Chapter 28
“Step away from the bed,” Gregor snarls. Arina’s expression dulls slightly as it drifts toward him.
Well, this reassures me about my new appearance.Without a word, I slowly stand, take a step back, and meet his eyes. Sure enough, he has cards at the ready. I wait as a little test.
“Tell me how you got here, and maybe I’ll let you live.”
“Do you really not recognize me?” I’m fighting a smile. I even told him what I was going to do. “I wonder if Twino and Ren will.”
There’s a flicker of doubt across his face, but he doesn’t ease.He really doesn’t know who I am.
“It’s me. Clara.”
“What?” He falters, cards falling into his palm, but he doesn’t banish them yet.
“The same Clara who was there to bandage you up when you split your knuckles after pummeling that guy at the Twisted Tavern in the teeth because he wasn’t about to take no for an answer from Jura.”
“Clara?” he whispers, then, louder, eyes widening, “Clara. You…You don’t…”
“I don’t look like myself, I know. That was kind of the point.”
“You said you were going to change your appearance…but I never imagined…”
“It’d be so good?” I grin slightly. “It is me, though. And I come bearing gifts.” I hold up the meat and potatoes.
“Thank goodness, we’re starving.” He goes right for it, setting the food on the bed by Arina’s legs, tearing off little bits that he gently places between her lips.
“Has it been hard to get food?” I ask.
“A little, but I’m managing. Especially since Twino and Ren found a spot just like they planned, in Fated Heights.”
“Did they now?”
He nods. “Ren’s taken to writing down all of Jura’s recipes that he can remember and practicing them. Which means I’ve had a good many meals to bring back. Still can’t quite get the lavender scones right, but he has time to practice. He’s already got a good kitchen garden going.”
“I bet he does,” I say softly, an idea forming in the back of my mind. “Any updates on the Worldkeepers I should know about?”
“Mostly preparation for Vaduin reentering the academy…” He gives me an overview of what’s happening among the Worldkeepers—which is mostly lying low following the chaos of Halazar. While he speaks, he continues to feed Arina, and he and I take bites ourselves. He’s oblivious to the idea that’s coalescing in the back of my mind. He wraps up at the same time the food is gone. “…but they’re all ultimately waiting on you to get the missing details of the vessel and make it,” he finishes.
I nod. “And I think I know what I need to do to get it.”
“Oh?”
“I did this”—I gesture to my face—“so I could move freely while I searched. But I’m going to need an excuse to be in the academy.”
“You look a bit too old to get away with being a student again.”
“I’ll ignore you calling me old.” I give him a sidelong look.
“Oh, I’m sorry, ancient, then.”
“You jerk.” I playfully punch his arm.
He gives me a wild grin and I can’t help a laugh as I stand.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“I think I’ll take this new face for a test run and go and see the place Twino and Ren got.” I give Arina one more long look. Leaving her side is more agonizing than anything Kaelis did to change my face. “Will you look after her?”
