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A dark figure stood silhouetted in one of the windows, its shape illuminated by the light within.

A servant? Impossible. Shaped like a human, it appeared as a shadow, pressed against the glass.

No clothing. No flesh. Nothing but a shadow, a black translucent mass, like a whisp of smoke made into human form.

Nerys gasped and tripped backward. When she regained her footing, she looked back at the glass again.

The figure was gone.

What the…? 36

Panicked, Nerys called her giftless stone eyes, though they weren’t going to reveal anything. If only she could see like the Sight Bearers, for once.

“Are you alright?” Idris asked.

“Yes.” She was. Her magic-less sight revealed a normal window, with nothing strange inside. A shadow from one of the servants. It must’ve been. She was more tired than she thought.

“What is it?” he asked. “What did you see?”

“No-nothing.” Nerys shook her head and sent the stone eyes away. “I haven’t slept in two nights, and it’s starting to affect me.”

“Of course.” Idris looked at her with something resembling concern.

Vaguely. Her heart raced again and she quickly broke eye contact.

Yes, she must be tired, otherwise she wouldn’t be thinking of Idris’s attention.

There was no attention that someone like him would have for her.

“I’ll bring you to the parlor,” Idris said.

“There should be a guest room ready. Or one will be ready shortly.” With that, Idris led her inside.

Oh sweet, sweet food. Sweet promise of a bed.

One that wouldn’t have spiders or centipedes.

“Do you want something to eat?” Idris asked as they walked up the stone steps.

“Always.”

Idris let out a short laugh. “Alright. I’ll tell a servant to bring something.

” Once they reached the house’s imposing door, with a knocker in the shape of a face caught in a permanent scream, he stopped and faced her.

“When you wake tomorrow, come find me. This house isn’t that big.

But take your time—while Fina’s right, we have months at most, you’re no good to us in this state. ” This state?

Then again, exhausted, starving, and filthy were indeed a “state.”

Yes, she would rest.

When Nerys awoke the next morning, she was clean, still full from the late dinner she inhaled the night before, and rested.

In short, it took a moment for Nerys to realize that she hadn’t died.

Her feet still ached, her face was scabbed from her weeks in the woods, but waking on a feather mattress was a step in the right direction.

Oh, she couldn’t stay here for long—but she’d gorge herself and frolic on feathers in the meantime.

Frolic, that is, until she found Idris, as he had asked.

She put off her voyage through the “lodge” as long as she could, eating a breakfast of oat porridge, honey and pecan-crusted ham, and apple slices, all while inspecting her temporary domain.

A vanity with a mirror . A writing desk.

Glass windows. A porcelain basin. Brocade bedcovers.

A personal fireplace, carved with elaborate filigree designs.

A padded headboard—whatever would one use that for?

But soon every inch of the room was inspected and she had nothing else to do, and boredom crept in.

Idris she had accepted as a necessity, but Fina…Fina was the human equivalent of wilted lettuce. Why did Fina dislike her so much? Nerys couldn’t claim to know them well—or at all—though she was sure there was something deep down that explained Fina. Very deep down .

Dressed in a stranger’s gown—made of simple, but finely-woven dark green wool with a square neckline—Nerys made her way down the lodge’s narrow hall.

Their host had a dour taste in décor, as the hall and stairs were laden with portraits of grim-eyed men and lace-ensconced children.

37 No matter that she didn’t know her way around the house, she followed the arguing voices emanating from the story below like a wolf attracted to a dying rabbit.

On the lower level she found Idris and Fina, who were sitting at a table sipping tea, their posture reminiscent of posed corpses.

Fina wore a dress made of black muslin that was far too flattering.

Her dress’s skirts were like Nerys’s—fuller than what peasant women wore, but nothing compared to the wide skirts that were apparently popular at court.

As for Idris, there was no mistaking him as a poor soldier, though he was dressed in simple breeches and long sleeve white shirt more befitting a farm laborer.

Most farm laborers did not wear shirts of fine linen, or breeches made of soft woven black wool that hugged their—no, this was not the time to stare at Idris.

He was extorting her, and she couldn’t forget that.

Granted he had probably saved her life, but he essentially absconded with her and forced her to do his bidding. No, he was not worth staring at at all…

“You’re awake. Finally,” Fina said with a huff.

