Page 135 of Deadly Maiden

I wait, staring about at my surroundings—though they remain a blur—and digging holes in the soil with my boot.

His reply emerges on her skin in the same red wheal as my words.Done. Give them half a day to do this. A man will come to Slaedorth as a guide. What else?

My heart thuds harder at my ribs. We are on our way. Yes, yes. This becomes more possible.

I tell him I need his rebellion to commence on the morning of the sixth day of the ultimatum—five days from now—and that I need men in Tensorga Harbor, before sunrise, to help me free the Usurper.

After a pause he replies.Thank you. I am most happy at this news. It shall be done.

He gives me an exact place on the harbor front where his men will wait, and code words to use when challenged:What a spectacular night.

I am temporarily amused. This business could end with us all dead.

What else?I squint to decipher those letters he scribed. He writes like a fairy drunk on fermented flowers.

What else? I’m lost for a few seconds. I cannot direct his attack. I am not a general.Invade the kingdom and the city. Be ready to raise up your king. Make sure your men can take me to where Rorsyd is kept.

I will, he writes.Rorsyd is in a cage above the harbor. Pinned by iron. My men will know.

I knew this, sort of. It’s a blow, but a small one, that I instantly suppress.

Is that it? I wrack my brain, searching for anything I missed. Whatever I need to say, this is it.

I slowly scrawl,good luck.

You too. See you in Tensorga.

“We are done,” I say to Sister Five.

She dresses, tidies her gown, and retrieves the pen.

“I have something to ask of you also.”

Her eyebrows rise an infinitesimal amount. “Yes?”

“I need your horse to ride to Hugent Bay. I can set her free there.” I don’t bother asking if it’s possible. If it is, it is.

“Of course. You may have Nessa. Tie her under the trees in the bay near the pink beach hut.”

Specific location. She knows the bay. I nod and take the reins.

“Is that all?”

“No.”

This last part might gain an objection. I tell her, and she only nods again. She stands rigidly still for a few minutes with her eyes shut then offers me the pen so I can say the same words to her superior, Sister Paloma.

I scribble the note on her bared shoulder and the reply comes five minutes later, by which time Nessa has sniffed me, snorted, then chewed on my shirt. She’s eating grass now. I think we are friends.

I wonder what Sister Paloma was doing when my message arrived on her skin. It could be anything, including sitting next to King Madlin.

Her reply is also succinct.Yes. I will arrange horses for them. I will await his arrival.

A second line appears, answering questions I did not ask.

Your Rorsyd is still alive. However, Jannik Stryke seems insane after twenty years of torture.

Does Andacc know this? Possibly? If not, his men will see Jannik soon, if all goes as planned.

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