Page 55

Garroway and I were both exhausted by the time we reached the tucked-away abode of the Chained Sisters in the Military Ward.

The same young dhampir from before, Tecca, greeted us at the door. She bowed and stepped aside then hurried outside as we went in, so she could take our carriage and hide it off the road.

It was deep in the night, the sky beginning to turn pale gray.

It wouldn’t be long before dawn broke. In a house half-filled with vampiric women, it was busy as ever.

Voices filtered in from the rooms on the first floor as we stumbled through the hall leading to the large main room at the back.

There, Iron Sister Keffa spoke with four girls around a table, in the middle of a lesson.

Garro and I glanced at each other and stood in the archway, not wanting to interrupt. Keffa eyed us and inclined her chin to greet us. We made ourselves small and took an empty table near the fat naked lady painting, sighing and stretching as we sat.

Keffa closed the book she worked on with the younglings and patted one of them on the head before joining us. With her hands clasped together in the cuffs of her robe, she looked strikingly like a vowager.

This woman was no mute, however. A slight expression of concern scrunched her brow as she took us in. “You two look traumatized.”

Garro leaned back in his chair, cupping his hands behind his head to try on a lax pose, flashing an unsteady smile. It wasn’t fooling anyone. “Is this not the place for wayward youths to come seeking advice, Iron Sister?”

Keffa rolled her eyes and took a seat. “You may look a babe, Garroway Kuffich, but we both know you’re anything but a youth.”

He chuckled and sat forward. “Fair enough. Sephania wanted to come here.”

“And you?” she asked, keeping her eyes on the dhampir.

Garroway glanced at a window and the pale light starting to show. “I was hoping to use a bed, honestly.”

Flapping a hand at him, she said, “There are a few vacant rooms upstairs. Take one. Don’t disturb anyone.”

Garro saluted and stood, then put a hand on my shoulder. “Make sure she stays safe and doesn’t do anything stupid?”

A small smile etched wrinkles on Keffa’s well-worn face. She tucked graying hair behind her ears. “The former, I can do. The latter? No guarantees.”

Garroway let out another laugh.

“I’ll be fine, Garro. I reckon I’m not the most rambunctious youth in the dwelling.”

My eyes met Keffa’s and she nodded, her smile widening. “Surely not.”

Garroway accepted that and nodded, meandering off toward the staircase. “Wake me if anything happens. If nothing happens . . . wake me when night falls, little honey badger.”

The stairs creaked as he made his way up. A few minutes later, two of the four girls at the other table also retired for the evening. The remaining two fell into gossiping whispers—the tone of chatty girls on the cusp of womanhood.

I was a bit unnerved by Keffa Caerynd’s scrupulous gaze. She seemed honest and genuine but her eyes betrayed a hint of mischief and knowledge that made me imagine she’d been a daredevil in her younger years.

“If you were hoping to see Sister Jinneth, Lady Lock, she’s already asleep.” Her voice was calm.

“I’d just as soon talk to you, if it’s all the same.” When her eyes slightly narrowed and she stayed quiet, sitting back in her chair, I continued. “I’d like to learn more about myself.”

“Wouldn’t we all, sister.”

Snorting, I rubbed my forehead. “My Loreblood.”

“I know.”

“What can you tell me about it?”

“What do you already know?” she pressed. Her mischievous eyes took on a curious glint as she leaned forward, folding her hands on the tabletop.

“I know it’s begun to sever Garroway’s connection with his master, and he’s started to dream again and have strange instances of staring out the eyes of animals.”

“Beast-charming,” Keffa said.

“I also know once Skartovius Ashfen tasted my blood for the first time tonight, he immediately turned into a lunatic torturer.”

“Your blood didn’t do that, child. Lord Ashfen has always been a lunatic torturer.”

I clenched my jaw and rubbed the back of my neck. “I suppose I don’t know him well enough—”

“You’d be a fool for thinking you did.”

“I’m worried about what I saw.”

“It sounds drastic, Sephania.”

My fingers drummed on the table as I sought a means of escaping the subject of Skartovius. That wasn’t why I had come here, and Keffa knew it. “What can you tell me about the Relic, Iron Sister?”

“Only where to find it. In the few tomes I have, the only one mentioning it speaks of the Relic in conjunction with the Loreblood. A tool, or puzzle, or treasure map, for all I know. You could call it a gut instinct I have, that it will enlighten you about your blood.”

Her words swirled around in my head. They vexed me. I didn’t snap because Keffa was not to blame—she was only trying to help, far as I could tell. “You think it will be worth the effort to steal?” I asked pointedly.

“I do. If only to further our cause.”

“Yes. The cause. I’ve heard so much about it and so little at the same time.

” I leaned forward conspiratorially, checking over my shoulders to make sure the two lingering girls were still caught up in their talk and not eavesdropping.

“I know Skar wants to bring down the Five Ministries, ostensibly because he thinks he can run the operation better.”

“No one has ever claimed Skartovius Ashfen was humble or lacked confidence.”

“What is your place in all this? The Chained Sisters.” My hand spread out, gesturing vaguely.

“You house humans and dhampir alike. All women. I know an almshouse when I see one, because I grew up in one. But I can’t quite grasp why you’re helping the vampires I’ve associated with—or any vampires, since you’re a human yourself. ”

Her head tilted with a strange expression. If I wasn’t mistaken, it looked like one of pride, like she was pleased I was asking these questions. “You’re a human and you’re helping vampires too, Lady Lock.” Her eyebrows bobbed. “What’s your excuse?”

“I haven’t made a decision about who I’m helping or what I’m doing. I’ve run from one lamentable situation to another, all my life. This is the first prison where I’ve felt any sort of freedom. It makes me curious, I’ll admit.”

