Kassian pulled the reins of his horse as the crowd in front of him became too thick to go through without hurting anyone. Word must have spread to every corner of the capital by now, and those who weren’t there last night or escaped unscathed all seemed to be gathered around Ruby Street. The central roads were busier than ever, but there was no shouting, no laughter, or joviality—just dark, angry faces that grew sterner the closer he got to the scene of tragedy.
“We go on foot,” he announced, and his men quickly dismounted. He handed the reins of his horse to one of them, then started pushing his way through. Several people turned, ready to complain, but when they saw the royal crest on his chest, they quickly decided against it.
He would have come directly to Ruby Street if it were up t
