Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 170: Sober Truth

**Tiana's POV**

I hesitated for just a moment before tucking the map into my cloak and walking away. I kept my pace steady and deliberate, neither too fast nor too slow, just as he had taught me. I blended in seamlessly with the crowd, and no one gave me more than a casual glance.

I walked with confidence, trying not to draw attention to myself. I had not learned how to move quietly or how to be invisible in a crowd but I had to try, or at least act like I knew what I was doing and not some pushover.

As I made my way through the streets, I kept my eyes scanning the crowds. I was looking for anyone who might be watching me, anyone who might be following. But I saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just people going about their daily business.

The stolen cloak helped but I still had the feeling of being an outsider and that anyone seeing me could easily tell that I was even though I knew it was not possible.

Once I was far enough from the border, I ducked into a hidden alleyway behind an old, abandoned bakery. I pulled out the map and carefully unfolded it. Even in the dim light, I could see that Shadowclaw had changed. Some roads were blocked off, others no longer existed, and there were new markers in places that hadn't been significant before.

One thing, however, remained the same—the town square.

If I was going to find information, that was my best bet. I refolded the map, tucking it back into my cloak. I had finally come to a conclusion on where to go. All I had to do was make sure I wasn't caught as there were still guards patrolling this place.

I kept my head down as I moved through the city, weaving between the crowd like I was just another person. Shadowclaw had changed. Even though I barely went out as Tiana to know what roads existed and didn't exist in my time here, I knew in an instant it was different from before.

How much time has passed that the changes were this drastic?

I had barely made it past the border, and already, trouble had found me.

A guard was watching me.

I felt it before I saw him. I could feel him staring daggers from his eyes on my back. Slowly, I turned my head, just enough to confirm my suspicion. He stood across the street, his helmet tucked under his arm, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Shit.

I didn’t hesitate. I slipped into the first shop I saw—a small stall with rolls of fabric stacked high, their colors muted with dust. The shopkeeper, an old woman with sharp eyes, glanced up as I entered.

I grabbed a folded cloth and pretended to examine it, trying to calm my racing heart.

The bell above the door jingled. Heavy boots stomped inside.

"Did someone just come in?" the guard asked in a rough voice.

I forced myself to breathe.

"Just me," I mumbled, keeping my tone casual. "Trying to find something for my sister."

The shopkeeper hesitated. My grip tightened around the cloth. She could turn me in with a single word but then again, why and what would she be turning me in for? She has no proof of anything criminal. I sniffed and took a deep breath, realizing I was becoming paranoid for no reason.

But she just sniffed and turned away, muttering about customers wasting her time.

The guard lingered for a moment before exhaling sharply and stepping out. I waited until his footsteps disappeared before slipping out of the shop, nodding a quick thanks to the old woman.

"You weren't looking for anything. You were evading him," she mumbled, shaking her head.

I smiled sheepishly and walked out.

After what felt like hours of carefully making my way through the city, I finally reached the town square.

It sat atop a sloping hill, overlooking the heart of Shadowclaw. The sight sent a jolt through me. I had a memory so vivid it nearly stole my breath.

Theo and I had ridden here once, just before dawn, when the streets were empty, and the world was still asleep. He had pulled me onto his horse, laughing as we galloped through the quiet roads, the wind biting against our skin. "This place is always best before the city wakes up," he had said, his voice soft, almost wistful. And I remembered him also wanting to take me when the city was busy so I knew how it was.

I swallowed hard, blinking back the sudden sting in my eyes.

A single tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. I wiped it away quickly.

Now is not the time for this.

I had a plan. I couldn’t afford to hesitate.

The palace was my goal. I needed to get inside, to find work, to get close to the people who knew the truth.

But first, I needed papers.

Real citizenship documents were out of the question. That left me with one option—the black market. I had to forge my citizenship.

I scanned the square, studying the flow of people. Soldiers patrolled the edges, merchants haggled with customers, and common folk rushed about their business.

If there was a black market, it wouldn’t be out in the open.

Think, Tiana.

Every city had its hidden places, its dark corners where the desperate went to make deals. I just had to find it.

I considered my options. I could eavesdrop on suspicious groups. Thieves and smugglers always spoke in code, but if I listened carefully, I might catch something useful.

It was that or I could follow the desperate and the outcasts. The poorest citizens often relied on underground dealings to survive. If I also seek out taverns or gambling dens. They were usually full of people who knew the city’s secrets—if I could get them talking.

I decided on the last option.

If there was one place where people let things slip, it was a tavern.

A drunken mouth always spoke sober truth.