I turn to punch him, but before I could, he grabbed hold of me and lifted me off my feet. A clatter of hooves and shouts split the air. Mal yanked me to the side of the road just as a huge black coach roared past. "Fuck you! Watch where you're going!" I yell at the whip-wielding driver who was scattering people before it as they ran to avoid the pounding hooves of four black horses. Beside the driver perched two soldiers in charcoal coats.
Saints. The Darkling. There was no mistaking his black coach or the charcoal coats of his guard.
Another coach, this one lacquered red, rumbled past us at a more leisurely pace.
I look up at Mal, "Thanks," I whisper. Mal suddenly seemed to realize that he had his arms around me. He let go and hastily stepped back. I brush the dust from my coat.
A third coach rolled by, lacquered in blue, and a girl leaned out of the window. She had curling black hair and wore a hat of silver fox. She scanned the watching crowd and, predictably, her eyes lingered on Mal.
Her lips curled into a small smile as she held Mal's gaze, watching him over her shoulder until the coach was out of sight. Mal goggled dumbly after her, his mouth slightly open.
"Close your mouth before something flies in," I snapped.
Mal blinked looking dazed.
"Did you see that?" a voice bellowed. I turned to see Mikhael loping towards us, wearing an almost comical expression of awe. Mikhael was a huge redhead with a wide face and an even wider neck. Behind him, Dubrov, reedy and dark, hurried to catch up. They were both trackers in Mal's unit and never far from his side.
"Of course, I saw it," Mal said, his dopey expression evaporating into a cocky grin. I rolled my eyes.
"She looked right at you!" shouted Mikhael, clapping Mal on the back.
Mal gave a casual shrug, but his smile widened. "So she did," he said smugly.
Dubrov shifted nervously. "They say Grisha girls can put spells on you."
I snorted. Yeah right. As if. Anyway, if any Grisha could put a love spell on someone it would be a Heartrender making your brain send out certain chemicals.
Mikhael looked at me as if he hadn't realized I was there. "Hey, Alina," he said and gave me a little jab on the arm. He turned back to Mal. "You know she'll be staying at camp," he said with a leer.
"I hear the Grisha's tent is as big as a cathedral," added Dubrov.
"Lots of nice shadowy nooks," said Mikhael, and waggled his brows.
Mal whooped. Without sparing me a glance, the three of them strode off, shouting and shoving one another.
"Great seeing you guys," I mutter to myself. I readjust my satchel slung across my shoulder and started back down the hill, joining the last few stragglers down the hill.