“So you’re saying you have no choice?”

“Well, according to Skartovius I do . . .”

As I trailed off, she smiled. It annoyed me because Keffa Caernyd seemed three steps ahead of me, smarter than me, and I didn’t like being outwitted.

With a sigh, she made her point. “The sisters of this house were like you. So was I. They have limited options and fewer choices. You should consider your situation a blessing, Lady Lock—gallivanting through Olhav atop a carriage, from one end of the city to the other—but that would require some humility.”

My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. “Erm, I apologize if I offended, Sister . . .”

“I do not offend easily, child. Let me ask you: Do you believe things are quaint and fine in Nuhav, where we both hail from?”

“Of course not. It’s a cesspool.”

“And we both know the vampires of Olhav made it that way, through centuries of tyranny, abuse, and neglect.” She put a hand to her chest, against her robe. “I was taken as broodstock as a youngling. You know what that is, yes?”

I bowed my head, feeling shameful my questions were making Keffa relive her past.

“Luckily, I could not bear the offspring of vampires.”

Like Jinneth.

“My uselessness to my overlord saved me from a life of servitude and misery,” she added. “Once my master was killed through his carelessness, my bond severed and I began to see things as they truly are—as, I suspect, you are starting to see them.”

“The vampires must be quelled for any change to happen.”

“Indeed. But not all the vampires. That would be impossible.” She chuckled humorlessly.

“The most I could do, I realized, was enlist in an organization already on their back foot, trying to earn their keep in this hellhole. Thus, I came to the Chained Sisters. I proved useful because of my nurturing spirit. I am a teacher at heart, and everyone is lacking knowledge here.”

“There is no knowledge center in Olhav, by design, Skar told me.”

She nodded. “The fact Skartovius Ashfen has told you so much in such a short time bodes well for you, Lady Lock. It means he is taking this seriously. Finally.”

“You think I should go along to get along, you’re saying?”

Her head shook firmly and she tossed her arms out at the decrepit abode.

“I think you need to find your own purpose, as I’ve found mine here.

” When her arms disappeared into the folds of her robe, she winced as if she’d misspoken.

“However, the uniqueness of your blood essentially means your decision was made for you before you were conscious. I can’t tell you where the Loreblood came from or why you have it, child.

But I know the overlords and overladies of the Five Ministries will not rest until they have access to it. ”

I mulled that over, a practical thought coming to me with a furrowed brow. “If everyone knows so little about the Loreblood, how do they know about it? I know Spymistress Mortis has figured out I have it, but how does the Five Ministries know of its power?”

“The lack of knowledge in Olhav and Nuhav does not extend to the highest rungs of the ladder, Lady Lock. Where do you think all the books and scrolls went?”

My lips pursed. “To the ministers.”

“Precisely. That is why I believe if you recover the Relic, you will at least begin to put yourself on even footing with our adversaries.” She shrugged. “You might even find your place in this mad, mad world.”

She smiled then. After our intense back-and-forth, it made me smile too.

I let out a heavy sigh. Silence drifted between us, companionably. “I appreciate you speaking and being frank with me, Iron Sister.”

She inclined her chin. “You are not foolhardy for asking these questions. I would be too, if I were in your boots. But you need rest. You’ll be able to think clearer about your next moves once your mind is sharp again.”

I smiled and stood, knocking my fist lightly on the table. “May I stay here as my escort has?”

“Of course. You can join him . . . if you can keep it down. There are also empty rooms to use.”

I began toward the stairs, chuckling to myself. “Thank you, Iron Sister Keffa. I think I’ve had enough vampires for one night—both fullblood and half-blood varieties. I’ll find an empty room and keep to myself.”

When I opened my eyes, Jinneth stared down curiously at me.

I blinked. “Jin. Keffa said you were asleep.”

“I was asleep, yeah? It’s morning, Sephy.”

She stepped aside so I could see past her, where blaring light crept around the edges of the blackened curtain over a nearby window.

“Oh. Shit.” I scratched my cheek and sat up. “I was out hard.”

She giggled. “Fine morning outside.” Her brow bobbed roguishly, a smirk coming to her lips. “You won’t find something like this in Nuhav, most the house being asleep for the day. Most of Olhav entirely.”

I matched her smirk and swung my legs around the bed. She had a knack for energizing me with her mischievous nature, always searching for a scheme or plan. “Missing home, friend?”

“I am curious how the Grimsons and Grimdaughters are doing, yeah? Ain’t you?”

“Sure am. I told you I’d relay what I learned next time I saw them.”

“Maybe we go together? Kill all the birds with a stone.”

I laughed and stood. Jinneth hushed me with a finger over her lips so I wouldn’t wake anyone. I grimaced, apologizing, and then made an offer to make up for my loudness. “I have the carriage here.”

“Then let’s be quick about it, yeah? Kef will burn my bum if she finds out I went into public alone.”

I grinned. “You won’t be alone, Jin.”

She matched my grin.

We hurried down the stairs like schoolchildren, padding along as quietly as we could. When we went outside, I took in a deep breath of crisp mountain air. We headed toward a covered shed where the carriage and horses waited.

“Truehearts fuck me, Jin. I think this is just what we need—get out of the cycle of damnation here and see people again.”

“Got that right, Sephy. Just like old times, yeah?”

Except unlike the old times of our childhood, we weren’t stealing coins from destitute pockets. By running out in public unprotected, we were jeopardizing everything my vampire trio and Jinneth’s Chained Sisters had been working toward.

I scoffed at the notion once I vaulted for the carriage bench, slapping the seat for Jinneth to get on. Who am I kidding? I thought. We aren’t frail girls or “unprotected” weaklings. We’re fighters.

We have me , dammit.