did it become about me…?

“Just one town until the capital,” Elly said, smiling.

Jet turned back, looking at her. He reined in Bluebell to ride alongside her. “Did you ever figure out what happened to Kat?”

Elly shook her head. “She vanished. I hope she didn’t get hurt in the panic…”

“A street rat like that? She just scurried back into the gutters,” Gideon said, waving his hand.

Jet snorted. Well, it’s true that she was living alone before we arrived. Elly unilaterally sending her to the church… she had the best intentions, but the church isn’t all smiles. They might not have had enough resources to take in another kid, among a myriad of issues.

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Elly sighed. “I worry about her…”

“Just use your foresight,” Gideon muttered.

“It doesn’t work like that,” Elly replied automatically.

“She’s probably fine. A kid like that’s been taking care of herself already,” Jet pointed out.

“I still worry,” Elly said, shaking her head.

Angel sighed. “Hope the next town has a decent red light district. I could use some practice…”

They rode on. A few carriages passed them, going the other way. The riders had bleak expressions, their faces set, eyes dark. One had a singe mark on its rear corner and luggage strewn haphazard across the top.

“Is there trouble ahead?” Jet mused.

“Yeah, Elly,” Gideon said.

“Doesn’t work that way,” Elly replied.

A wagon creaked to a halt. The old man driving it looked them in the eye. “You folks headed into Dullam?”

“On our way to the capital,” Jet replied, nodding.

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t. The place is overrun by drakes. I hear the True Dragon’s at the capital, and the drakes are some kind of forerunners.”

“Drakes? They’re hardly even worth the ink,” Gideon muttered.

The old man shook his head. “Go another way if you’ve got to, but really, I recommend turning the other way. The capital’s going to fall in a week, the way I hear it.”

“It’s already become that bad?” Jet muttered. He bit his lip, concerned.

“You know, there’s lots of other good cities that aren’t the capital. Have you ever heard of Calebston? I hear it’s a fine city, and, coincidentally, in the opposite direction,” Angel suggested.

“We should hurry,” Jet said, pushing faster.

“Drakes. I just can’t get excited for drakes. They’re so boring. They aren’t even worth much money,” Gideon muttered under his breath.

Jet glared over his shoulder at Gideon. “Good. We aren’t going to fight them. We only have one objective.”

“Ehhh… I can’t leave dragons alive.” Gideon replied, shaking his head.

“You were just complaining about them being drakes,” Jet replied.

“But… they’re dragons, so they deserve to die,” Gideon replied, putting a finger up as he made his point.

Leo jumped. He whirled and stared into the forest.

Jet glanced at the boy. “Are you hurt?”

Leo paused, then shook his head.

“Did you see something?” Gideon asked.

Another pause. Leo bit his lip. He shook his head again.

Gideon arched a brow. “Mmm-hmm. What did you see?”

Leo shook his head hard, putting his hands up.

Lifting a hand, Jet peered into the forest. Dappled shadows played over mossy roots and low undergrowth. Deep in the forest, leaves swayed with the passing of some creature, but whatever had passed, he’d missed it.

Jet sighed. “Probably just a deer.”

“Was it a dragon?” Gideon stage-whispered.

Leo tensed. He shook his head emphatically.

“Oh, so it was a dragon. Leo, come on. You have to let me know these things, so I can kill them,” Gideon said, shaking his head back at Leo.

“I imagine that’s why he didn’t tell you. He doesn’t want to go haring off into the forest. We’ve still got a couple of hours to go until the town. If we make a detour now, we’ll be sleeping rough tonight,” Jet said, riding on.

Leo pointed at Jet and nodded.

“That’s not why you didn’t tell me, though, is it?” Gideon asked, peering at Leo from the corner of his eyes. “You wouldn’t happen to be…”

Leo glanced back at Gideon, whites of his eyes showing. He shook his head.

“Stop bullying our stableboy,” Jet said. He shook his head. I can’t take my eyes off Gideon for a moment.

Gideon met Leo’s eyes. He gestured at his eyes, then back to Leo’s eyes. “I’m watching you.”

Leo licked his lips and looked away.