It was empty.
I opened it wider and took in the small room. It appeared to be a study, with a couple of desks and stacks of books toppling over the floor. Across from where I stood was a large tapestry and several maps of the empire hanging next to it.
I could hear the voices clearly now, as if we were in the same room. But where were theycomingfrom? There wasn’t anywhere else to go. No chambers, no doorways. No?—
I raised an eyebrow at the floor-to-ceiling tapestry of a burning scroll with ashes swirling in the flames. Slowly, I reached out to move the fabric aside.
Behind the tapestry was a small hallway, barely large enough to walk through. I forced myself into the tight space and shimmied down until I came to the back of another tapestry, with shadows of movingfigures on the other side.
“—that Emberfell will feel this loss. He was more than their leader; he was asymbol,” a clipped, measured male voice was saying.
A female voice scoffed. “Yeah, well, everyone knows Scarven always gets what he wants, and he wanted their leader gone. Symbols don’t last long against people like him.”
“Evidently, that’s the only thing I’m good for. Making people disappear.” Nox’s familiar drawl made me freeze. It was different than when he was with me—lighter and more sincere, void of the contempt I knew so well.
There was a pause, and then another male voice, this one quieter, said, “You did what you had to do, Nox. Scarven watches you too closely. You couldn’t risk the truth getting out.”
“Yes,” the first voice said, his tone rich like honey. “He trusts you. That’s what makes this work.”
I tried to puzzle the small bits of conversation together. It sounded like they were saying someone important had died, and that Nox had something to do with it. I had no clue who this Scarven person was, but he and Nox must be working together.
The same female voice cut in again. “Anyway, we’ve got bigger issues than the Lightbenders. Mysthelm’s next shipment has been confirmed—tomorrow night, east port.”
Mysthelm. My heartbeat quickened at the name of my old kingdom.
“Same contact as last time?” Nox asked.
“No, someone new. Last guy apparently pissed off the wrong person and got his head detached from his body.”
Nox hummed, the sound vibrating through the air. “That’ll ruin your day.”
“Tessa, did this informant have any more insight into what, exactly, this shipment contains?” the first man asked.
“Nope,” Tessa said, popping the “p.” “All I’ve got is a place and time. We’ll be going in blind,again.”
A new voice, a deep and husky male’s, said, “At least we havean entire day to get ready this time. I swear to the Fates, Nox, if you try to barge up to the docks without a plan again, I’ll?—”
“Everett, you wound me,” Nox said dramatically. “I always have a plan.”
“You never have a plan,” the first man countered. “Ihave the plans.”
“Yes, andthatis my plan. We all have our strengths, Kieran.”
Tessa interjected, “All I know is, if Scarven wants it, we want it more. This mightfinallybe our chance to beat him to the punch.”
Okay, there was that Scarven name again. So theyweren’tworking for him? I rubbed my temples, trying to keep up with the conversation. Maybe all of this had to do with the danger Nox wanted to keep me away from.
A familiar, broad-shouldered shadow suddenly appeared on the other side of the tapestry. I sucked in a breath, backing away as Nox said, “We’ll meet back here in the morning to go over details. It’s been a long day. You all should get some sleep.”
“And what ofyou, Nox?” one of the men from before asked. “Will you be resting tonight?”
A pause. “Eventually. I’ll be fine, Silas.”
The group murmured their goodnights, and their footsteps faded as they left. I used the opportunity to sneak back the way I’d come before someone discovered me.
As I scurried down the short, narrow hall, fabric rustled against stone. I nearly screamed when a rough hand closed around my wrist.
“Leaving so soon, Shadow Wielder?”
