“I thought you would refuse.” He swallows. “Or that you might use the opportunity to do her harm. I’m sorry for it. For both times.”
I nod at him. “I have an errand to complete for Eres.”
Relief crosses his face, as if he’d expected some sort of battle when all I need is for him to leave me be. His head is already turning back to Sera, and I make my way down to the end curtain before slipping inside.
The male on the bed is familiar. He jerks, as surprised to see me as I am to see him. “Lyra?”
I frown, studying him. “Beckett.”
He doesn’t look seriously injured. His arm is in a sling, but the rest of him looks unscathed. “What happened?”
His eyes shift past me, to the closed curtain. “Ah. Is this information you’re allowed to know?”
“It’s information that I strongly suggest you give me.” But my eyes are traveling over him now, looking more closely. “I’m glad to see you’re uninjured.”
“Relatively speaking.” He lifts his arm, giving me a small smile. It slips from his face as quickly as it appears, his shouldersslumping. “There’s not a lot I can tell you, unfortunately. I told Eres the same.”
“You don’t remember?”
His eyes shift to the side, shoulders curving inward. “Well, it was all very fast.”
Eres isfarmore trusting than I am. He struggles upright. “What’s this about? I’m feeling rather tired.”
Three came out, and one came back.“Describe the ambush to me.”
He swallows, eyeing me nervously. “We rode through a clearing. Carmen must have missed the signs—”
“Not you?”
He shakes his head. “I was behind them. Darian and Carmen were ahead of me. The unit… it came from nowhere. Carmen fell from her horse in the skirmish, and Darian stopped to help her. One of them threw a light dagger at me, and it hit my arm. I was able to get away to bring a warning back.”
Plausible, although I wouldn’t want to be his scouting partner if he’s that much of a coward. “There’s nothing else you can think of?”
He shakes his head. “If I could, I would.”
“I see.” I take a step back, twisting my mouth into a grimace. “A shame, really. I was hoping to hear about his death in detail.”
Stunned silence. Beckett gawps at me. “What?”
Shrugging, I scratch at my neck, feigning something close to boredom. “Kaelen Duskbane was my target. And the dreamwalker. But since a unit has apparently taken care of that for me, Duskbane will have to do. He’s already dead.”
I smile at him. “I’m leaving now.” My hand raises. “And I don’t leave witnesses.”
He pales, holding up his hand. “Wait—,”
My dagger slides from my palm, and he chokes. “I have a message for you.”
I stop. Panting, he digs into the pocket of his leathers, rummaging until he pulls something free. “I was to find a way to slip it to you without notice. He didn’t want me to lose my cover.”
I hold out my hand, my dagger still up. “Give it to me.”
The ring is small. Carved in gold, with the three lines of the Solvandyr crest etched into it. I turn it over. This is Cindral’s ring. A reminder, and a promise. My fingers close around it as my chest threatens to cave in. “Who gave this to you?”
“The lieutenant.” He’s watching my dagger, his face pale. “He’s in the Veilspire. He was very interested to learn that you’re alive, and here. Seemed pleased.”
“What do you do for them?” I lower the blade until it rests against his neck. “Speak quickly, and move less.”
“Information.” He swallows, and his skin grazes the blade, opening up a thin line of scarlet as he flinches. “Just small pieces, here and there.”
