'Ah, Jenken. These are my guests. They are to be afforded every courtesy. House them in the adjunct.'
'Of course, First Scholar. If you'd like to come with me.'
Bryn stands and Vie bows her head to her. Not sure what to do, Bryn mimics her movements, and Vie's expression morphs from slight annoyance at me to friendliness.
'I hope to see you again, First Scholar,' Bryn says.
'Vie, please. And I you, Bryn,' Vie sighs almost contentedly.
I give a final nod to Vie for being so understanding as I turn to leave.
‘Be here to meet with me and my captain at first light, Jak,’ she says, her order clear.
‘Yes, First Scholar.’
We're taken by the Library’s novice down the stairs and across the main floor to a large door. The servant opens it, and I see stairs that lead down into a wide passage on the other side, lined with light.
We start down the long hallway, and we arrive at another door not long afterward. On the other side, there’s another set of stairs, which we climb and find ourselves in an elaborately decorated room.
'The adjunct is usually reserved for diplomats and other high-born visitors to the city,' the novice tells us. ‘Please do ring the bell for whatever you require, and it shall be brought with the utmost haste.’
I nod and the novice withdraws with a bowed head, disappearing back through the tunnel.
'Come.' I pull Bryn up some more wide, winding stairs to an upper floor of bedchambers, complete with bathing suites and rooms with comfortable chairs and small libraries of their own. When we find the biggest one, I gesture around the room.
'Your chamber, my lady.'
'Mine?' she asks. She turns in a slow circle, admiring the stained glass in the windows, the thick rugs, and the smooth wooden furniture complete with comfortable, upholstered chairs.
'And this,' I say, pointing to a cord dangling from the ceiling, 'is to call the servants. Pull it whenever you want food, or drink, or water for bathing, and someone will come.'
'I'll get whatever I need myself,' she says quietly. 'I wouldn't want to bother anyone.'
She frowns, clearly not liking the idea of some poor human having to traipse all the way from the main building just to find out what she wants, only to go all the way back to get it for her.
'They aren't slaves, Bryn,' I say gently. 'They're servants and novices. They're paid well for their services here, I promise you. Theywantto be here. It’s considered an honor.'
'Oh,' she says, letting out a breath of relief, and looking as if she feels a bit silly. 'Of course.'
'Would you like to go out into the city?' I glance out the window at the darkening sky. 'We could eat at a tavern…as free humans in the Light Realm, I mean. Just you and I. If you’re not too tired after…today.'
'I’m not tired, and my body feels completely healed. But now?' she asks. 'It's quite dark and tomorrow…it all begins.’
I take her hand. I want her to have tonight, just a little time before she’s put in harm’s way.
'A city such as Kitore never sleeps,’ I say lightly. ‘And the lamps are lit every night in all the main streets.'
She nods and practically pulls me down the stairs. I laugh as we pass Morgan and Locke.
‘You’re going outnow?’ Morgan rumbles but quickly falls silent at my angry look between them as Bryn falters at my side.
I’m showing Bryn the first human city she’s ever seen and my plan will not be curtailed. My skin goes cold as all the ways tomorrow could go wrong fill my mind.
No. I won’t think of it, and I won’t let Bryn either. Tonight is ours.
The morrow will come soon enough, when we’ll meet with Vieand use the human I care about as bait.
I shake off the helplessness I feel. It’s worse for Bryn. She’s been put in an impossible position, and I will never ever forgiveCalder, nor the Underhill for making her do this to keep her place in the Light.
