As they crested the hill, the capital spread out before them. To Sterling's disappointment, none of it was made of gold, as the rumors had said. Instead, what lay before them was a city primarily constructed of sandstone. As Ratha appeared in shades of gray, Daralis was shades of brown, and she was none too impressed.

They made their way down the hill to the capital gates with the other traffic. Sterling couldn't help but notice there were only a few people entering the city and even less leaving. She covertly studied the faces of those around them, half hoping to see someone familiar to her, but these were all strangers.

As they entered the gates, Sterling glanced up, noting the two guards posted above them, presumably to monitor those entering the city. Neither of the two men was even looking at the people below. Their security was lax here, as though they hadn't had to worry about a threat in some time.

Think of the destruction that could be wrought, the voices chattered gleefully. These humans wouldn't know what was coming. We could teach them a lesson.

Much to Sterling's horror, she agreed. Someone should teach King Berenger a lesson. He had a duty to the people to protect them, and while his subjects were disappearing elsewhere, he couldn't even be bothered to reinforce his own seat of power. If he wasn't careful, someone might come in and take it from him.

Sterling quickly shoved the thoughts down. She shouldn't wish for something horrible to teach one man a lesson at the cost of so many lives.

She could seek an audience with him and warn him, but she would do nothing more. This wasn't her kingdom.

"Where should we go first?" Kai asked her in a low voice.

"I'm not sure," she answered after a moment of contemplation. "I've never been here before."

"Let's start with finding a place to stay and leave our horses there. Then we can walk around the city. Presumably there’s a market here somewhere."

“Are all the human cities the same, then?” Sterling asked. Prior to her kidnapping, she’d never left Ratha, but she’d always imagined the rest of the world as a more vibrant place. Thus far, she’d been sorely disappointed.

“Yes and no,” Kai said without elaborating any further.

Helpful.

Sterling kept an eye on the people as they went along, still searching for a familiar face. Everyone hurried about their business, head down. If the missing people were in Daralis, they weren’t in this part of the city.

Kai stopped an older man, who looked to be a city resident, and asked for directions to the nearest inn. The man was happy enough to answer Kai's questions, but Sterling couldn't help but notice the way the man's gaze jumped back and forth between the two of them. After Kai thanked him and the man went on his way, Sterling pointed it out.

"I noticed the same," Kai said. "We might want to consider changing our hair color if we stay for any length of time."

Sterling fingered the ends of her iron-colored hair as she looked around at the people walking the streets of the capital. Kai had a point. For the most part, people here were dark-haired, like Seraiah. There were a few golden heads mixed into the group, but none with the striking gray shade both of them possessed—at least not anyone under the age of 50.

"Right," Sterling said. "I'm sure there is something in the market we can purchase to darken our hair." She vaguely recalled Freya telling her one of her neighbors used crushed walnut shells to dye her hair darker in hopes of appearing younger. It would be worth a try.

They found the inn the man had suggested and took two rooms there, leaving their belongings behind as they set out to explore the city.

They heard the market before they saw it. As they approached, the noise level increased significantly with the voices of what had to be hundreds of people joined together. Sterling could hardly hear herself think. It brought back memories of Ratha before the winter had come. Although she didn’t think their market had ever been quite this big.

Kai forged a path against the flow of people moving around the stalls. It was slow going, but allowed them to listen to the conversations around them.

Sterling glanced over her shoulder, reaching up to adjust the scarf she was using to hide her hair until she could darken it. A man bartering with a stall keeper over some fish caught her eye. There was something familiar about him.

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Kai had wandered further up the aisle, but Sterling remained where she was, determined to figure out how she knew the man. She leaned over, pretending to examine the weave of a piece of cloth at the stall in front of her while keeping an eye on him.

He must have come to some agreement with the seller, who began wrapping up a few of the small silver fish. While the man waited for his purchase, he glanced around. His eyes moved over her as though she wasn't there. He obviously didn't recognize her, but now Sterling knew exactly who he was.

This was the man who had broken her nose, who had felt the need to torment her before handing her over to the mages—one of the men who had taken her from Ratha.

Fire burned through her veins as she watched him, no longer pretending she was interested in the cloth.

"Care to make a purchase, miss?" the seller asked her. "If this doesn't suit your tastes, I'm sure I can find something else you might like."

"No, thank you," she answered, her eyes never leaving her kidnapper. The man was handing over coins and taking his package from the fish seller.

