Page 144 of To Touch A Silent Fury

Foxlin grinned. “Wainstrill’s a cad.”

His smile was infectious, and I returned it for a flash, before the thought of Seth wiped that away. With one last look at my sleeping Hanin, I tapped Foxlin’s arm and opened my door. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Do not go to that tower, Vorska.”

“Goodbye, Foxlin,” I said, stepping lightly to the gardens.

“Impossible woman,” he said under his breath.

I ignored him as I crossed towards the stairs. My mind reeled as I descended down to the kitchens. I hadn’t worn my beads again, and it was intentional. If the Wragg thought to rescind his proposal because I was not proper, that would be a fine victory. Plus, I wanted as little attention as possible, with no questions on my illness or my nuptials. The beads declared me as a single woman of the Sightlands. Without them, I was more likely to blend in as a Tastelands server. If I was to escape from the castle alone, being recognised could be the difference between life and death.

I found Kallie scolding a boy as he kneaded some dough. Her own face had decidedly less flour across it than his. I approached her, paying attention to no one else, and dropped into a curtsy.

“It’s you, then,” she said, as I straightened.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She rolled her eyes and grabbed my arm. “Come with me, girl.”

I kept my head low as Kallie pulled me by my forearm through to the pantry, and then down the stairs to the wine cellar. Dusty bottles filled the shelves, and a puddle of spilled ale sat below a slow-dripping tapped keg.

Kallie dropped my hand and skirted around two huge barrels to one of the shelves. She pushed the wood, and it swung open, a dank corridor behind it, completely unlit. “Back from the days when this were a smuggler’s port.”

“That’s a way out?”

She nodded and appraised me from head to toe. “Tonight, you’re to come down here with the white-haired one. There’ll be a boat docked in the cave below. Row out through the city, to the right of the Crook’s Spire, and then onto wherever youse need to go.”

“It’ll be just me.”

Kallie blinked, then nodded. “All’s the same, though you might struggle with the oars.”

Something about that cracked something inside me. “I’ll manage, ma’am. Thank you.”

“Right you are,” she said, eyeing me with uncertainty before slapping one of the kegs. “I’ll leave a bag on top of this here barrel. Mind you don't forget it, or you’ll starve before Verdusk.”

I swallowed. “Thank you, again.”

She patted my shoulder awkwardly. “That Wragg’s a right bastard. If it keeps ye from him, that’s all I need.” Once more, she grabbed my arm and pulled me along like I was nothing more than an unruly child. “Now, I’ll get you and yer little one some food for now.”

I ate a bowl of stew at Kallie’s request, and she watched me eat every bite, as if she wasn’t sure I was being fed.

Hanindred woke up.Loud man here. Food?

Man is friend. Food soon, I said back as I swallowed down another scalding chunk of well-seasoned rabbit.

I heard his belly rumble.Friend food good.

I rolled my eyes as I ate, wondering what Foxlin had found to feed him with. He had a wyvern of his own, and he was close to Lang, so I was fairly confident he wouldn’t give him anything too foul.

Sleepy… food,he murmured. I felt our connection wane as Hanindred fell asleep once more. He had slept nearly all day, so I was surprised he was so tired, and yet it could only be a good thing for him to be well-rested before our journey.

Once I was finished, Kallie gave me the meat for him. Then she patted my shoulder again and sent me on my way.

At the main hall, I paused on the stairs.

I looked across its thoroughfare, seeing all of the castle’s invisible work taking place under my nose. Chambermaids carried fresh linens across from one staircase to a service corridor andmessengers dashed by as two lute players strode towards the southern exit. Through the rushing feet, a tight spiral staircase led up to what I assumed must be the eastern tower through an arched portcullis. I looked down at my bowl of raw meat, and then felt the dragontooth at my back. Afternoon light filtered shadows long across the castle’s marble floors.

I shook my head and ascended the main staircase, pushing down the urge to see Seth and check he was alright. He was the nephew of the king, his advisor. His tower cell was probably no different from my own rooms, and to run to him now, only an hour after his arrest, was plain stupid.