Zey’s youngling came back around the corner, but a glare from Zey, and he suddenly seemed to remember he had elsewhere to be.
‘We don’t speak about it,’ Zey hissed. ‘We do as we are told, and if we mess up, we pay penance. Our blood pays the price for our sins against the Five. It is our way.’
‘But it’s notright,’Ezer said.
Zey’s eyes hardened. ‘And why should I care about the opinion of an Unconsecrated?’
Ezer crossed her arms. ‘Because nobody deserves to be treated like …’ She looked down at her ankles and remembered the way her chains used to weigh heavy upon her. ‘Like a prisoner.’
‘I can leave any time I like,’ Zey said.
‘And risk getting kicked out of the Ehver, spending an eternity in darkness because of it?’ Ezer asked. ‘That’s what the punishment is for laying down your vows. Isn’t it?’
She didn’t want to think about her mother or father, whoever had been Sacred, ending up with that same fate.
The Eagleminder’s jaw went taut, but she glanced past Ezer’s shoulder. ‘I have a job to do. I cannot be late.’
‘What would happenif you were?’ Ezer asked.
Zey didn’t answer, so Ezer caught back up to her, reaching out.
‘Touch me, and I swear it will be the last time you use that hand,’ Zey growled.
Ezer dropped her hand. On instinct, she reached for the stone in her pocket … but decided against it.
She did not need Arawn to fight her battles for her.
She followed Zey instead, keeping pace with the Eagleminder despite the soreness in every step.
‘You hate me,’ Ezer said, ‘Because I took the job you wanted. Is that it?’
Zey flicked her blonde hair over a shoulder. ‘The Sacred do nothate,Wolf Bait.’
‘Then you strongly dislike me to the point that you’d rather me be as miserable as you,’ Ezer said. ‘Why?’
For a moment, she thought Zey might actually hit her. Surely there was a law about that. But the Eagleminder surprised her when she paused her walking and said, ‘Because you have what I cannot.’
‘I don’t have anything,’ Ezer said back, exasperated.
Not a home, nor a family.
She wasn’t even certain she had true magic, despite what Arawn said.
‘You havechoices,’ Zey growled. ‘Don’t ever let anyone take them from you.’ She was tall and beautiful and everything Ezer was not. But she looked miserable, like the swiftly ageing Knight she’d seen marching into battle last night. There was no life in her eyes. ‘You never should have come here. If I were you … I’d leave before it’s too late.’
Ezer’s breathing hitched. ‘Too late for what?’
But Zey had already turned and left.
19
Kinlear was not waiting for her at the black doors.
Instead, there stood a servant boy in brown robes. He had Kinlear’s key around his neck and a letter in his hands.
‘Where’s the prince?’ Ezer asked.
‘His royal highness is indisposed,’ the boy said. ‘He sent me to deliver this.’
