The shadow recoiled back into Chubby like it had never existed. The alley brightened. The world resumed. Silence followed.
I closed my eyes slowly. "So," I murmured, "Archmage Virell sends thugs now."
Joff spat on the stones. "Coward."
Henry wiped blood from his knuckles. "Testing strength. Provoking retaliation."
"No," I corrected quietly. "Measuring response."
Above us—A raven perched on a broken beam. Black. Too black. Its eyes reflected light wrong. It hadn't moved once. I didn't notice it. None of us did.
*****
We didn't linger. We left the alley like nothing had happened, blending back into the merchant district's blinding excess.
Gold everywhere. Silver counters. Crystal awnings. Shops selling bread that smelled like honey and meat roasted in imported oils. Weapon stalls lined with enchanted steel priced so high even nobles hesitated. Bakeries with sugar-dusted windows and coffee houses buzzing with gossip and coin.
People stared. Then looked away.
