“You’re right, I’m teasing. I’ve noticed a difference in me, too. I guess this is what happens when we finally stop spending every waking hour in a library or classroom.” Alyss paused, staring at her arms and legs. There were shadowed lines cutting across her dark skin that had never been there before. “I hope my dress for the ball will still fit when it arrives. Though the seamstress was using the magic of the morphi to make it. I think she could…” Alyss trailed off when she noticed Eira’s solemn expression. “Sorry. I know you don’t like thinking of that day.”
“It’s all right.”
“It was insensitive of me.” Alyss nudged her shoulder against Eira’s gently. “Forgive me.”
“Done well before you needlessly asked.” Eira smiled at her friend, putting on a brave face in the wake of the memories of Ferro that were suddenly swimming like sharks in her inner ocean. She hadn’t heard anything from him since that day. But a part of her always felt like he was watching, hovering, one step away. In a breath he’d close the gap and—
Eira looked over her shoulder, making sure no one was there. The nearest people were sitting up in the common area under the archways. Just her mind playing tricks on her…
Her eyes wandered over the manor, thinking back to what she’d discovered that day. The manor had been Ferro’s mother’s. She pursed her lips, wondering if Deneya’s and Lorn’s suspicions about Ulvarth killing Ferro’s mother to keep his son a secret were founded. Or, was she correct in her theory that she’d never had a chance to say?
“What is it?” Alyss waved a hand in front of Eira’s face. Eira blinked, head jerking toward her friend. “You were lost to the world for a moment there.”
“Sorry, I was thinking about—” she swallowed hard “—abouthim.”
“It’s best not to.” Alyss hooked her arm with Eira’s and scooted closer, resting her head on Eira’s shoulder.
“I know. But…it’s hard not to when a part of me still feels like I’m sleeping under his roof.”
She glanced back over her shoulder despite herself. The people who had been sitting at the table by the archway had left, and an elfin woman bustled about, cleaning up their mess.Mistress Harrot. Her lilac eyes darted over Eira’s way, lingering for several seconds too long.
Eira quickly looked back to the river.
“What is it?” Alyss’s voice was distant. She was back in the real world. Meanwhile, Eira’s mind was whirring leagues away.
This house had belonged to Ferro’s mother—a woman whom little was known about. A woman whom most people likely wouldn’t be able to recognize because she’d spent most of her life in the care of the Larks. The manor had been taken by the crown on her death and an overseer appointed to it.
I will bring it to her. That was what Ferro had said, right? When she’d first listened to the dagger? Eira closed her eyes, struggling to remember every word of that conversation.Her.The word stuck out in her mind. The way Ferro had said it.
He was talking about his mother. She was certain of it. Harrot’s seeming obsession with her room… What if her “dusting” incident wasn’t checking in on Eira…but looking for the dagger?
What if that stupid golden weapon was more significant than any of them—even her—had thought? “Eira?” Alyss pressed again.
If she was right… That meant the golden dagger was given to Ferro by his father. Ferro had brought it to his mother—Mistress Harrot—for safekeeping while he went to Solaris to…what did the dagger say? Eira gripped the bench, trying to focus.
“Eira, you don’t seem—”
“Shh,” Eira hissed. She glanced at her friend, who looked a mixture of startled and wounded. “Sorry, Alyss, give me a moment…”
“Okay.” Her friend tilted her head, looking more curious than upset.
Eira stood. The Court of Shadows might be done with her. But she wasn’t done with them. And Eira was going to makesomeonelisten to her before it was too late.
Alyss grabbed her hand. “You’re not running off without telling me where you’re going.”
“I need to speak with Ducot,” Eira said in a hushed whisper. “There’s a missing piece to this puzzle, something they’re all overlooking, and he’s the only person who might hear me out.”
30
Mistress Harrot was nowhere to be seen when Eira reentered the building. She kept glancing out of the corner of her eye, looking for the silent overseer of the manor. Alyss stayed close by as Eira made her way up to the third floor and knocked on the door to the Twilight Kingdom’s apartments.
Griss was the one to answer. He seemed startled by her sudden appearance. Not that she could blame him.
“I need to speak to Ducot.”
Griss leaned against the doorframe, blocking her entry and visibility into the room. “And what do you need to speak with him about?”
“It’s personal.”
