Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
The undercurrent of grumbling and discontent was growing louder. Pop-up protests occurred nightly. As soon as darkness fell on the city, cars burned. Graffiti demanding “New Rosanthe Get Out!” seemed to appear magically on buildings, sidewalks, and cars.
Bellcairn was a bubbling cauldron of rage and fear. Any day now, it was going to boil over. They just needed it to wait for Chancellor Rati Feng. If things got too out of hand before he arrived, he’d cancel the visit, removing their shot at throwing New Rosanthe and the plotting of the Feng family into chaos.
“Okay. Okay. I’ll tell them.” Jules ended the call and leaned toward the front seats from where he was stuck sitting in the middle of the rear bench seat. “Today is the first day of the roadblocks and searches for anyone entering the city. The administration has blocked several roads and fixed it so that there are now only four entrances into Bellcairn. Furthermore, they are searching the cars and checking everyone’s papers.”
“Bullshit,” Tyche muttered.
“It was to be expected,” Shey countered. “They’ve created a situation in which the people are lashing out. Their choices are to back off and negotiate or crush their spirit until they have no voice.”
Adrian grunted. “True, and New Rosanthe has never been one to retreat if they can help it.” He sucked in a sharp breath and jerked the wheel of the SUV hard to the right while stomping on the gas. The vehicle lurched, the tires barking as they struggled to catch on the pavement. Several people gasped as he maneuvered the unwieldy car down what appeared to be a one-way street, and he was headed in the wrong direction.
“Wait! Where are you going?” Jules demanded. He grasped at both front seats, trying to pull himself forward, but Adrian’s frantic driving kept throwing him off-balance.
“Shortcut.”
“But how? Are you sure this is the right way? I thought you’d only been to Bellcairn that one time?”
“My Adrian has a perfect memory when it comes to maps and directions. He’s never lost.” Haru’s unwavering confidence made the tips of Adrian’s ears burn. Yes, he had a photographic memory with maps and finding his way, but that didn’t mean he never got lost. There were plenty of times he’d gotten turned around and confused. Usually because he had an overgrown lizard whispering in his ear.
Jules released the seats and dropped back with a dull thud. Adrian could see him adjust his glasses in the rearview mirror and shove a hand through his hair. The young man was a strange mix of practical and naïve. He was enthusiastic about helping his countrymen, but he was a thoughtful planner. He didn’t act on impulse and dive into a situation without a scheme.
Unlike several other people also seated in the vehicle.
After a few blocks of narrow streets, he spotted what he was searching for—a nearly empty shop parking lot with no one about. Perfect. He jerked the SUV into the lot and reversed into an empty spot with the rear of the car facing the brick face of the next building.
“Grab what you need. We’re not returning,” Shey ordered as he jumped out.
They each had a plain black backpack filled with a change of clothes, a bottle of water, and some dry rations. All the labels had been removed from their clothes. They’d left behind in Caspagir anything that could identify who they were. No cell phones. No IDs.
“Jules, do you know where we are and where you need to travel?” Adrian inquired as Haru handed him his bag.
The young man nodded. “Y-yes. It’s still a few miles off, but I know of a couple of routes we can take.”
“Good.” Adrian shouldered his bag and snagged the dragon’s arm. “Haru, I need you to get Jules and Ty to the safe house. Protect them but keep a low profile. Don’t get captured. If things get bad, just take them to Uris-Oladul.”
“What?” Haru gasped, and Tyche echoed it. “I am not leaving my Adrian. We can travel together.”
Shey shook his head. “Five is too big a group to travel together. We’ll attract attention. People will remember us. It’s better if we split up.”
“Plus, Shey and I have the most memorable faces,” Adrian added. He loosened his grip on Haru’s arm to slide his hand down to Haru’s, tangling their fingers together. A horrible queasiness had invaded his stomach, and a cold chill clung to his skin. Since he’d started this journey with Haru, the dragon had rarely been out of sight. The last time was when he’d flown off with those damn goddess powers in his belly. He’d sworn he’d not let Haru walk away from him again, but this course of action made the most sense if they were to succeed.
“I do not like this, my Adrian,” Haru pouted. “How can I keep you safe if you are not with me?”