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fixed steadily on me as if I would evaporate if he removed them . Instead of seeing jealousy or anger, I saw fear and sorrow. This boy, whom I didn ’ t even know, had irked me in the worst possible way. The things he ’ d said…no one had been so courageous to say half the things he did. This bothered me in a way I couldn ’ t identify and intrigued me all the same. Who was he?
    Glancing around the room and looking into the faces of the people I couldn ’ t bear to disappoint, I sighed and internally laughe d at the joke that was my life. “ I ’ d be delighted. ”
     

 
     
     
     
     
    F O U R
    Ayden
     
    SHADOW HILLS, OLD HAVEN
     
    M y feet pounded in the sludge as I stormed through the gates, dirt flying up around me and covering my pants. My fists clenched and unclenched in an anger so insatiable it threatened to consume me. Although I knew I had to work off my Father ’ s debt, I couldn ’ t stand the thought of being in t hat wretched place. Seeing the P rincess smile and laugh about pointless things while the whole of Old Haven starved to death made me want to take a torch to the place.
    “ Name, ” stated the guard.
    “ Ayden Grey, ” I replied, staring down at the space between my feet. “ I work for the King and I was just returning home for the evening. ”
    I co uld feel the guard ’ s eyes on me, se arching for signs of dishonesty . T hankfully , he finally signaled to the others to open the doors. The huge wooden gates slid open and I passed through the border before he could read the tension in my eyes. Thank the gods they ’ d grown accustomed to seeing me every morning that they didn ’ t bother with checking me anymore. If it weren ’ t for that, I ’ d surely be dead.
    I strolled casually through the grounds, making for the furthest end of the forest, and stopped behind a willowed tree. My eyes scanned the perimeter, checking for anyone who might have followed and hidden in the underbrush. Seeing no one, I dug into my pocket and retrieved the small leather sack. I smiled to myself and untied the strings. The golden coins spilled into my palm like food for a beggar. The old wench had scolded me for stealing the bread, but while she had her back turned, I ’ d snuck into the Princess ’ room and grabbed three coins from her dresser. Three coins weren ’ t much for them, so I figured they wouldn ’ t miss it much. But to me—the less fortunate—this meant the world.
    I folded the coins back into the sack and returned them to the safety of my pocket. Slowly emerging back onto the paths, I headed for home.
    Shadow Hills was surprisingly quiet for six in the evening. Usually little boys and girls would be here and about, playing in the mud and getting themselves in trouble. Nightingales would be off in the skies, sending their mating calls through the air and causing Mr. Jenkins the lack of sleep he so desperately needed. Townspeople would be scurrying down the avenues to finish unfinished jobs and pay unpaid debt s. Shadow Hills was a busy city despite our lack of resources due to the King ’ s selfishness. Now, though, the empty lots of the sandy streets made Old Haven seem uncanny and barren .
    “ Ayden, hey! Wait up! ” called a voice from behind me, an d I fought the urge to walk faster.
    The young boy from across the street—whose family came all the ways from Prylyn just to work for the King—strode in beside me, face sweaty from working in the butcher shop all day. We ’ d quickly become friends, but there were moments the very sight of him drove me nuts. “ Adamo, ” I said without looking at him, “ shouldn ’ t you be home? I ’ m sure your mother is worried sick. ”
    From the corner of my eye I saw him shrug. “ She ’ ll get over it. Where you off to? ”
    “ Nowhere. ”
    “ Well, you have to be going somewhere, ” he said with a laugh. “ Oh, and by the way, I saw Feven the other day. You said you were looking for her? ”
    I im mediately stopped in