Page 84 of Deadly Maiden

Though the first history book tells of the Battle of Orish in great, voluminous detail, it fails to say precisely who killed my parents, Sabre and Aislinn Gothschild. They were incinerated. Only a dragonshifter could do that. Wait, no. A fire mage might?

That might make it complicated, if I wasn’t already sure I know who killed them. We’re circling each other, keeping secrets within secrets. Maybe if I wasn’t equally guilty, this would matter more.

I look across the open book to Rorsyd, who doesn’t at first notice, being too engrossed in a book he’s found on collectable gold coins. His finger is on the page as he reads. I smile at him anyway. Know yourself, they say? I want the truth, but I’velearned something about myself. That past event is a small thing compared to who we are today.

Day Three

The next day, after I’ve done more poring over old manuscripts and tattered books with stained pages, we return to the goblin statue and find Andacc waiting for us.

He’s disguised, but badly, as a gardener. The staff would know the difference? A straw hat, gloves, a shovel, and rather messed-up clothes with tears at the knees. He leans on the shovel as if about to start a casual chat with us.

“You might want to sit.” He lifts a finger from the shovel to point at the bench. “I’d like to chat about details.”

I sit and tug at Rorsyd’s pants, and he joins me.

“The rooms? It’s simple as I said. I used a different name from when I was employed as an enforcer. I have used a few over the years, not just Rorsyd. I need to know if anyone is looking for me there, or can I move us into it and be safe?”

“Okay. I can do this for you. Give me a few days. As for safe? The future is never certain.”

“Of course.”

“And your request, Miss W. You want to send a letter to Thander who is the golem master of Bollingham, and ask him to relay letters to your father? And one to Wenway and this Saphora?” I nod at that. “Also, can you both choose some names we can all use out loud?”

“Cassandra can be mine.”

Rorsyd puffs out his lips. “Make me Stanton.”

“Okay.” Andacc eyes the sky, and his lips move as he repeats and memorizes those. “So in summary. Yes, Stanton, we willwatch the rooms. We can probably get the letter to Wenway, though it might be weeks before you get a reply. The other is a little riskier, maybe. The AS will have the towns of Bollingham and Darsum on a list, I suspect, Cassandra. But it can be done. This Thander Munk will get frequent mail. Write a letter he can pass on immediately. I assume he’s going to agree to this?”

“I think so.” If he refuses, I’ll have to sneak into Darsum. “I did, in fact, write one already. In case.” I smile at Andacc, and he touches his hat then takes the folded letter I dig from my pocket.

“Well thought then. Anything else?”

“Still no payment required?” Rorsyd kinks up an eyebrow. “And we can use this killer drop again?”

“The payment, as I said, is in cultivating your trust and maybe your friendship. We hope to move onhim, soon and to free him.”

“That sounds impossible. With or without our help.”

Knowing Rorsyd and what he keeps saying, he does not want us to be involved.

“What if he is insane, Andacc?” I venture. “He’s endured cruel torture, daily, for twenty years.”

He grimaces, kicks the shovel into the lawn he poised it on, screws it about. “I know. I know. My stomach spews acid whenever I think on that. We pray for him. Freeing him from that interminable torture will be a reward in itself.”

Rorsyd nods. I try not to look too skeptical.

This is when the strange foreboding arrives for a second time.

Something is coming.

I look up past Andacc. Make that something ishere.

I pretend everything is normal and say goodbye when he leaves, heading away with that shovel on his shoulder. He vanishes into the shrubbery, to the left. I heave a sigh, andRorsyd studies me. He knows. We are so in tune he knows things I probably haven’t figured out yet.

“Come here.” Again he pulls me onto his lap. Kisses the side of my neck. “Mmm.If only I could bend you over the bench here.”

“Oh and that wouldneverdraw attention to us.”

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