Free Oubliette (Cloud Prophet Trilogy) by Megg Jensen Page B

look at it directly. You can see it to the right, there are two men standing guard at the doorway. Just walk past as if it’s something you do every day.”
    I saw the small cottage ahead. Rough hewn boards and metal hinges studded the door and two palace guards flanked either side of it. They looked bored, as if they’d been given the worst assignment in the city. I didn’t blame them for feeling that way.
    After we’d passed by, I asked Alia, “Has there ever been a break-in? Why would they care so much if the place has been emptied?”
    “The Malborn were worried we Serenians would make it a place of pilgrimage. Some people probably would. It would cause unrest. No one wants that, so it stays guarded. Now that you’ve seen it, let’s go get some lunch. I’m getting hungry.”
    The corners of Alia’s mouth turned up and I nodded in agreement. My stomach had rumbled more than once already.
    “There’s a nice little pub around the corner,” Alia said. “It’s clean but not a pub the nobles frequent. No one will even notice you there.”
    The sign above the pub’s door featured a picture of a dancing swan.
    “The Dancing Swan?” I asked Alia.
    She laughed. “You got it!”
    We entered into the pub and filled it with light from the afternoon sun. Alia led me to a table and we sat down. I took a look around. It was only the second pub I’d ever been to, the first with Mark. The people here were different. The last pub was in a peasant town, but here there were few women, just a couple other slaves like us, and the serving girls. Other than that, I felt like we were surrounded by men downing mead.
    “Well, look who’s here,” a voice said behind me. “I think you’re right, Mark. It is our favorite slave.”
    I whipped around to find myself face to face with Ace. He’d scooted his chair over from the table behind us, trapping me in my chair. I couldn’t get up if I wanted to. I saw Mark behind him, on the other side of their table, a scowl on his face.
    Ace’s hair, as long as many women’s but straight as a pile of tinder sticks, hung over his face like a veil. His murderous eyes taunted me, but I refused to drop my gaze.
    “You look a little different, sweetheart, but I’d recognize those eyes anywhere,” Ace said, winking at me.
    I turned around, hoping if I ignored him he’d go away. What were they doing in town anyway? They were supposed to be camped at the base of the mountains. Mark had said he needed to get back to his men yesterday, but here he was again.
    “Leave her alone, Ace,” Mark warned.
    “Who are these guys?” Alia whispered.
    “No one,” I said through clenched teeth.
    “No one?” Ace asked. Obviously he hadn’t taken the hint. “I saved your skinny little butt just two weeks ago and now I’m no one? Not very grateful, are we?”
    “I didn’t ask for, or want, your kind of help,” I said, not bothering to turn around.
    “Leave her alone.” I heard a scuffle behind me and Alia gasped, her eyes wide. A chair screeched across the floor in front of our table and Ace followed not far behind. I felt Mark’s hand on my shoulder. Ace lay on the floor, tangled with the chair, holding his cheek with his right hand.
    “That was uncalled for, Mark,” he said, a grin spreading across his face.
    “I told you to leave her alone.”
    Ace pulled himself up as the bartender ran over.
    “Is there a problem here?” he demanded, eyeing Ace and Mark.
    “No,” I said, staring at Ace. “Not anymore. It’s been taken care of.”
    He looked at us all suspiciously. “Maybe you’re all done here?” he asked.
    I sighed and nodded my head. “We’ll leave. I’m really sorry we disrupted things.”
    Ace picked up the chair, placing it back at the table behind me. Mark offered me his arm, but I refused and stood up, grabbing Alia’s arm.
    “Let’s go.”
    “We’re coming with you,” Mark said.
    “No, you’re not,” I replied, tugging on Alia for her to follow me. Her