A yawn left her lips, unwelcome and unavoidable.
It had to be past eleven by now.
She’d wasted enough time that the coast was clear, at least … so she crept back out into the main corridor. She’d made it halfway across the common area, past the crackling hearth, when she heard another door creak open.
And then footsteps were heading her way.
Ezer glanced left and right, but there was nowhere to go this far out in the open in the center of the library.
She turned on instinct, glancing over her shoulder.
And froze.
Zey.
‘By the gods,’ Ezer whispered to no one. She braced herself for a slew of hurtful comments as she locked eyes with the Eagleminder.
‘Here to spy, Wolf Bait?’ asked Zey, as she came into the firelight.
Her eyes were red, like she’d been crying. It took her harsh edges away. Made her look, for a moment, a bit more human.
‘You’re … what is that?’ Ezer said and pointed at Zey’s hand.
It was a fresh rune of some sort, but furious red, almost charred at its edges. More like a burn than carved with magic. It was in the shape of a small five-pointed star, the sigil of each Pillar at its points.A small flame, a water droplet, a curl of wind, a mountain for the realm, and a tailed star for the Ehver.
Zey pressed her hand to her side, failing to hide her wince. ‘It’s none of your concern. Now get out of my way. I’m ten minutes past my bedtime, and I don’t like to break my schedule. I need my beauty sleep if I’m to keep looking this good.’
She tried to shoulder past, but Ezer reached out a hand. ‘Did … did they do that to you? The War Table?’
‘Get your hand off me unless you wish to lose it,’ Zey growled. ‘I did this to myself, brought it upon myself when I failed in the demonstration earlier this week.’
‘But …’ Ezer stared at the wound.
That washerfault. In a way.
Was this what Alaris and the others were here for?
Penance.
She couldn’t fathom the healer having done this to anyone. The King, perhaps …
But they wouldn’t lay a hand on their own Sacred.
Would they?
Zey stared at her, considering. And then she surprised Ezer when she said, ‘You’re new here, Wolf Bait. So let me give you a piece of advice. If they ask you to take their vows, to become reinstated as one of us …’ She glanced over Ezer’s shoulder, into the shadows. ‘Don’t.’
Then she turned and left before Ezer could reply.
Ezer was about to follow her, when the doors opened again.
And Kinlear Laroux strolled in.
Don’t notice me,Ezer thought as she ducked her head and tried to avoid his gaze.
‘Raphonminder!’
Damn the gods.
