Page 144 of The BoneKeeper's Daughter

Little Keeper…

Lorcan whispers against my back, but the words are a laugh and not a caution.

“I’m sorry,” I offer helplessly, pressing my hands to my lips. “I’m perhaps more tired than I thought.” And I am, my skin feeling heavy on my bones, but it’s more than that. After a lifetime of an iron spike pressed against my tongue, I find, without its weight, the thoughts I was swallowing previously are now hummingbirds in my mouth. I sigh, but he smiles broadly, white teeth flashing in a dirt stained face.

“Teo,” he offers, holding out a hand and waiting patiently.

Slowly I extend my own, and he meets me halfway, swallowing my small fingers in his much larger grip. “Wren,” I give back, and his eyes widen briefly.

“A pleasure.” Releasing my hand, he turns to my horse, clapping its neck firmly before running his grip down its legs, checking its legs for scrapes and hooves for stones. “He seems to be well enough for all the ruckus the other day. No limp? And his cuts are clean. You’re taking good care of him. Have you had one before?” When I shake my head, he raises a surprised brow. “Quick study, then.” I don’t want to be proud of myself from the throwaway comment, but can’t help the little glow of satisfaction that flares in my stomach. I’ve been trying very hard, and it’s surprisingly gratifying to have someone acknowledge it. “Can I ask you a question, Keeper? Wren?”

Ah. Here we go. I should know not to trust smiling faces.Making a non-committal sound, I shrug in response, which he takes as some sort of agreement, though he seems to sense my reluctance, and smiles at me.

“It’s not as bad as all that, BoneKeeper. I’m one of the BloodLetter’s Blood Riders, and he shared the secret of your bone wear with me.” Startled, I jerk my head to face him, and he mimes locking his lips andthrowing away the key. “You’ll find, over time, that I’m a beautifully carved treasure box.” Grinning at me, he flexes his arms. “Emphasis on the beautiful, of course. And your jewelry causes me no distress, nor does your presence. I’m an oddly cut piece of weaponry here, too useful to be thrown away, but not made in the same forge as the rest. So you are safe with me.”

I don’t reply, and his grin widens somehow, though it wouldn’t seem possible. “Clever, not giving things away for free. Alright, what if I promise you a secret of equal value? I’d have to think on it, but you have my word. Sworn in blood, if you need.” He grabs his dagger from his belt quickly and casually, holding it out to me. After a moment, I take my Guiding Knife from my waist and extend the blade. Tilting his head, he narrows his eyes, though his face remains open. “You reallyarea quick study. Here, then. I promise you a secret of my own, from my heart, which will give you the same reach over me I would have over you. By the end of the day today. Does that suffice?”

Before I have a chance to reply, three crimson drops fall to my blade. They stay on the surface; no strange pulsing, nothing more than blood on bone.

“So, a question?”

“Alright,” I reply slowly.

“What…Gods. I’m not even sure how to say it. How much can you see? How much do they tell you? If you were to describe me, for example?”

I tilt my head.Lorcan?I ask, unsure of the correct way forward.

I’ll describe him, Keeper, and you can just relay the words. That should be enough.

“Too tall by half. 6’3 maybe? Shaved sides to your head with — I don’t know the word here. What we would call something close to elf-locks. Brown, twisted almost braids to a knot on the back of your head, then hanging down past mid-back. Scarring around the right temple, just thin, and left cheekbone, thin again. Strong jaw, straight nose. Kind eyes.”

I didnotsay kind eyes, Wren.Lorcan is wry, and I smile.

At least I didn’t say handsome.

There’s a pause, and then, cautiously,Do you…think him so?

His eyes remind me of yours in a way.

Little Keeper…

A woman’s voice interrupts our exchange.

“Fairly accurate,” she calls, “though you missed ‘obstinate ass’, and ‘smug expression’.” A girl, maybe twenty, so not significantly younger than me, comes around the side of my horse, fingers trailing through its mane. Though thin, she has a rounded, happy face, with full cheeks and flashing grey eyes. Her hair is in long, blonde tangles framing her face, with a single small braid down one side. “And‘weak forearms’.” She’s teasing, affection clear in her voice, and the man in front of me rocks back on his heels, affronted.

“Woman!” he barks at her, mock outrage in his voice, “Know your place! Weak forearms!” But his face softens as he looks at her; hers does the same for the length of a heartbeat before shuttering to distant camaraderie.

Ahh.I think to myself.This is a puzzle of sorts.

Waving at me cheerfully, she does a half-curtsey once she reaches my side. “BoneKeeper! I’m Ellie. I’m assigned as your maid, in a fashion.”

“Wren.” She looks surprised when I offer her my hand as Kaden taught me what feels like an eon ago. “Please don’t…I don’t know what…we don’t curtsey. It isn’t necessary. Please.”

Shooting a quick, uncertain glance around her, she takes my hand very quickly before releasing it almost nervously. “I requested the position,” she states quietly, still smiling, “so please don’t be afraid around me. I don’t have the same…well. I’m of a different class, so to speak, so you don’t need to be…I know you haven’t been ranked yet, but obviously you’ll be in the upper tier if everything plays out in your favor. I can help you figure things out until you become comfortable. If it’s not overstepping,” she offers hurriedly at the end, at some kind of silent prompting from Teo.

She trails off at my confused expression. “Class?”

“Um. Yes? Does your…do you not have…I’m not sure of the word in the common tongue…” Ellie looks helplessly at Teo, whose brows have knitted in an indecipherable emotion.

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