Walking away would be the smart choice. But I’d never been good at keeping my nose out of things that shouldn’t concern me.
That little boy's confused voice echoed in my mind.Mummy? Why won't you smile?How many times had he asked that question? How many times had he been ignored?
Maybe I felt this way because the memory of my potential child, Lore’s and mine, the one I’d met in the labyrinth, still lived in my heart. If I was Laphira and that boy was my son, I’d hope someone, anyone, would help us. Because it was clear that something bad was going on and that he could be in danger, from the servant if no one else.
I exhaled through my nose, trying to focus on the task we’d given ourselves tonight. The hallway was silent again, long and too narrow and stretching away into darkness in both directions.
Laphira is vacant.A chill wracked my frame, and I was reminded of how someone had once drained all my power, how he’d wiped me so clean that I was left to float through the ether. If my best friend hadn’t come for me, saved me, I’d still be there today.
Was that what was going on here?
Horror alone won’t do that to you, I don’t think.Lore pinched the bridge of his nose.I’m tempted to follow. See where they’re going.
Same.
His eyes stayed sharp on the hallway.Her mother could be using some kind of mind control. Take your pick or come up with your own suggestions. None of it’s good.
Agreed. We’ll…
“Wildfire,” he drawled. “Do not get involved.”
You’re the one who suggested it first.
I know you.
That you do.
He tried to scowl but couldn’t quite pull it off.Yes, I do.
After listening to make sure no one was coming, we eased out from behind the drapes and headed in the direction they’d come from.
She wasn’t wearing the talisman,I said.
I noted that as well. Let’s hope she left it behind.
I kept my footsteps light, studying the swirling pattern on the tile, the way dust had settled in corners of the hall. Why not keep this area of the castle clean?
We passed room after room. Some doors stood open, leading into unused chambers. Others were locked. A sweep of Lore’s hand opened those, and we poked our heads inside, finding more unlived-in rooms.
Guess they’re not expecting guests on this wing,he said.
I nodded, my jaw tight.
We kept going. One more door at the far end of the hall, and it was darker here, as if even the moonlight had decided to keep away.
We stopped outside the door. Lore looked at me. I gave a nod, and he opened it. We stepped into a sitting room with a cluster offurniture in front of a cold fireplace. A thick rug covered wooden floorboards that peeked out from beneath on all sides. I spied a door to our left that could lead to a bedroom.
A few toys lay scattered on the rug, including a soft knight doll with a sword stitched to one hand. A small carved dragon lay on the rug beside it.
Farris trotted over to a ball lying on the wood, and he nudged it with his nose before looking my way. No, I was not going to throw it for him. As if he heard my thought, he sighed and trotted back to sit beside me, looking around the room like us.
This is either her room or the boy's.
Agreed.
Let's search for the talisman before someone finds us.
Farris bumped my thigh with his snout. I found him staring back at the hall, his ears forward. Alert.
