The long ride allowed me to collect my thoughts. The city was still in the distance. I had time.
My thoughts ran back to Talia. What had made her so special? How had our connection made us so powerful?
Whatever it had been, I needed to do the same with the boy.
And I needed to figure it out quickly before we had to face Thorne. And that looked to be happening sooner rather than later.
The boy sat in the front with the merchant, and they seemed to be talking about different types of grains and their rarities.
That sounded like something I wouldn't be interested in, so I chose to tune them out. I didn't like thinking about food anyways. I didn't need to consume anything in order to gain energy. I just produced it naturally.
The sun was beginning its downward descent through the sky now, and the city was growing larger in front of us.
"Lord Thorne does so much for our city. He has single handedly changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," the merchant was saying. "I've never known of a more charitable man."
The boy looked as if he was going to use me to cut the merchant's head off.
Thankfully, Aris interrupted, the pitch of her voice higher than normal. "He really is. Lord Thorne is our city's savior. Surely he will be able to conjure up an idea to support the people affected by the attacks last night."
The merchant nodded. "So, you two were there? Do you know who attacked us? What they wanted?"
"We were there," Aris said. "We saw them but were able to escape. I'm not sure who they were but I suspect they were sent here by someone very powerful. It was almost like they were searching for something."
I laughed. "I wonder what it could be?"
Aris continued lying through her teeth to the merchant. "Anyways, I hope Lord Thorne will be able to help us rebuild from the attack. After all, he has the power and wealth to do so."
"He will," the merchant said confidently. "He always comes through for the good of the people."
I groaned. This was why Thorne was still in power. The people supported him blindly. None of them knew how to read between the lines and figure out the truth.
I could feel the density of Aether shifting in the air. The energy of thousands of souls coming together. Gathering.
We were just outside of the main entrance now. Tall pillars stood with flapping banners, and a metal gate in between.
When the boy and I had first entered Pralis, I had not seen this level of security. We'd simply snuck in.
I suppose this was on purpose. Thorne wanted to find us sneaking in before the rally ever started.
"We should get out here. Sneak around the other side," I told the boy as the cart came to a stop.
He nodded in agreement. "Sir, I think we will be taking our leave here. We've caused you enough trouble for the day."
The merchant nodded. "No trouble. It's been my pleasure!"
"Enjoy the rally!" Aris said enthusiastically. "We'll be watching as well."
"You have my thanks," the merchant said. "Always nice to meet fellow citizens."
The boy hopped out of the wagon and looped around in front of the horses, who were huffing heavily from exertion.
Aris got out of the other side, and the three of us started west, away from the front gates.
She led the way at an easy pace, not rushing, not drawing attention. The western side of the city was much less crowded, but still not empty.
Vendors were already setting up makeshift stalls, hoping to catch people before or after the rally. The smell of bread and roasted nuts drifted through the air, mixing unpleasantly with sweat and rot.
I kept my awareness stretched thin, feeling for familiar signatures and strong Aether.
Nothing close.
That bothered me more than if I'd sensed danger.
The boy adjusted his grip on my hilt as we walked. He was focused. I guess his training that morning hadn't been wasted. His Aether wasn't flaring wildly anymore. It moved when he moved, like it was finally learning to listen.
"Where are we going?" he asked quietly.
"Somewhere high," Aris replied without turning. "Somewhere we can see without being seen."
We cut down a side street, then another. Then we turned down an alleyway between two massive buildings. Some of the largest I'd seen in my life, and that was saying something.
The sounds of cheers and chants grew louder as we got closer to the place where a stage was being set up.
Chanting. I listened to them. They were screaming one word. Over and over.
Thorne. Thorne. Thorne.
I felt a flare of Aether, above the other thousands of weak signals. It was him.
Thorne was close.
Aris stopped beneath the shadow of a 15 meter tall building. The door leading inside was open, and it seemed relatively empty.
"We go to the roof. Then we watch and listen."
"Watch and listen," the boy repeated.
He's lying, I realized. The boy had something stupid planned. Something that was going to get him killed.
I was sure of it.
He was going to go after Thorne here, right now. That was why he'd wanted to come back to the city so soon.
If he did try something, I was going to need to find a way to stop him. And quick.