Without thinking about what she was doing, she crossed the distance between them until she stood before him.

He shot her an annoyed look as he moved to step around her.

Sterling sidestepped with him, blocking his path.

The man scowled. "Get out of my way." He tried to step around her again, but Sterling was too fast.

He growled in frustration and moved to shove her. Sterling danced back before he could make contact. Her lessons with Kestrel were paying off.

"Don't you remember me?" Sterling asked him sweetly.

"I've never met you in my life. Now get out of my way, urchin."

Sterling raised one brow. "I wouldn't be too sure about that. Have you ever made a trip to Ratha?"

He squinted at her. "Aye. I've been there." He stopped trying to get around her and studied her face.

"And now you’re here.” Her voice hardened. “Looking for more girls to kidnap, perhaps?"

The man's face flushed red. "I never—" he blustered.

In his anger, he didn't notice the blade she’d slipped into her hand. Since picking the knives up in Baromund, she’d been able to restore them to their former glory.

Sterling stepped forward, pressing the tip into his stomach. To the rest of the shoppers, it looked as if she were merely leaning in to be heard over the noise. The folds of her cloak hid the weapon from sight.

"Remember me, yet?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

When the man didn't answer, she pressed the blade closer. The voices delighted in the fear widening his eyes, urging her on. "Allow me to jog your memory."

With her free hand, she pulled the scarf from her hair, letting the silver strands fall free.

His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

"Didn't think you would ever see me again, did you?" She pressed the knife further and felt it break the skin.

"Sterling," Kai called behind her.

A wave of relief washed over the man's face. "Better run along, little girl. Your keeper is calling you," he taunted.

"Sterling, come on," Kai called again. He was getting closer.

"This isn't over," Sterling told him as he backed away from her.

Yes, yes, the voices in Sterling's head shrieked. We will have our revenge!

Yes, Sterling vowed, she would have her revenge.

"You can run," she whispered as she watched her kidnapper disappear into the crowd, "but I will find you. I will find you and make you pay."

----------------------------------------

Night had fallen over the city of Daralis as Sterling slipped from her rented room and down the stairs. Soon, the voices whispered excitedly to her. She held her breath until she reached the street where the warm summer air enveloped her in its embrace. There was no need for a cloak on a night like tonight.

Sterling had dressed in her darkest clothes, all the better to blend in with the shadows. The twin knives she and Kestrel had found in Baromund were carefully hidden away from prying eyes but easily accessible if the need arose.

She paused a moment to observe her surroundings. The foot traffic of the daytime had slowed as people retired to their homes and the less reputable crowd came out to play. A group of men leaned against the building a few feet away, blowing smoke clouds into the air. They eyed her with interest, but Sterling ignored them.

Eassst, the voices hissed. Sterling stepped away from the shelter of the inn, following the voices' command, and headed east. She didn't question how they knew where she needed to go as they guided her along the street, deeper into the city.

Here, they finally said when Sterling stood at the mouth of a dark alley. The air reeked of the sickly sweet stench of rotting garbage and other human refuse, but she didn't hesitate. If the voices said he was here, then he must be here. They had yet to lead her wrong.

Sure enough, Sterling found her quarry only a few steps away. He had pinned a barmaid against the grimy wall and didn't hear her approach.

"Hate to interrupt, but I believe we have some unfinished business," Sterling announced calmly.

The man turned to look at her, and the barmaid was quick to pull her skirts down and dart away back to the street.

"Why you little... who do you think you are?" He took a menacing step towards her, but she held her ground. She wasn't afraid of this man and never would be again.

Sterling grinned, slipping her knives from their hiding spots. A bit of moonlight glinted off of the blades, and the man stopped moving forward at the sight of them.

"What's wrong?" Sterling taunted. "Are you afraid of a little girl?" She stalked forward as he stepped back.

"I don't know what you want from me. Do you want the money? I can give you what’s left of it." He raised his hands in front of him as though trying to ward her off.

"The money?" she spat. "You think the money is going to fix what you did to me?"

"I-I didn't mean anything by it."

"Oh, you didn't mean to leave those bruises? You didn't mean to break my nose?"

The break may have healed, but it was still slightly crooked. Every time she looked at her reflection, she was reminded of what had been done to her.

His back hit the wall at the end of the alley. "Please," he begged. "Please, I will give you anything you want. Just tell me what you want, and it's yours."

Do it, the voices whispered. Demand it. Take it. Now.

"I want your life."