Chapter 35: Hemal's Pass, Part 4

Binhadi thanked him, then gestured at Mahzan, nodding toward the boy. Mahzan obediently flipped the boy a coin, and they continued on their way. They garnered suspicious looks from guards, curious, openly gawking looks from the lamplighters and few other persons still out.

The people of Three Circles had treated them much the same. Shadow mages were simply not a common sight outside the Heart—and even within the Heart, there were not many. They were the stuff of whispers, of dark and tragic tales; the ability to manipulate shadows had always been held in awe. Wonder what it would do to your august presence if they knew you are merely snippy and bossy and given to brooding, rather than some fierce and terrible manipulator of darkness.

Snippy? Binhadi repeated, silent voice carrying an ominous tone.