I had to widen my steps to keep up with his ground-eating strides. Not once did we run into anyone as we made our way through a long tunnel lit by lanterns on the walls. Without them, the tunnel would be pitch black and difficult to navigate, even with my newly enhanced Zhamvy vision. The musty smell of the damp walls caused me to wrinkle my nose. I paused. “Little cat?” Luka said, halting to study me. “Don’t you think it’s odd that we haven’t passed anyone since we’d left the balcony? Where is everyone?” I asked. “The market, probably. And Parliament has started. There’s not that many of us around. And many of the servants are busy preparing for the Festival.” I hated the dismissive way he spoke. “Then where are you taking me?” “Barinkoff.” “What?” My brows rose in shock. “But I’m not supposed to go there.”
