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‘Are you familiar with a troll named Yeith?’
I raise a brow at him. ‘Familiar? I know a troll named Yeith, if that’s what you mean. He’s a final-year student at the academy.’
‘I’m told you two had an argument the other night in the professors’ common room.’
I don’t look away. ‘I’m not sure I’d call it an argument, Captain. Yeith took a liberty with my person, and I warned him off. He left just after, and I continued with my work until eleventh chime.’ I glance over my shoulder and gesture with my head at Kallum. ‘Your guard here behind me can attest to that. He was there.’
Pikerd looks past me, and I assume Kallum nods.
‘She’s telling the truth, sir,’ Kallum says. ‘I was there for my evening meal with some friends.’
‘What’s this about?’ I ask. ‘Is Yeith all right?’
‘He’s dead. His body was found under a bridge at the city’s edge.’
I scowl at the captain and straighten in the chair, pushing back my shoulders and leveling him with a sharp, unwavering stare. I need the suspicion in his eyes gone.
‘Under a bridge?’ I sneer in unconcealed indignation. ‘A bridge troll? Is this a fucking joke?!’
His eyes widen at my outrage, and I wonder if I’ve gone too far, but then he looks chagrined.
‘N-no, of course not. But you’re right, of course. A troll found under a bridge could be a racially motivated attack.’
He’s looking deep in thought and no longer at me. ‘You may go,’ he mutters, waving me out.
‘Thank you,’ I say and leave with my head held high.
Outside, I breathe a sigh of relief, but it’s short-lived. I should have expected the Guard to come asking me questions, but I thought I’d have a bit more time.
I’m rattled.
The vote on whether or not the Gate will be reopened is going to happen in less than a week, and I have no doubt that the reason I was told to get those names is so that Grey, Kallum, and Dane can influence it. I know they want out of the city as much as I do.
Finally, something is going my way.
I know I should wait a few days and bide my time until they’ve left before I do the same, but what if they decide to betray me? I’m a loose end, after all. Worse, what if they decide that I can be more useful to them? Yeith’s death was bad enough, but more? The thought makes my breath quicken, and my heart leaps in my chest like it’s trying to break free. The yard spins around me as I walk back across the wooden boards to the kitchen, and I push the thoughts away, looking down as tears come to my eyes and my stomach twists.
I can’t wait for them to make me hurt someone or worse. I can’t!
I make a quick decision. At noon break, I’m going to get my weekly wages from the housekeeper and leave. I can lay low in the city for a few days, even if it’s in a stinking shack by the river’s edge or, I inwardly chuckle, under a bridge.
* * *
Where does she think she’s going?
I’m almost amused as I watch her leave her pathetic little room with a small bag over her shoulder. She makes for the main gate, but I don’t rush to catch her. Kal said he thought she’d try to run after she was questioned by Pikerd, and it looks like he was right. He and Grey are waiting to stop her as she goes under the perpetually raised iron portcullis that was used to secure the academy at night long ago.
I see the moment she’s quickly and quietly dragged into the gatehouse, and I glance around to make sure no one else has noticed. But the guards are on their rounds, and I paid the other one to take a walk. Other than that, the students are all in lessons, so the courtyard is deserted.
I get to the wide stone arch and open the wooden door that leads into the small room where the guards usually play cards and while away their time.
She’s standing with her back to me, and I stay behind her.
‘Thinking of leaving, Thalia?’ I hiss.
She turns and quickly puts her back to the wall so that she can keep all of us in her line of vision.
Smart.
