Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 169943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 850(@200wpm)___ 680(@250wpm)___ 566(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 850(@200wpm)___ 680(@250wpm)___ 566(@300wpm)
Maybe this is where I need to be after all. If we find something big, I can do my best to make sure it doesn’t fall into Barnabus’s hands. He must need additional firepower of some kind if he’s paying for more artifacts. He needs an edge over my father in some way and is counting on us to deliver it.
Okay. Okay. I can fix this. I can save the day still. I take a deep, shuddering breath.
“We’re not ready,” Gwenna states in a firm, reasonable voice. She sits behind me so I can’t see her expression, but I know she’s thinking the same thing I am—we can’t help Barnabus. We just can’t.
“It’s not like you’ll be going in alone,” Magpie retorts.
I glance up. “Hawk’s coming with us?”
She pauses. “A good idea, but no. He’s going to be needed for more retrieval missions, most likely. Just today, another team got stuck in the ruins of an old temple despite that area being off-limits. Idiots.”
Wait, he is? He mentioned the other Taurians had left the city due to the oncoming Conquest Moon. Why is he here with us if he’s heading out on an emergency mission? I shoot a look over to him but his face is impassive. “Isn’t that dangerous for him, too? The other Taurians are gone.”
“It’s not a dangerous area. They’re safe where they are. They just can’t get out.” Magpie shrugs.
“I’m training a retrieval team, too,” Hawk adds. “Since the guild is realizing it would help to have additional trained teams. Once they have their gear together, we’re meeting at the drop station and heading in. Hopefully it won’t take too long.” His expression is carefully blank, but I feel like he’s annoyed at being on call. I can’t say I blame him.
“Don’t you worry about Hawk,” Magpie says. “Just give his balls a good jiggle when he comes back.”
Hawk clears his throat.
My face heats. “Must you be so crude?”
“Only if I’m awake.” She smirks in my direction. “And we all know you’re giving his balls a jiggle, so it’s not like this is a secret.”
Kipp makes a hissing noise and I realize he’s laughing. I scowl over at him.
“So fucking pay attention in class,” Magpie says, leaning forward. “Because we’re going into the tunnels in a little over a week and you need all the information I can shove in your head.”
Over a week. It’s enough time to send a letter home. I need to warn Father somehow, to let him know that Barnabus is going to make a move against Honori Hold. But mucking hells, I don’t even know where Father is. Is he at court? At his mistress’s home by the sea? At our hold? Do I send out anonymous letters to all those places and hope I catch him? It feels foolish, but what choice do I have? Not warning him seems even more foolish. I have to tell him something. Perhaps I can hint that Father has a friend here in Vastwarren who is looking out for his interests. I don’t have to point out that it’s me. He wouldn’t recognize my handwriting anyhow.
I contemplate what I’m going to write through the rest of the lessons, lost in thought. It’s not like I need to know the shape of an urn that carries a particular spell, or what it means when a jar is found magically sealed (nothing good). I already know these things. I’m able to tune out Magpie and not feel too guilty. I’ve got bigger problems on my mind.
By the end of the day, I’m feeling relatively good about the message I’m going to send. I have the perfect, concise statement ready, and I’m mentally going through the rooms in the barracks that might have stationery I can purloin. Then it’s just a matter of getting it delivered. But when we arrive back at the dormitory, any thought I had of being in control goes out the window.
There’s a message waiting for me, the vellum envelope sealed with plain, unadorned wax. The others look at me curiously when I tuck it into my blouse and head to my room to read it in private. With trembling fingers, I open it and read the brief spatter of text.
Tomorrow night.
King’s Onion tavern.
Midnight.
It’s from Barnabus. Has to be. Somehow he’s figured out where I am.
And I have to go. I don’t have a choice.
* * *
It’s not until later that night that Hawk heads out with the retrieval team trainees, all of them wearing the black sashes of the repeaters. I wave goodbye from the doorway of the nest like a dutiful wife, but I’m glad he’s gone. With Hawk out, it’s going to be surprisingly easy to sneak away. I go to bed early the next night, pretending to be tired from a full day of sword work. Once I’m alone in the quarters I share with Hawk, I change out of my guild uniform into my darkest, most somber dress and cloak, slipping on my delicate boots. I don’t know why I’m bothering to try to pretend like I’m not in the guild. Plausible deniability, I suppose. Either way, it feels safer to show up as “Aspeth” instead of “Sparrow.” After giving Squeaker’s ears a good scratch, I open the door as quietly as possible…