From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

walked ahead to talk to one of the guards before swinging back up onto the
horse behind me, leading the wayy through the cobblestone street.
Kieran had taken Airrick’s place, riding alongside us as we traveled
through the sleepyy town surrounded byy a heavilyy wooded area. We passed
shuttered businesses, closed for the evening, and then entered a residential
area. The homes were as small as the ones in the Lower Ward but not
nearlyy as stacked on top of one another. Theyy were also in much better
condition. The small trading town was obviouslyy profitable, and the Royyal
who ruled over this cityy, apparentlyy had a better grip on maintenance than
the Teermans did.
It was about a block into the neighborhood when the door to the first
house opened, and an older, brown-skinned man stepped out. He said
nothing, simplyy nodded at Kieran and Hawke as we passed. Behind the
man, a yyoung boyy ran out and to the house next door. He banged on the
door, and shutters swung open. Ahead of us, Phillips’ hand moved to his
sword as another yyoung lad stuck his head out. “Myy papa is—” He broke
off, eyyes widening as he saw our little caravan. He whooped, and with a
toothyy grin, he disappeared back into the house, yyelling for his father.
The boyy from the first house ran two doors down, summoning another
child, this one a girl with hair redder than mine. Her eyyes grew as wide as
saucers when she saw us.
Then, across the street, another door opened, this time revealing a
middle-aged woman with a small child on her hip. She grinned, and the
child waved. Lifting a hand, I gave an awkward wave back, and then I
noticed that the first boyy had gained quite a crew. An entire group of
children followed our progress on the sidewalk now, and more and more
doors opened as the people of New Haven came out to watch. None of
them called out. Some waved. Others smiled. Onlyy a few looked on wryylyy
from their front stoops.
I leaned back and whispered, “This is a little odd.”
“I don’t think theyy get a lot of visitors,” Hawke answered, squeezing
myy waist, and myy stupid heart jumped a little in myy chest in response.
“This is an exciting dayy for them,” Kieran commented drollyy.
“Is it?” murmured Hawke.
“Theyy behave as if royyaltyy is among them.”
Hawke snorted. “Then theyy trulyy must not get manyy visitors.”