A strange key.
The head of the key is an exact color and shape match for the stones in the map mosaic that represent land.
If I were a betting man — which I’m not, for the God alone spins fate — I would guess that it marks the exact same spot on the map that the glass bead on the sphere does.
Owalan meets my eyes and then silently slips it in the folds of his tabard.
Interesting.
“None of you is to be alone,” Sir Kodelai says severely. “We will exit this place together. Now. In silence.”
The High Saint is still praying in fervent desperation.
“IN. SILENCE.”
I can hear the snap of the High Saint’s jaws closing.
“You will lead, Vagabond Paladin.”
I clench my jaw. If I know one thing about my new partner, it’s that she takes orders poorly.
The order hangs in the air for a full minute. And then Lady Paladin Victoriana rolls her neck and takes to her feet in all her slender glory. Her hand slips from her dog’s neck and his growl rumbles low and burred in his throat, but when she spins on her heel, he turns with her, and when she starts to stride away, he falls into step just a pace in front of her. She looks over her shoulder, a puzzled expression on her face, as if the corpse is a set of figures she can’t quite balance.
But she does as she’s bid.
“Prince Paladin,” Sir Kodelai says.
With a shrug and a wink for me, Hefertus follows her.
“High Saint.”
Interestingly enough, no one questions him. No one refuses. No one so much as speaks.
Until it is Kodelai left alone with me and the dead Seer. I offer her one more look.
“Walk beside me, Poisoned Saint,” the Hand of Justice says. “We two will watch each other, that all may be above reproach.”
Why did he choose me when it could have been the Majester General? Or the High Saint? Both of those Aspects are known for more rule-abiding ways than we Poisoned Ones.
I shrug and fall into step beside him, walking with a trick I’ve learned that lets my cloak flow behind me like I’m a hero in a story. I can see it catch Sir Kodelai’s eye and the curious wen in his forehead tells me it’s done what it needs to do. It’s caught him off guard.
“Tell me, Poisoned Saint. Tell me, death dealer. Where were you in all of this?”
“I followed the Vagabond Paladin when she split off from the rest,” I said easily. “I was with her.”
“The whole time?”
“We were separated checking two different rooms at one point.”
“How long was that for?”
“Perhaps five minutes,” I say calmly. “Maybe a little longer. There was a tank in the room I searched that had been full of fish. It took me some time to search through their bones.”
He nods in thought. “Then you are not beyond reproach.”
“An interesting way to think of it.”
“And you visited the Seer last night. You slept outside her tent. I beheld it when I woke during second sleep.”
