Page 118 of By the Horns
“His little feet are sticky,” I remind him.
“So weird, slitherskins.” He shrugs. “Anyhow, Kipp went and got Hawk, and their plan was foiled before it even began.”
Mmm. I think of the passageway the ghost of Hemmen had shown me, and the faces of the guilty parties. I also think about how Rooster now knows I’m the mancer, and how even now they could be preparing a pyre in the plaza to burn me on. “And what do you think of everything that happened?”
“Hmm?” He eyes me.
“About me. About what I did.” There’s a nervous quiver in my belly. It’s the first time I’ve openly used my powers in front of him—in front of anyone, truly—and I’m worried that he’ll be disgusted. That he’ll see nothing but a mancer in front of him. That he’ll find me freakish and want nothing to do with me.
But Raptor just grins in that confident, sly way of his. “Are you kidding me? The dead were showing you exactly where to dig, aye? When we graduate, we’ll be the most successful team the guild has ever seen.”
“Whenwegraduate?”
He snorts. “Yes. Did you think I’d leave my mate behind to be in someone else’s Five? Not bloody likely. I’m staying with you.” He runs a hand down his muzzle and gives me a heated look. “Plus, you might need more distracting the next time you go down in the tunnels. I aim to be the only one who ever ‘distracts’ you.”
My cheeks heat at his words, but I’m glad to hear them. “I plan on you being my only distraction as well. What comes next, then?”
Raptor sends me another heated look, but settles back in the bed, as if deciding we’re both too injured to do more than talk about “distractions.” “I spoke with Rooster and Hawk earlier. They’re trying to round up the culprits so we can have a magistrate called in to sentence them.”
Makes sense, and I’m relieved that it’s already being handled. I’m so tired of all of it. “Thank the gods it’s all settled. Is that why the windows are dirty, then?”
Raptor eyes me, curious. “What do you mean?”
“The nestmaids,” I say, the uneasy feeling returning. “They’ve been arrested, right?”
“Why would the nestmaids be arrested?”
“Because Mistress Umala is the one behind it all. She and Marta are involved. Those were the names Hemmen gave me when I contacted him. They communicated through borrowed library books. When he died, Marta hid them all so they wouldn’t get caught.”
“Mucking hells.” Raptor jumps out of bed, stark naked, and looks around for his clothing. After a moment, he wraps the sheet around his waist and points at me. “You stay put. I’m getting a message to Hawk or Rooster. We’ve got to tell them about this.”
“I thought you said they’d rounded everyone up!”
“Everyone that they knew of! The drop workers! This is different! You’re certain it’s the nestmaids?”
“Positive.” I think of how sick I’d felt when I’d gotten toMin the alphabet and Hemmen had indicated yes. It all made sense. “No one notices a nestmaid coming or going. They’re always on the fringes, listening. They work closely with repeaters. And they have access to every single guild building.”
He curses again, his hooves slamming on the floor as he races out of the room.
I slip my legs over the side of the bed, wincing as every muscle screams in protest. Something tells me that I’m going to be needed very soon.
I wonder what Rooster thinks of my abilities now that he’s had a chance to sleep on it. Is he going to find my ability to speak with thedead monstrous? Or is he going to see the potential uses it has for the guild?
Gods, I hope it’s the latter. I’ve never had to persuade others to my side before, but now it seems that it’s a skill I need to learn.
Just as I’dsuspected, Marta and Mistress Umala are quickly rounded up, and I’m retrieved from the clinic and brought to the guild headquarters with an escort. Raptor and I are given fresh uniforms, and even though I ache all over and want to sleep for a week, I try to look strong and unbothered as we wait in Rooster’s office for the two women to be brought in. There are a half dozen guild masters and guild enforcers crammed in with us. Raptor remains at my side, snarling at anyone who stands too close to me.
And, okay. I kind of like that he’s hovering. I’m still feeling anxious over the whole mancer situation.
Marta is brought in first by the enforcers. Before anyone can ask her a question, she weeps, crumbling before the stern faces in front of her. “I just wanted money to send home to my mother. I didn’t know anything about people being killed!”
“Give us names, and we could be lenient,” Rooster demands.
Marta quickly spills, naming Mistress Umala as well as three other maids I’ve met and worked with before. I’m saddened to hear that, because I thought they were nice women. All young and poor, all wanting to work hard enough to make a better life for themselves.
“And your group targeted Gwenna? At Mistress Umala’s instruction?” Raptor demands.
Marta looks up from her hands, and the expression she shoots me is puzzled and somewhat apologetic. “It wasn’t personal. It’s just…she’s a woman. Women don’t become artificers.”
