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“And a mouth,” Yahontov finished. This time his feelings matched the disapproval in his voice.
“Perhaps we should be going,” I said, not knowing how to respond to Helia apparently sliding into the space I left. “The manor is abandoned. We need to get inside, then…” I pointed to the map.
Dimitri extinguished his mage light, understanding what I left unsaid. He tried the gate, finding it locked. “Is there another way inside?”
“Don’t know and don’t need one.” I grinned. “We go over.”
The others stared at me and then the one-floor-high wall.
“Over?” Yahontov said, though he was probably the only one who could reach the top just by stretching. Perhaps he worried the old mortar would not carry his weight.
“Launch me,” Koshka commanded, and with no further arguments, she and I went over the wall.
Dimitri and Yahontov followed with significantly more grumblings and scrapes.
When wewere all inside, I remained silent for each word could be seen as revealing secrets. Focusing on my desire to show the house to Dimitri and relaxing my hold on my magic, I asked the world for light.
Tiny mage lights sprang up around us, like fireflies hovering in the air.
With the boarded-up windows and wild garden, no one would see inside to recognize the magic I still could not believe was mine. The others only nodded in thanks, the Roja and Bone Guard probably more comfortable around mages than most. Rumor had it, many of them held secret powers of their own.
Thankfully, there were no Spirits inside this time; I had hardly seen any in the whole neighborhood. It should have calmed me.
The bookshelf was closed again, seemingly identical to all others in the dark. I pointed at the hidden lock, realizing I had no way of opening it. The shadows hid my blush. I should have figured this out before I brought the prince here.
“Through here? I love a secret passage.” Koshka’s excitement rolled off her in waves as she pressed her hands against the aged wood. “I bet I can figure it out before any of you.”
“Or we break it down.” Yahontov placed a hand on his great sword as if ready to draw.
Dimitri shook his head. “If you can keep it intact, no one will know we came this way. This is reconnaissance, not an attack.”
While Koshka and Yahontov investigated every inch of the bookshelf, I showed the prince the sigils on the floor. Time ticked inside me as if I still heard the clock in the princess’s chambers.
“We can go to one of the other entrances on your map instead.” I had been excited at showing him this—at figuring it out. I shouldhave known he would take my one word and return with so much more. He could probably order the Archive emptied and the frowning archivists to give us access to all its secrets.
“Thank you for showing me,” Dimitri said. “This is more discreet than any still occupied buildings. When we send soldiers inside, that’ll be the advantage we need.”
He squeezed my hand, callouses from sword fighting brushing against mine earned from climbing. Heat, as if with enough friction we could create fire, spread through my blood.
Wood cracked behind us and Yahontov’s satisfaction trilled through me. The night vibrated with excitement.
“The break’s barely visible,” Yahontov said while Koshka mumbled curses.
It was true. And Ealhswip probably already thought this entrance compromised as Lumi and Helia had escaped from there.
Ignoring their banter, I led the way down the steps, my mage lights illuminating the black stones decorated with images of ancient worship.
Now that I knew who we fought, a new fear wormed its way inside.Could the Goddess be on the side of her divine ruler? Were we fighting death itself?
“Have there been more plague victims?” I asked. The fires south of the Lowtown city wall still burned, the smell of crisping flesh tainting the air, but some might have taken advantage of the chaos and gotten rid of rivals with no questions asked. Was Ealhswip still poisoning, or had she already found her targets?
“Nine dead during the last three-day, several of their family members are still ill but seem to be recovering.” Dimitri lowered his voice. “All mages. Why do you ask?”
I pointedat my mouth and shook my head, and the sight before us saved me from further questions.
The chamber below was much like I remembered—the rectangular space stretched further than the manor above, only slim pillars and a massive altar breaking the open space. Tomorrow, Dimitri would read the letter himself, and Lumi—seemingly less bound by Ealhswip’s magic—could explain the rest.
The others spread out to study the ancient subterranean temple while I imagined my sister staying here voluntarily to spy while I played the princess, thinking they would hurt Lumi for my every infraction. Anger I could not allow if we were to work together fought the fear of what would happen if Ealhswip won.
