Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7)

by Sarah J. Maas

The female held up a delicate hand. “I only wish to talk. In private.” She gestured farther down the alley, to a doorstop covered with a metal awning. To shield them from any eyes—those on the ground and above. Elide followed her, a hand sliding to the knife in her pocket. The female led the way, no weapons to be seen, her gait unhurried. But when they halted in the shadows beneath the awning, the female held up a hand once more. Golden flame danced between her fingers. Elide recoiled, and the fire vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “My name is Essar,” the female said softly. “I am a friend—of your friends, I believe.” Elide said nothing. “Cairn is a monster,” Essar said, taking a step closer. “Stay far from him.” “I need to find him.” “You played the part of his mistreated lover well enough. You have to know something about him. What he does.” “If you know where he is, please tell me.” She wasn’t above begging. Essar ran an eye over Elide. Then she said, “He was in this city until yesterday. Then he went out to the eastern camp.” She pointed with a thumb over a shoulder. “He’s there now.” “How do you know?” “Because he’s not terrorizing the patrons of every fine establishment in this town, glutting himself on the coin Maeve gave him when he took the blood oath.”