**AYYY guys this book made it to 1k reads!! I'm so grateful and happy that Kings and Thieves was able to reach this milestone, and in only one month!! Thank you and love you all**

Chapter 9

"Perhaps we shouldn't be bringing them into the Tarrah with us," Lyla said tentatively as they plodded along, trying not to look too suspicious with their two captives in tow. "If they wanted the invitation, then we're taking them exactly where they want to go."

"Who says we're taking them to the Tarrah?" Ari shifted his grasp on the girl in front of him. "We could be dragging them out to a quiet area to be shot."
Aveline didn't bother to contradict him, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she thought of what to do next.

The Tarrah was located off of the main strip and down a quiet pathway. Aveline decided that if they were looking for a discreet location for the high-profile inn, then this was it; their path was dark and unlit, the only sounds being their footsteps and Ari's occasional complaining.

Aveline considered the girl, who kept trying to hit Ari even though her hands were tied. Then she trained her attention on Eli, tugging at his shirt. He was obviously wealthy, judging from the materials in his clothing and the soft, unruffled planes of his skin.

"What were you two doing?" She lowered her voice in a way she hoped sounded menacing and jabbed her dagger harder onto his back.

"Ouch!" He jumped, idly rubbing his side with one hand. "Look, I don't know her," he protested. "She just wanted me to help her steal that blonde girl's invitation into the Tarrah."

"Mm-hmm, and why did you want her invitation?"

"I don't," He corrected, straightening his jacket. "I already have one."

Aveline went rigid, nearly dropping her dagger. "What business do you have there?"

Eli turned his head until his eyes met hers. "Now, that's not really any of your concern, is it?"

Aveline bared her teeth. She glanced over at Ari.

"Let us go," the new girl was saying, pulling against his unrelenting grip.

He maintained his usual tone of boredom. "And why would we do that?"
"Because I want the same thing you do." The other girl paused. "To find the lost royals."

Aveline froze. Eli hissed. A brief pause collected in the air as this statement sunk in.

Ari yanked the girl around to face him and put his hand on his pistol. His voice lowered as he tightened his hold on her arm. "How do you know about that?"

She looked straight at him, tossing a piece of hair out of her eyes. "If you get me into the Tarrah, I'll help you find them."

"What makes you think we need your help?" He snarled.

She stood her ground. "I suppose you'll have to let me in and see."

Aveline tilted her head, thinking. "Would you give us a moment?" She inquired, more tactfully than perhaps deemed necessary under the circumstances. She fastened her small, brisk fingers around Ari and Lyla's wrists and pulled them a safe distance away, keeping her eyes carefully fastened on Eli and the girl.

"Well, this is a new development."

"I thought know one else knew about the missing royals." Ari's brows knitted together and he looked at Lyla.

She shook her head. "I didn't think anyone did. Obviously we can't trust them. They could be the ones that took Tristran!" She had a point, and Aveline lifted her eyebrows, surprised that Lyla was even voicing her opinion.

Aveline glanced at Eli, who had tripped over his own shoes and was currently struggling to get back to his feet. "Somehow I doubt that," she hazarded dryly. "Besides, that Eli boy already has an invitation. The girl, perhaps?"

"He has an invitation?" Ari ran his hand over his jaw. "Why?"

Aveline kicked at the ground with her boot, thinking. "Perhaps he's here for the same reason we are."

Ari hesitated before responding. "I don't want to bring them along either," he began, "but if they did kidnap Tristran, and the others, then we can't just let them go. If we take them with us, we can keep an eye on them."

"Or we'll be giving them exactly what they want," countered Aveline, crossing her arms.

Ari shrugged. "If they do anything stupid, we'll kill them."

Lyla looked down at her feet, and Aveline elbowed him, hard.

He exhaled loudly. "Maim them, I meant."

Aveline pursed her lips, though she still wasn't quite sure about the arrangement. "Fine."

"Alright listen, you idiots," Ari announced, spinning back around to face their new best friends. "We've made the elect decision not to kill you immediately. You can come with us, but if you get in our way..." He trailed off. "Well, don't."

Eli breathed an audible sigh of relief. The girl said nothing, her expression impassive and oddly impossible to read. Ari narrowed his eyes at her.

"What's your name?" He barked.

She sneered. "Why should I tell you?"

Aveline wondered if the other girl had any sense of self-preservation. It may have been kind of funny, when she thought about it. She always considered it a bit entertaining when someone stood up to Ari.
He stared at the brunette as if she was singularly incompetent. "I don't see why you shouldn't."

