Six

The ride to the Rafina Pack was relatively smooth with surprisingly good weather the entire way. Caspian had made sure to run easy for me riding on top with nothing to grab but handfuls of fur that frequently slipped out between my fingers.

            Caspian and Jax easily disguised themselves as guards, and I dressed myself to look like a noble as best I could, hoping most wouldn’t recognize me here. I had to have looked different to some if you considered the condition I was in the last time I was in the Rafina Pack. Most couldn’t tell what my gender was despite my long hair, my face was always so dirty and my body so skinny, you couldn’t tell.

            I may not have put on any weight since then, but with the proper bath I was given, the hairstyle the maids gave me and my clothes, I looked like an actual person.

            “Where did the Elf say that gambling den was?” Caspian asked Jax.

            “He said it was in the marketplace, hidden in plain sight.”

            “That must mean the building is disguised as something else,” he muttered.

            “So, we just look for the buildings that look like the odd ones out, or ones with not a lot of people going in or out,” I said. “I suppose that’s where I come in, I frequented the marketplace every day to get food and supplies, I know it like the back of my hand.”

            I already had some ideas about where this gambling den might have been, but I didn’t want to lead Caspian and Jax all over the market without being sure. We pretended to stroll and window shop along the cobblestone, but secretly tried to peer into stores and see if there was anything amiss with any of them.

            “What about that place there?” Jax pointed to a vacant building that had a ‘for lease’ sign on the side.

            “That place is empty,” Caspian said.

            “Which makes it the perfect place to hideout, let’s check and see.” I started walking toward the building before the other two could act, Caspian lightly calling out from behind me.

            He grabbed my arm and pulled me to his side. “You shouldn’t be running around here.”

            “This was the place I called home for 18 years and I always did everything on my own around here, there was never any real danger.”

            “That was before,” he said. “You’re with me now, and I don’t want to see you leave my side unless I say so.”

            I nodded and followed along with him, feeling a little touched by his words.

            “This place is empty, and the front door is boarded up, it doesn’t look like anyone has been here for some time,” Jax said.

            “Sevika?” Someone called out, causing all of use to freeze on the spot.

            I turned and spotted a familiar red head. “Collinsworth?”

            “It is you! Wow, I barely recognized you, you look like a different person almost.”

            “What are you doing here?” I asked.

            “I could ask you the same thing, I heard you were sold off to the Alpha King. When I heard that, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. What are you doing back here?”

            I looked around me and saw too many people standing by who could overhear. I gestured for everyone to follow me and ducked into a small alley. Caspian stopped me and held me back.

            “What are you doing? Can we trust this guy?” he asked.

            “Absolutely, he was a good friend to me when I lived here. He works in the market with his father, and they often gave me extra rations to stash away when I was younger. He might actually know something about the gambling den.”

            Caspian frowned but let me go.

             “Uh, Sevika, who are these guys?” Collinsworth asked and looked warily at the towering Jax.

            “They’re bodyguards, don’t worry about them. I need your help, Collins, there is a place we’re trying to find. A gambling den, have you heard of it?”

            His eyes widened and he looked nervous.

            “You do know something, don’t you?” I asked.

            “I’ll get in a lot of trouble if I’m caught. You know how Alpha Emery feels about gambling.”

            “So, Magnus really doesn’t know anything about this?”

            Collins shook his head. “Only us commoners know about it, it’s our only way to keep up with the ridiculous property and goods taxes.”

            “That isn’t all that is there, is it? What do you know about the auction house?” Jax asked.

            “How do you guys know about that?”

            “That doesn’t matter, answer the question.”

            Collins gulped audibly. “Alright, fine. But first you have to tell me why you’re here. I’m risking a lot doing this, I want to at least know what I’m risking my life for.”

            That was fair of him to ask, but before I could answer him, Caspian ripped off his mask and approached Collins. “I demand that you tell us what you know.”

            Collins instantly replied. “The auction house is beneath the gambling den; it only opens at night.”  

            “You will bring us there tonight.”

            He nodded, then snapped out of it. “Who are you guys?”

            “Thanks, Collins. We’ll meet you back here tonight,” I cut him off and grabbed Caspian’s hand to drag them away. “You didn’t have to go that far; you almost gave yourself away.”

            “He was acting dodgy and was taking too long.”

            I frowned. “Still, what should we do now?”

            “I’m pretty hungry. Is there anywhere to get food around here?” Jax asked.

            At the mention of food, I froze a little. The last place I would feel comfortable eating was anywhere here.  

            I felt Caspian look at me but didn’t meet his eye, I wouldn’t become a burden on this trip.

            “There is a small place that serves great meat kebobs just up there and to the right,” I said. It is a place I have always wanted to try, but never had the time or money to get anything there. But now the very idea of meat is repulsive for me, it was Magnus’s favourite dish to stuff full of silkweed, a poisonous flower that causes you to puke blood as it tears away at the lining of the stomach.

            “Sounds good, we can wait it out there until dark,” Jax said and started walking ahead.

            Caspien held me back. “Tell me if you’re uncomfortable, you don’t need to go this far.”

            “I appreciate it, but I’m alright with this. As long as I can be useful.”

            He sighed. “Sevika,” he started to say.

            “Hey guys, check this out! They have wild boar here!” Jax called out and cut him off.

            “He stands out a little too much,” I joked and rushed over before he gave himself away. I wasn’t able to notice how Caspian had hung back for a second before he joined us.

            We sat in the small restaurant shack and Jax stuffed stick after stick of meat into his mouth, as if it was his last meal. I wasn’t comfortable with ordering anything and opted for a cup of Paeonia Tea, a sweet and floral tasting drink with added milk and honey for a creamy after taste. The Paeonia flower is also a strong repellent against most stomach sicknesses and is hard to poison without giving off an odd smell.

            None the less, Caspian still picked up the cup when it arrived and took a sip before I had the chance to, then placed it down in front of me. Jax had taken notice of this and secretly eyed the exchange from the corner.

            “Did you not order anything?” Caspian asked me and I shook my head.

            He took several pieces of vegetables and chicken off of his kebob and placed them on a plate for me. “I’ve already tried everything, it’s safe.”

            Jax suddenly started to cough up his food and turned away to cover his flushed face.

            Caspian narrowed his eyes at him, and he cleared his throat, continuing to shove food in his mouth and avoided eye contact, but seemed to be in disbelief of what he was seeing of his King.