Page 89 of Deadly Maiden

Though I eyeroll at that, his face closes in, and he shutters down with that stare that goes far into the distance. What is he thinking?

Flying. Of course it’s that. He cannot shift. Maybe I should do something about it. If I can. What I did the day of the massacre of the enforcers seemed to work, but he didn’t stay fixed. I’m untrained, and I’ve never asked him if I should. Never told him what I did. Is that so terrible?

I take a ferocious bite from my sandwich. I have other problems. The book revealing his name and now Anathema scampering about before us. Are our secrets colluding to come together like some novel doom-spell?

Kyvin meanders over with the white ball tucked under his arm.

“Where can he hide near your rooms?”

“Well, I’m not allowing him in them. I have two rooms and an undead in the corner will spoil the atmosphere. My cellar is underground but must be reached through the inn, the Tusked Woorak. The alleyway maybe? Except delivery people use it daily. Honestly, there is nowhere like this. He would be best to remain here, or to return to Slaedorth?”

“There’s a thought. He made it here. He must have walked at night, I guess.”

“Perhaps.”

“Did you walk here at night, Kyvin? From Slaedorth Fortress?” I make a walking motion on my hand with two fingers.

He stares at my hand for a long time then slowly nods.

“Okay. There is nowhere for you to hide where I sleep at night. You can return to Slaedorth or stay here.” I make an all-encompassing sweeping gesture at the grounds, the trees, the lake.

He does his mouth exercise, his chest moves. “I. Stay. Here.”

“Okay. Fine.”

“We hope,” Rorsyd says, under his breath.

“I wish I knew why my parents wanted him to stick to me.”

“Hmmm.Indeed. I cannot believe where I am now. In love with a necromancer girl and playing daddy to an undead.”

A little wary, I look to him and see he’s not annoyed. He wraps his arm about my shoulders.

“You don’t mind?”

He laughs. “No to the falling in love. Him?” He rubs his chin on the top of my head. “I’d fly to the moon for you.” There’s a long pause, where I’m imagining him thinking about flying, again, before he continues. “Of course, if he ever turns evil…”

“I know. He won’t.” I study Kyvin where he stands unmoving but with his eyes shifting to follow the flight of a sparrow or the buzzing bees. “There is something deeply nice about whoever he is. Or was. I can see it.”

Or can I? Maybe I’m imagining this. Necromancy book, here I come.

“Let’s move to my rooms now, before it’s dark.”

“Okay.”

Tomorrow then, for the book. It can wait.

On the road descending from Fromeaux Library I remember the etharum.

Rorsyd is whistling, strolling downhill like he’s having happy thoughts and not graveyard thoughts.

“The pendants need recharging. I forgot, but the levels are really low. We desperately need more warnite crystals and to find some ghosts.”

“Tonight? I want to get moved in, treat you to a fancy dinner?—”

“Yes. Tonight. I’ve researched Langordin and have a few graveyards to choose between.”

He sighs, stares at the sky.

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