Up ahead, Elina was conversing with her guard, their voices too low to catch.
But she glanced back frequently, and each time her golden eyes lingered on the prisoners with growing suspicion.
These men are too calm, she thought.
The old one has military bearing, and the younger one... he acts like this is entertainment.
Then she faced ahead again, mind racing.
Could they be spies? Testing our defenses? Mother needs to know immediately.
Then she looked back again, her gaze locked with Alaric's across the distance.
He was watching her with that same infuriating smirk, like this was all some grand joke only he understood.
Is he mocking me?
Though behind her, Alaric caught the guard's eye again and mouthed silently, without turning fully to make it seem like normal conversation.
"How long to the garrison?"
The guard held up three fingers. Three streets.
Alaric nodded.
"I do appreciate the guided tour of the city." He said loud enough for others to hear.
