Chapter 32
‘Where the hell were you last night?’ Shapur called as he marched towards his son.
Harlan was on his way to the mess hall after training. He had managed to avoid his father for most of the day. ‘Sleeping, until I was called to the gate.’
Shapur crossed his arms. ‘Because of the breach?’
‘A personal matter.’ He was not obligated to explain to his father what he did while off duty. ‘I did hear about the breach though. But don’t worry. They never made it over the wall.’
‘They were never caught either.’
Harlan continued walking, his father falling into step with him. ‘She won’t be the last person to try.’
‘She?’ Shapur’s brow creased. ‘Well,shescaled the wall without so much as a rope.’
Harlan blinked away the image of Blake falling to her death. He had not asked her how she had gotten up there, maybe because he was afraid of the answer. ‘I’ve put some extra men on that wall.’
‘The merchant needs to be found and disciplined.’
Harlan looked heavenward. ‘And how do you suggest I do that when even the dogs couldn’t find her?’
Shapur grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. ‘What the hell is going on with you? Someone breaches the wall and you just shrug and say, “Oh well”?’
Harlan pulled his arm free. ‘I just told you I put extra men on the wall. You know, this is what happens when you cage people in. Stop acting surprised.’
‘These are orders from our king.’
‘And he doesn’t make mistakes?’
Shapur looked around to ensure no one had heard. ‘Careful. Men have hung for less.’
Harlan was done with the conversation, with the threats, with all of it. He did something he had never done in his life. He walked away from his father first.
‘Commander!’
‘I need to eat.’
‘I want you knocking on every door in that borough. Find out what people know. You hear me?’
Without looking back, Harlan saluted his father. ‘Loud and clear, warden.’
* * *
‘Of course you must be the one to do it,’ Lyndal said, thrusting the knife towards Blake. ‘It’syourduck.’
Blake took the knife and looked down at Garlic. He was napping on her foot. The fact that he had time to nest showed how long they had been arguing. ‘But you’re the cook in the household.’
‘So?’
‘So he’s an ingredient.’
Lyndal sighed. ‘He’s food only once slaughtered and plucked. Right now he’s still your pet.’
Eda was leaning against the wall watching the exchange. When Blake glanced in her direction, her sister looked away. She had not forgiven Blake for attempting to go over the wall.
Candace walked into the courtyard and looked between the three girls, then down at the knife in Blake’s hand. ‘Oh. Well, I suppose it’s time.’
‘If you hadn’t named him, this wouldn’t be so difficult,’ Blake said quietly.
