I burst into the kitchen as if I’d been running.
Maz glanced up at me with a quirked eyebrow, his mouth full of shredded potatoes.
I shook my head and sat on an open spot of bench around the massive table. Jek handed me a plate. My mouth watered as I stared at the food before me.
Piles of crispy shredded potatoes. Thick cuts of bacon. A golden loaf of bread that was mostly gone. A collection of jars filled with a rainbow of jams and butters.
It wasn’t grand, but it was a feast all the same. The sort of fare a worker might eat before toiling outside all day.
I filled my plate to the brim and began shoveling the food into my mouth.
None of us talked much other than to ask someone to pass some food.
The cook—a short man with an irritable scowl—barked orders at the two younger workers, a boy and a girl.
After a few minutes, the cook slammed down another loaf of bread in the middle of the table. “Gods-damned soldiers eating all my gods-damned food... not even a thank-you... such a waste...” He kept muttering to himself as he continued to terrorize the kitchen.
Caddik returned with a dark gray dog at his heels. Both of them sat next to Helene.
“How often do soldiers come here?” I asked him.
He snorted into the cup of tea he clutched with both hands. “Seems like every week now. Usually, it’s just border patrols looking for a free meal or a roof for the night. They piss on my walls and rile up my staff.”
I chewed my bacon thoughtfully. “So this was the first time Korvin knocked on your door?”
Caddik’s scowl deepened. “That animal didn’t knock. He just walked in like he ownedmygods-damned house. I saw him ride up, though. Had just enough time to get everyone to the secret cellar.” He nodded at Nikella. “Teacher already knew where the passage was.”
“We’re both quite familiar,” Jek said under his breath with a twitch of his lips.
Nikella’s cheeks pinked as she glared at him and kicked his boot into mine under the table.
I clenched my teeth to keep from laughing. Jek had been in love with my mentor since before I’d known him. Sometimes I was almost certain Nikella felt the same.
“He didn’t even look around much,” Caddik went on. He took a piece of bacon and fed it to the dog, who swallowed it whole. “His dirty soldiers raided my kitchen while he gave me some oily speech about who he was and who he was looking for. Then he drank out of my teacup and ate my food, never losing that creepy smile of his. Told me to have a good day.”
Nikella dropped her fork and pushed her half-finished plate away. “He’ll be back.”
Caddik stared at her, idly stroking his dog’s alert ears. “Oh, I’m sure he will until he finds you. And that one.” He jerked his thumb at Kiera, who’d just entered the kitchen.
My heart thumped harder. She looked fresh and beautiful in her new clothes and her hair in a damp braid. The sun coming through the windows seemed to hug her, intent on making her glow.
But then Caddik’s words registered.
“He’s looking for her?” I demanded.
Kiera’s gaze darted between us, startled.
“Fits the description he gave,” Caddik said with a shrug.
I clenched my fork. Gods damn Renwell to the depths of the wandering hell. Sending his favorite hunter after two of the people he’d hurt the most.
Kiera met my eyes, uncertainty shining in hers. But I had no certainty to give.
Ruru made space between him and Nikella and waved Kiera into it.
“Should’ve just killed the weasel when he was here with only a few soldiers,” Sigrid grumbled, tearing her bread into chunks and dipping them in the bacon grease on her plate.
Helene scooted farther away from the Dag warrior. “I don’t want to be anywhere near a battle, thank you,” she said icily.
