Reign of Darkness (The Prince's Assassin #2) - Ariana Nash Page 0,33
the larger those huts became, until red mud houses lined the roads and Seran was upon them. The city spread for miles into the distance, abruptly meeting a vast swathe of glittering green ocean.
Exotic spices scented Seran’s hot, humid air. Colored banners flapped from first-floor windows, zigzagging up the street above their heads. Traders at their stalls shouted their wares in a language Niko had never heard before. Yasir chatted back to them, the words smooth and rolling, then described the street to Niko as one of several main streets that led to the central hub of the city.
Noise and color and smells and laughter.
After their isolation, Seran was an explosion to the senses that left Niko stunned.
Yasir meandered his wagon alongside others overloaded with cargo of all kinds. Niko plodded his horse behind, keeping an eye on Adamo while Vasili rode him confidently through the crowds. The prince naturally had the big horse under control, but the crowds were thick, and one loud noise might spook the beast, and why did Niko even care?
This newfound worry for the prince was… unexpected. Vasili’s withdrawn behavior after the attack was probably rooted in his previous capture. They hadn’t spoken about the beast, just picked up and moved on as though nothing had happened. They hadn’t spoken much since the attack.
At least when Vasili was snarling at Niko, he knew him to be well.
Yasir led them to a meeting place called the Whispering Pearl taverna, a drinking place with tables outside in a courtyard, alongside the bustling street. The swinging sign above the door depicted a massive clam with a blue pearl inside. Niko had never seen a clam before, but he’d seen Mah’s pearls when she’d returned late from the lord’s manor and set them aside in a velvet-lined box then hidden them beneath a floorboard. He fended off thoughts of why a lord might have given her pearls, or why she’d needed to hide them.
Yasir booked rooms at the taverna, then left to deliver his wagon. After checking the rooms, Vasili had promptly vanished among the crowd, saying he’d seen a clothes trader on the street. Niko worried every second he was gone. Which was ridiculous and unnecessary. Vasili was capable of looking after himself.
After washing the grime from every crack in his skin, Niko ventured into the taverna’s courtyard and took a table by the street, where he could watch the people flow back and forth and watch for Vasili. Maybe he should have gone with him. But he’d been so quick to leave, Niko had been left on the back foot. Again.
People laughed and frolicked in the street. The drinking from the taverna had spilled outside. Even after the sun set, hot air still clung to the tightly packed streets. Strange, constant lighting placed high on poles buzzed to life at dusk, chasing off the dark and lighting up the streets as though it were almost daylight again. It was all noisy and colorful and close, and nothing like Loreen. It would take some getting used to.
Yasir slid into the chair opposite Niko. He’d rid himself of the traveler look and wore a gown of colored and layered silks that reminded Niko of Lady Maria’s beautiful clothes. He’d also shaved off his beard, leaving a narrow goatee that enhanced his charming face, adding more roguish charm. His crooked smile completed the picture of a wily trader. He instantly looked as though he absolutely belonged.
“By the three gods, I must get you out of those old Loreen clothes.” He grinned and raised his hand to summon a server who dutifully poured them both wine.
“Seran is busier than I expected.”
Yasir picked up his wine, his movements as smooth and confident as they had been when they’d first met. “This?” He gestured at the packed street and its river of people. “This is nothing. You’ll have to see the commerce quarter but watch your pockets. Thieves are rife.” He downed half the wine at once and waved the server over again. “Leave the bottle and another glass. We’re expecting a third.” The server obliged. When he’d left, Yasir asked, “Where is Varian?”
They were back to fake names, which was a relief in such a busy place where anyone might overhear them.
“Purchasing clothes, apparently,” Niko grumbled.
Yasir raised a dark eyebrow. “Well, he won’t find much Loreen leather here. It’s too hot and getting hotter. Summer in a few weeks.” Yasir nattered some more about summer festivals, and Niko let him drone on