Lyndal’s mouth fell open. ‘And is it my fault he sleeps in your bed too?’
The sound of the shop bell hitting the ground made the women all look in that direction.
‘Anyone here?’
Harlan’s voice had Blake’s feet moving before her thoughts could catch up. She froze in the doorway of the shop, her sisters and mother on her heel.
Harlan stood in the middle of the room with the young recruit who had been in the water with him the day the sea warriors attacked.
‘We need to speak with every member of the household,’ said the defender.
Blake stepped into the room. ‘What is it you need to talk to us about?’
‘We need to know where you were last night.’
Lyndal immediately looked at Blake, who did not dare meet her gaze.
‘We were here,’ Candace said. ‘All of us were early to bed.’
‘Did you hear or see anything unusual throughout the night?’ Harlan asked.
That was when Blake realised they were looking for the person who had breached the wall. They were looking forher.
‘Is this about the breach?’ Candace asked. ‘Because I assure you we know nothing of it.’
Lyndal straightened. ‘What breach?’
‘Someone tried to go over the wall last night,’ Blake said, keeping her tone as casual as possible.
‘Over?’ Lyndal questioned. ‘Goodness. They must have been quite desperate.’
Harlan’s eyes went to the door, where Garlic had just appeared. ‘You still have the duck?’ He sounded annoyed. Not entirely surprising given recent events.
‘Actually, today is the big day,’ Lyndal said. ‘Blake was just about to do the honours.’
Blake crossed her arms against the cold air blowing in through the open door. ‘I think we should wait until tomorrow.’
‘Why?’ Lyndal asked.
She knew exactly why. Because there had been enough death in their family, and this felt a lot like the death of another sibling. ‘Because… tomorrow is better.’
‘I’ll do it,’ Harlan said, reaching for his sword.
Blake bent down and grabbed the duck. ‘Thank you, Commander, but I don’t want to delay your important work.’
His eyes moved to hers. ‘If you hear anything, you’re obligated to come forwards with the information.’
Blake was grateful that Garlic was covering her thudding chest. ‘I know.’
Candace went to the door, opening it wider for them.
The young defender looked between them, then gestured to the bell on the floor. ‘You should fix that.’ Then he walked out.
Harlan nodded once at Blake before following him.
Pushing the door closed behind them, Candace exhaled. ‘He acts like he did not ride off with you on horseback and completely ruin your future.’
Blake did not reply; she simply waited for her mother and Eda to disappear into the house before turning to Lyndal. ‘I can feel you glaring at me. Come on. Out with it.’ She set Garlic down and walked over to pick up the bell.