“I haven’t slept a full night in weeks,” Nerys said, approaching the table. “So yes, I slept.” She should’ve slept longer.

Idris gave a polite smile and motioned to one of the empty chairs at the table. “Why don’t we—”

“What were you doing with the army?” Fina asked, placing her elbows on the table. “Don’t look at him. Tell me.” Nerys peeled her eyes away from Idris.

“Fina,” Idris said, setting down his tea, “we’ve been over this.”

“You have. We haven’t. Go on.” Fina motioned at the same chair indicated by Idris.

Nerys took the seat, tucking her skirts around her.

What should she tell them? Then again, what was she trying to hide?

In a halting voice, she told them the truth.

Her family’s death, her escape, everything.

After she summarized what had happened to Raven’s Crest and her family, she said, “There was a…soldier, who was supposed to marry me and take us away before any attack. That didn’t happen. ”

“Sweet story,” Fina said, leaning back in the chair. “That doesn’t explain why you were with the army.”

Nerys narrowed her eyes. “I was going to kill him.”

The two women stared at each other, until Idris burst out laughing, a reaction neither woman joined.

“If you had seen her, Fina, you would’ve had no reason to doubt it.

You couldn’t have asked for a less effective spy.

Walking around at night, alone, staring at everything like a child at a parade” ?Nerys turned her glare to him? “she was almost discovered.” 38

“ Almost ,” Fina said, giving Idris a look Nerys couldn’t read.

“Besides, listen to her—peasant to her core. I don’t think the best actors in Cerdoran could fake that accent.”

Nerys bit her lip to keep from saying something she’d regret. Worse, Fina nodded, like Idris had a point.

“My turn,” Nerys said, drawing the siblings’ attention. “Why were you in the camp? You weren’t waiting for imperiled women to run into your path.”

“No,” Idris admitted, “there are other, better places to do that. Brothels, for one. Taverns…anywhere but an army camp.”

“Brother—”

“No, it’s alright, Fina.” Idris turned to Nerys.

“By being here with us, she’s just as culpable.

Abnar won’t care if she later changes her mind.

” Nerys let his subtle threat settle. He was right—no matter what happened, her fate was tied to theirs.

Ca’mail’s R?ll wasn’t known for his mercy, and if she tried to expose Idris and Fina as Cerdorani spies, it was far too likely she’d be hung too for good measure.

Worse, they’d probably think she helped them, and who knew what Idris and Fina would say?

Which meant that she needed to get away as soon as possible—from everyone.

“Tell me,” Nerys said, “if you want me to help you.”

Idris picked up an empty goblet that was on the table and rolled the base around on its edge. “I was searching for information and…confusing certain plans.”

“Spying, you mean.” Nerys tried to keep the skepticism from her face. There was likely no point in asking what “confusing certain plans” meant. “I thought you needed a Ca’mailian because we can see through your illusion—you can’t hide your eyes. So why were you with the army?”

Idris nodded. “True enough. While the army has some Sight Bearers, they are easily avoided. They’re better dressed, and not soldiers.

” Idris rested the goblet upright and leaned back in his chair.

“Besides, if one or two of them noticed me, they’d just see another soldier, minding his own business as long as I was careful.

Not like at court, where everyone knows your name and asks questions. ”

“I see.” Nerys did see. And let herself imagine that she was going to go through with their plan—she couldn’t afford for them to get suspicious that she’d run away.

Worse, she saw for the first time the work it would take for her to go to court.

If she went as she was, the Sight Bearers wouldn’t be needed to see through her—she’d give that away all on her own.

Yes, it was better to leave the Cerdorani spies while she could.

And she needed this chance to learn more.

“Because I’ll be risking my life, as you put it,” Nerys said, “what’s your plan for getting me close to the R?ll? Stick me in a silk gown and leave me at the palace doors?”

Fina smirked. “Not the worst idea.”

“No.” Idris gave Fina an annoyed glance. “There’s a lady, one with access to the court. The owner of this home. She offered to bring a suitable girl to court as her ward. One who will, through her, be able to blend with the other nobles—with everything that entails.”

“And the court isn’t going to wonder where this ‘ward’ came from?”