‘Hey,’ I say, stretching out my hand as she reaches us. ‘I’m Rose. Thought you might want to ride over with us.’
Her eyes narrow. ‘I don’t need your sympathy. I’m not like you. I have powers.’
The remark stings more than I expected. ‘You may have powers, but apparently you don’t have any manners,’ I respond sharply.
Her lips purse. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry. Long night bunking with a crazy woman from Dorain. Thank you for the offer.’
There’s no general chitchat or offer of polite conversation, and I’m just starting to regret my decision to invite Estel to join us, when Jonas approaches. While everyone else looks at least a bit haggard – either from too much drink, not enough sleep, or a combination of both – Jonas is sporting a perfectly fresh face. His mane of hair is tied back in a knot on the top of his head, while his eyes glimmer like he’s never been more well-rested.
‘It’s eight people to a carriage,’ he tells us. He notices Estel and offers her a nod. ‘You’re joining us?’ he questions her.
Benny doesn’t miss a beat before he replies, ‘Us? I assume that means you’re happy to work with us, Jonas?’
The two men observe each other for a beat longer than would be considered normal.
‘To start with,’ Jonas replies breezily.
‘Obviously,’ Benny drawls.
It’s a little while longer until the wide gates at the back of the yard open, and a stream of horse-drawn carriages files into the courtyard. Allmade of the same deep, stained wood, the carriages look incredibly claustrophobic, and I’m not even inside yet. It doesn’t bode well. Before I have time for panic to sink in, Llinos sidles up beside me.
‘So what happened with you two last night?’ she asks with a slight gesture to Jonas.
‘What? Oh nothing,’ I reply. ‘Well, he warded my room, but that’s it.’ It’s only then that I remember the way Jonas’s thumb brushed against the skin by my cut and how he kissed my cheek. It was as though the incident with Kyor this morning had pushed him entirely from my mind. Not that I plan on telling Llinos about that either.
‘He didn’t come back to the ball. Not while we were still there,’ Llinos presses as if she’s sure I’m lying.
‘Then he probably went to bed. On his own,’ I stress.
A moment later, a carriage draws up beside us. It’s the only carriage with jet-black horses, and for reasons I can’t explain, my eyes gravitate to the top of the wall beside me. The skin on the back of my neck prickles, and some part of me already knows what I’m going to see.
Sure enough, a single raven sits at eye height, its beady gaze narrowed directly on me. Maybe that’s just the way their eyes are, always looking like they’re staring at you. Like those portraits where the subject’s gaze follows you around the room. That’s all it is. That’s all it can be. Yet despite my valid reasoning, a hollowness forms in the pit of my stomach.
With a shake of my head, I move towards the carriage to climb in next to Coulter and Jai, who are already on board.
It’s not an omen. It’s just a bird. It doesn’t mean anything.
Chapter 19
The carriage door clicks closed, and a moment later, we jolt forward. There are no windows and no way to see out, save for a thin crack around the door that lets a sliver of light through and an open skylight. I fix my eyes on the sky above, watching it turn from blue to grey.
‘Remember, it doesn’t matter how much blood you give at the blood vow,’ Jonas says as the horses’ footsteps clatter on the paving stones. ‘It’s just to seal your participation in the trials.’
‘Yeah, we were talking about it before you turned up,’ Llinos tells him.
‘Right, of course, but Rose,’ he continues directly to me, ‘if the cut is on your hand and you get to choose which hand to bleed, it’s probably best if you use the one that’s already injured rather than opening up a new wound.’
‘Yeah, I figured,’ I say.
I push the exasperation down. It’s sweet that he’s worried about me, but I’m not stupid.
‘Also, several years ago, one of the trials took place in the Sunken Temple,’ Jonas continues. ‘So it’s worthwhile researching the space while we’re there for the vow.’
‘Which, of course, you already have. I bet you’ve been there dozens of times,’ Jai mutters.
‘No one is allowed into the Sunken Temple,’ Jonas snaps back. ‘Only the priestesses. So no, I haven’t.’
‘I bet you’ve studied maps and shit.’ Jai folds his arms.
