They moved down this corridor and Oda led her through another door. This one led to a small compartment, which seemed only to serve the purpose of preventing any light from entering the previous hallway. Oda opened the next door and light returned.
Aloisia hesitated as they entered this hallway. Like the one before, the wall on the left was solid and the one on the right was made of iron bars. But the cells beyond those bars were very different. They only had three walls. The fourth opened onto the cliff face, overlooking Feldkirk Bay far below. Waves crashed against the rocks far below, and ships came into port at Ephroditia in the distance.
The strong winds from the coast howled around Aloisia and Oda as they made their way along the corridor. She drew the fur closer around her shoulders, shielding against the chill in the gale. Oda paused before a cell.
Inari slouched against a wall inside the cell, his wrists and ankles shackled to the floor. His shirt was still half open, the way he had thrown it on when he was arrested, and the hawk upon his chest was visible. The chains only had so much give, and he sat as far as they would allow, too close to the edge of the cliff for Aloisia’s liking. His face was turned to the open air, the wind whipping his auburn curls about his head. It did not appear he had heard them approach.
Oda brought out a set of keys, and the jangling of the metal drew Inari’s attention. His eyes widened at the sight of Aloisia, and he stumbled to his feet. The guard pushed the door open and ushered her within.
“I’ll give you ten minutes,” Oda said, securing the door behind Aloisia.
“That’s no time at all,” Aloisia protested.
Oda shrugged. “I am doing only what I have been told.” The guard retreated the way they had come.
Aloisia puffed out a sigh and turned to Inari.
“Are you well?” he asked.
Aloisia nodded. “I’ve been better, but I’m not dead yet.”
“That is not a comforting answer.” Inari smirked.
“They said you had been asking for me,” she said, not wanting to waste time, “and you would speak only to me.”
“I do not trust the rest of them to act on my words.”
“And you shouldn’t.” Aloisia lowered herself to sit on the cold ground, Inari sinking beside her. “They did not act on your warning to destroy the copies, and now three priests are dead.”
Inari sucked in a sharp breath, the air whistling between his teeth. “The fools. The spell will only strengthen with their deaths. No doubt their bodies bear the same markings.”
“From what I’ve heard they do.”
His lips pressed into a thin line. “And now they want me to clean up their mess?”
“They’ve realised you are more of an asset than a threat. Though they do not trust you, nor will they allow you to walk free unless they have proof of your innocence.”
“Kietöilpää,” Inari muttered under his breath.
“But I am here, for myself more than them, to ask for your help.” Aloisia pulled the pages from the pouch at her waist. “I need to find where this map goes. It’s the only lead I have.”
“Are you asking me for a translation?”
“I am asking if you will come with me wherever this map leads.”
“You intend to follow it?”
“How can I not?” She traced the bandage across her palm, remembering the dream of the night before. “And this… You said that’s where the map began. It can’t be a coincidence. Just the same as the hawk on your chest. We both need to follow it.”
“I think you are right. Coincidence is often more than it seems. But how am I going to help from here?” He lifted his chained wrists.
“The judiciaries will permit you to go, so long as you are chained…”
Inari breathed a laugh. “Of course, since I am not yet free.”
“They asked for you to help in destroying the copies too.”
“What do I get in return? What will they promise me in exchange for my aid? A chance at freedom? Nothing guaranteed?”