There was a brief silence, and then the girl lifted her chin.

"Jamie," she spat, finally. "My name is Jamie."

Ari immediately opened his mouth, probably to mock her, but Aveline clutched his sleeve. "Look."

Before them lay the Tarrah itself; famous for its eminent guests and beautiful architecture

It pierced into the sky like an arrow constructed of marble, translucent stones inlaid into the sharp, pointed roof. It rose taller than Aveline expected, bearing a grand presence that didn't seem to match the carefree manner of the rest of the island. Velvet drapes framed the windows, decorative ivy crawled up the sides, and two serious-faced guards stood dutifully positioned on either sides of the imposing brown door.

Aveline watched as they waved two guests into the building, each wearing luxurious fabrics. The man's overcoat boasted sparkles of gold thread, and the woman's skirts swathed her in endless bunches of lavender silk. Aveline considered her own torn skirt and too-big boots that she had stolen from Ari and felt her cheeks flush.

"Beautiful," Lyla breathed, and Aveline found herself nodding.

Eli shoved past them, then, interrupting her trance as he pushed himself to the front.
"I'll see you around," he murmured to Aveline, smirking and purposely brushing his hand against hers as he passed.
Aveline opened her mouth to tell him what to inscribe on his gravestone if he ever touched her again, but he was already striding confidently up to one of the guards.

Aveline's eyebrows raised, and she swung her gaze to Ari who wore the same skeptical expression.

Puffing his chest out self-importantly, Eli presented an invitation with a grand flourish, and in a moment he had somehow slithered his way inside. He grinned smugly at them as the doors closed behind him.

"What an ass," Ari remarked. Aveline silently agreed.

"Well, princess," she suddenly pivoted around to face Lyla. "Would you care to escort us in?"

Lyla gulped. "Me?"

Ari gave her a gentle push. "You know how snotty rich people act. Go ahead, lead the way."

"Um... okay." Aveline watched as Lyla uncertainly trotted up to the inn guards. Her little fists clenched in the skirts at her sides.

"Ari," She snapped- suddenly and imperiously, in a voice Aveline that had never heard from her before. She wordlessly held out her hand for the invitations.

Ari, who looked a bit miffed to be addressed in such a tone, wisely kept his mouth shut and stepped forward to give her his and Aveline's envelope.

Lyla displayed both invitations with a flourish, like she was covertly revealing a hand of cards. Scowling, one of the guards snatched at the parchment and scanned the printed words. Then he lifted his head and glanced pointedly at Jamie.

"She's with us," said Lyla, delicately covering her mouth as she yawned. And Aveline couldn't believe it, but in a moment the guards had opened the doors.

They entered a large lobby, adorned with wooden ceilings and expensive divans perched neatly upon Persian carpets. People in expensive dresses and tailcoats delicately sipped tea and chatted with one another.

Aveline tried not to feel impressed; she wondered how many workers had slaved over the perfectly polished floorboards that these wealthies scornfully wiped their shoes on.

"Thanks," Jamie mumbled from behind them and scurried off before anyone else could say anything. Her too-long pants dragged slightly along the gleaming floors as she left— no one bothered to stop her.

"'We'll keep an eye on them.' Right. We lost both of them in two minutes," Aveline pointed out as she watched the strange girl hurry away.

"We'll see them again," Ari assured her. "We're in the same building. They won't try anything. I think we have other things to worry about."

Aveline observed Lyla beside her, whose false confidence had seemed to deflate as she uneasily folded her hands onto one another.

"You're a good actress," Aveline said, offering her a reassuring smile.

"Thanks," Lyla exhaled shakily. "This place is so familiar. I keep expecting my mother to turn the corner and shout at me for slouching too much."
Ari rolled his eyes. Aveline giggled.

People had begun to stare; Aveline caught a bespectacled man in a suit scathingly looking her up and down. She flashed her teeth at him, her lips curling upwards, and the gentleman quickly looked away.

A woman wearing a fitted black gown hurried up to them then, not seeming to notice their shabby clothes and dirty cheeks as she bestowed upon them a gracious curtsy.

"Good afternoon. Welcome to the Tarrah. Would you three like a room?"

Aveline, Ari, and Lyla looked at each other.

Ari chewed on his bottom lip. "Well, actually-"

"That would be lovely," Aveline interjected, smiling politely. "We'll take it."

** ;) as always, if you liked feel free to vote!
Also idk if y'all noticed but I update at midnight on Tuesday nights. So, technically on Wednesdays :) just FYI **