Page 151 of Loreblood

“Worth coming all this way here to get that, I take it?” Ant asked.

I lowered the paper. “It’s true?”

“Can’t know for sure, Seph. That’s up to you to find out.”

I read the lines a third time.

“What is it?” Jinneth asked.

I was at a loss for words.

Even though the crumpled, stained letter was merely a few lines . . . they were lines that changedeverything.

Chapter 47

As the day waned, I felt I needed more time away from Skartovius Ashfen to get my mind right. And since Garroway was an extension of his master, I wanted to stay away from him as well.

Thus, I contrived to find the third member of our merry, ramshackle band, the one I had seen the least of. If I was going to go all-in on “the cause” then I needed some clarity. So far, Skar had only filled me with confusion and horror.Aligning myself with such a monster . . . it can’t be right. He is surely the villain here, and if I associate with him, does that not make me the villain as well?

Before leaving the Firehold, I had promised Antones I would be in contact and would connect with him soon. Jinneth and I made a somber stroll through the mess hall and said our goodbyes to old acquaintances—friendships forged through the fires of battle and survival.

Rirth made me promise not to forget about them under the Floorboards. Culiar made a crude comment about my womanhood. Imis wrote me a naughty poem I could use “in times of need,” with Palacia as the subject, the interfolk girl blushing and shaking her head in exasperation when Imis handed it to me.

Antones told me and Jinneth, “Remember, sisters, just because we no longer toil under the shackles of Lukain Pierken doesn’t mean we are free.”

It was an ominous admission. I said I’d keep his words close to me. Jinneth told him to lighten up, yeah?

We went north without any obstacles, avoiding the gate, rushing the stairs to the ramparts at an empty part of the wall, and gingerly climbing over to find our carriage.

Two hours later, we rolled past the fringes of Olhav. The sun was an orange fireball low in the sky, quickly sinking beneath the western horizon past the mountain.

Night would soon rise, and with it the vampires would too. I didn’t want to be on the road when that happened.

We rounded the fringes of Olhav with Jin leading the horses. Once we reached a good in-point, we cut toward the Military Ward and I dropped Jinneth off near the base of the Chained Sisters.

As she hopped off the bench, she furrowed her brow. “Not coming in to gather your bald-headed mate?”

I shook my head. “Tell Garroway I’m safe and not to worry. I’ll return soon.”

She tilted her head, studying me curiously. “Should I tell him where you’re going? Wanna tellmewhere you’re going, yeah?”

I sighed. “You can tell him I’ve gone to meet with the surly demolitionist.”

Using the carriage to get to the North Mines cut my travel time in half. The sun had fallen completely by the time I arrived on the other side of the Olhavian Peaks, down the slanted, gravelly road that the horses snorted and huffed their way through.

I wasn’t a learned coachman and the steeds let me know their distaste with my riding style, tossing their manes with unruly flourishes.

“I know, I know,” I muttered. “I’m sorry. Not much further now.”

The mines came into view as I rounded a section of cliff. The sounds and smells hit me first: the pinging of pickaxes, the pouring of smelted metals, and the choking smoke of the excavation site.

I parked the carriage and steeds before reaching the mines, roping them to a fat boulder, and walked in on foot. I gave small nods to the interfolk workers, who kept their heads bowed. A few stared at me in open astonishment, evidently shocked to find a human freewoman walking among the site. It filled me with shame and guilt.

The beautiful, lithe vampiress named Cordea trudged toward me out of a tent as I made my way through. She had a scowl on her face. “You’re making a scene,my lady. This is not the place to be babysat.”

“I’m seeking no such thing, Madame Cordea.”

She frowned, arms crossing over her small chest. “I am no madame. Call me Cordea.”