“Impossible,” he whispered to himself, staring at the now-empty spot on the road leading to the castle. A few blinks ago, he’d been sure he’d seen Erindil dressed like a rogue.
Thirty-Seven
There wasno way the figure he’d spotted in the distance was Erindil, Vaskel told himself as he bustled through the village, the hood of his cloak flipped over his head so he could avoid being pulled into conversations. He tossed quick waves to both Fenni and Pip, giving silent thanks that Tin hadn’t spotted him. He wasn’t sure if his excuses would matter to the enthusiastic haberdasher.
Vaskel tried to focus on finding Cali, but his mind continued to circle back to the strange elf sighting. Why would Erindil be wearing oddly subdued clothes? He’d never seen Lira’s uncle dressed in anything but ornate robes. The thought of Erindil in snug pants and a long tunic was so absurd he almost laughed out loud.
No, his mind had been playing tricks on him. Maybe it was the effects of the marks crawling up his arms. Maybe it was his worry over Cali.
Cali. Iris had tasked him with finding Cali and talking to her, which was what he was going to do, oddly dressed elf or not.
Swinging his head from side to side, he caught no glimpse of the pantheri. Not that he suspected he would. If she wasn’t at the tavern or the apothecary’s, then she must be with Marina. Neither of them spent much free time in their small rooms at the inn, and his hellkin instincts told him he’d find his friend at the castle.
A few flakes of snow sifted lazily through the air as he crossed the bridge, the rhythmic clang of the blacksmith’s hammer calming his nerves as he thought about encountering Marina or her hellkin crew. It didn’t matter how much he dreaded seeing Marina. He would do it for Cali.
He curled his hands into tight balls by his side as he strode toward the castle, the trees bowing snow-laden branches toward him and darkening the road.
Vaskel clocked a pair of guards at two corner towers, their presence reassuring him. At least Marina and her crew hadn’t taken over the castle. At least there were still guards.
He walked beneath the portcullis, exhaling when he spotted Val. The blonde was in her full uniform with quilted chest armor and a sword hitched to her belt.
“I’ve got this,” Val called out to the other guard in the courtyard, although Vaskel didn’t see the other man—who looked like he also might be part goblin—make a move to help.
“I thought I might see you,” Val said when she was close enough to Vaskel that no one could overhear them. “I thought you might come looking for Cali.”
“Do you know where she is?”
Val snuck a glance over one shoulder and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Last I heard, she and Marina were dining in the great hall.”
Vaskel swore to himself. He couldn’t let Marina see him trying to talk to Cali. That would only make her sink her claws in deeper.
“But Marina usually attends the laird in the afternoon,” Val continued. “There’s a good chance you can grab Cali then.”
“I doubt I’ll be doing any grabbing.” Vaskel let out a dark, mirthless laugh. “Cali isn’t some damsel in distress I can throw over my shoulder.”
Val’s brows popped high. “Not unless you want an arrow in your back.”
“All I need is a few minutes to talk to her, but it has to be alone.”
Val nodded, her expression serious. “I can stand guard and make sure Marina doesn’t surprise you. Be warned, though. Marina has managed to sweet-talk the rest of the guards. They’re convinced she’s going to heal the laird and return this castle to its glory days. They won’t hear a word against her. Neither will the laird’s advisors. So, if we get caught…”
“We won’t,” he promised.
Val squared her shoulders. “Come with me.” Her voice boomed across the courtyard, making Vaskel jump, and she strode toward an arched doorway, glancing back at him. “Don’t make me wait.”
Vaskel recognized her loud voice as a show she was putting on for the other guards, although none of them seemed to care or notice. Still, Vaskel followed her.
The air in the dimly lit corridors was dank, but soon Vaskel’s nose twitched from the scent of something rich and savory. They were approaching the kitchen or the banquet hall.
When they reached a pair of heavy wooden doors, Val held up a fist. She creaked one door open a crack, peeking inside and then breathing a sigh. “The hellkin’s gone. It looks like Cali is finishing her meal alone.” She opened the door fully, locking eyes with him as he passed. “Good luck.”
Vaskel stepped into the large room, realizing that he was entering from the back. Long tables stretched the length of the otherwise empty hall, and every clink of Cali’s silverware echoed off the stone walls and vaulted ceiling. He took long steps until he was dropping into the chair beside her at the long table on the dais.
The pantheri twitched, her gold eyes flaring as she turned to him. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to talk to you.” Vaskel narrowed his gaze at her. “What are you doing here?”
“Helping,” Cali said, turning back to her plate. “The traveling healer needed my help.”
