Roa’s mind whirred, remembering the night in the sand sea, inside Theo’s tent. He said the Skyweaver’s knife was in transit from Darmoor. That a baron in Firgaard bought it for his private collection.
And then Asha’s letter mentioned a shipment from the same city—Darmoor. What were the chances that shipment was the same one Theo mentioned? What were the chances the Skyweaver’s knife was in the possession of Rebekah’s father?
“I’m afraid we’ve only just returned from the scrublands,”Dax was saying. He stepped back, taking Roa with him. “After such a tiring journey, my wife—”
“I would be honored,” said Roa.
Dax looked at her sharply.
A smile slid across Rebekah’s lips. “Excellent. I’ll have the cooks prepare something special.”
If the Skyweaver’s knife was in Baron Silva’s possession, Roa intended to find out. She wanted to see it with her own eyes.
“Oh, Roa? Bring your pet.” Rebekah’s eyes sparkled. “My father loves birds.”
Before
The night after Essie capsized Theo’s boat, Roa couldn’t sleep. She kept thinking about what Theo said. About all the things she thought she knew and didn’t.
Essie growled from beside her, half-asleep. “Roa! Stop squirming!”
Though they had two beds, they always slept in the same one.
Roa fell still, waiting for her sister to fall back asleep. Trying to fall asleep herself.
But her thoughts kept returning to the boats. And Dax. And the way he never refuted Theo’s words.
Everyone knows how you feel about her,Theo said.
It was nearly the same thing Essie said, not so long ago:You’re the one he likes.
Roa turned over.
Essie’s pillow came down hard on her head.
“Next time I’m going to push you onto the floor.”
Smiling, Roa slammed her own pillow back at her sister. Before Essie could retaliate, she escaped from under the woven blue blankets, raising her hands.
“Truce?”
Essie sat up. “Where are you going?”
“For a walk.”
Maybe a walk would tire her out.
As she stepped into the hall, Essie chucked Roa’s pillow through the doorway. But it was dark, and she missed by a lot.
The pillow hit the wall and fell to the floor.
Roa grinned.
Beyond their room, the House of Song was silent. Everyone had gone to bed a long time ago. But as she made her way from the bedroom to the kitchen, she noticed a glow coming from her father’s study.
Which was odd. Her father was always the first one to retire.
Crossing to the door, Roa pushed it open to find someone sitting at her father’s desk. Or rather, sleeping at his desk.
