She cracked a weary smile. “Maybe I need one of those knives like you made for Penny.”
“Not sure I’ll have time to make you one before the fourth Oath, but I can certainly try. We’ll find something to hold you over.”
Rosie chuckled. “I’m sure I’ll manage. But speaking of Penny…” She bumped her shoulder into mine. “Congratulations on your courtship.”
Heat rose to my cheeks again, and I couldn’t help a smile of my own. “Told you about that, did he?”
“And he looked about as pleased as you do.” Her smile broke into a grin. “I’m happy for you both. You make quite the pair.”
I had the sudden realization that all the last traces of sunlight were gone from the western sky, and Penny was sitting at home waiting for me. He would be worrying himself sick by now.
“Thank you,” I said then motioned toward town. “I really should be getting back to him before he sends out a search party. Will you let me walk you home?”
Rosie ducked out from under the edge of my cloak and shook her head with a smile. “As I said: mothering.” She got to her feet and offered a hand to pull me up. “But yes. You may walk me home.”
We made the trek in companionable quiet. When we reached the Saunders’ home, Rosie climbed the stoop and paused to look back at me.
“Goodnight, Kit. And thank you for the talk.”
“Any time. Goodnight, Rosie.”
She reached for the latch, and I caught her arm before she could open the door. Her brows rose in an unspoken question.
I let my hand drop and tucked it into the folds of my cloak before speaking.
“One last thing: are there any kittens left that aren’t spoken for?”
She chuckled. “You want athird?”
“Not for me.” I gestured vaguely in the direction of Reimond’s family’s home. “For Thoma.”
Her face pinched like she was in pain, and she nodded. “There are still two who don’t have homes lined up. I haven’t seen Thoma since—” Her breath hitched, and I knew she was remembering the skinning. She sniffed, shook herself, then let out a rush of breath. “Tell him to come by, and he’s welcome to meet them.”
“Maybe just hang on to one of them for him for a bit? He’s not been home since the third Oath, but I think he’d appreciate the company when he does finally go back. It just… might be a while yet.”
She gave another soft smile. “You really are a good friend, Kit. The kitten will be here whenever he’s ready.”
“Thank you. Goodnight, Rosie.”
“Goodnight, Kit.”
Once she was safely inside, I turned toward home. I still didn’t know how I was going to tell Penny what Levitt had told me, but I’d put it off long enough.
It was time to break his heart again.
7
Penny
After watching Kit practically dragged away from the forge, I was on edge. He had been, too, reluctant to obey the summons while feigning bravery for my sake. In the hour that had passed since then, I began to fear that might have been the last time I would ever see him.
It was dire, but dire things happened here. Reimond and Tessa were dead, and Merrick was wreaking havoc. Rosie was still out of sorts after her ordeal, and even Kit went pale anytime the third Oath was mentioned, specifically regarding my close scrape with death. It seemed this small corner of the world could turn on us—any of us—in a moment.
At a loss of ways to occupy my time, I made dinner and watched it grow cold on the dining table. Usually, I would draw, but my sketchbook laid open with Ember asleep on top of it. I told myself I didn’t want to disturb her, but the pages had gone untouched long before she settled in.
Darkness swept over Ashpoint but brought no sign of Kit. If he’d been detained, how would I know? How long would I wait and worry before I learned that some terrible fate had befallen him?
I thought of Cait and Edgar being executed in some town far from here. Did Ashpoint treat their criminals similarly? Kit cheated at the third Oath. Levitt knew about it. He’d chosen not to act on it, but what if he changed his mind? Or if someone else found out and forced his hand? Someone like my despicable half-brother.
