Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,32

and through the gates. As I hurried along, I glanced back at the house and saw some of the Guard still organizing themselves at the stables. Afraid to be spotted, I took off at a run, no longer caring which of the neighbors saw.

As the wind rushed into my face, tearing my eyes, my skirts billowing a hindrance around my legs, I grinned and pushed harder. It was wonderful, so freeing.

Skidding to a stop at the end of the Factory District, I peered over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t being followed. I couldn’t see anyone. I smoothed my skirts and straightened my cloak and walked sedately toward the city. There were still a few hours until nightfall, plenty of time to have a look around.

Quite suddenly, I found myself in the hubbub of the city, lots of people rushing around as if they had somewhere important to be. In fact, as I stared around at the rather drab appearance of the city, with its towering industrial factories in the distance and the squat little shops, I realized how different it was to Peza.

Or so I thought.

Like stepping into an oil painting, I walked through an arched alleyway and was lambasted by color as I entered the market square. Everywhere were people and stalls in a multitude of hues where quiet sellers stood patiently offering help and information. Never before had I seen such serious, hushed sellers. I walked around the stalls, my eyes widening now and then. Their products were beautiful, no matter if they were mass-produced.

I stopped, drawn to a stall with beaded jewelry. The jewelry I owned was of the finest precious metals and stones. But I trailed my fingers over a bracelet made with pleated leather; three beautifully painted beads in emerald, aquamarine, and rose decorated the end near the clasp. A little silver bird hung between the beads.

I saw my mother taking a bracelet from my hands as a child, pressing a soft kiss to my head and telling me it wasn’t to be played with, but when I was older, it would be mine. It had been a leather rope bracelet, no beads, but a little bird had hung from its center.

“How much?” I asked, a little dazed, holding up the bracelet.

The seller smiled. “Five coppers, miss.”

Five coppers? That was all? Haydyn would like one, too, I was sure. “I’ll take two.”

She smiled pleasantly as I handed over the money. She then wrapped the bracelets separately in tissue paper before popping them into a little paper bag for me. I thanked her and walked away, bemused by my impulse buy. I wasn’t really much of a shopper.

I wandered for a while among the glitter and awe of the splendid market and then eyed a confectionary store in indecision. Finally, at the little growl in my stomach, I shrugged and went inside to buy a cream cake. Once outside, I stood away from the crowds by the corner of the shop where it met a narrow alley between buildings. There I ate my cake in peace.

Although the cake was good, I couldn’t help feeling a little unsatisfied. It was nowhere near as good as Cook’s, I grimaced. I wondered if Valena was eating all my cakes as well as hers. Smiling wryly at the thought, I wiped at a smudge of cream on my lip and readied myself to return to the Zansts’. I was lucky to have gotten away for this long. And I just knew I was in for a severe lecture from Wolfe.

Just as I made to take a step forward, I heard a scuffle behind me. My pulse skittered.

A grimy, sweaty hand clamped down on my mouth and my feet left the ground as I was dragged back into the darkness of the alley. I tried to scream against the hand but all that came out was a muffled whine. I beat at the head behind me, trying to wriggle free from the strong arm around my waist.

“Stop it, or I’ll break your neck,” a gruff voice spoke in my ear, and I trembled as decaying breath hit my nostrils. I stilled, feeling the strength in his hold.

“Do it,” someone else said.

How many were there? I turned to look just as a musty hood came down over my face, drowning me in darkness. Panicked, I thrashed and beat out at my attackers. More hands clamped down on me and muffled grunts and curses lit the air as they tried to