Maris strokes Delphine’s arm. ‘You could never do that.’ They exchange a look that speaks of past intimacy – the embers of a love that’s more than simple friendship. ‘Can’t you wait? I don’t want you travelling these mountains alone, especially when frostfangs might be roaming about. But I promised Tansy I’d help her dress Briar’s wounds.’
I follow her gaze to the upturned wardrobe lined with furs. Briar is cocooned inside, Tansy curled beside her. Several of the sylvanmare’s scabbing wounds weep yellow pus. I clench my jaw till my teeth ache. The Arx Magnum best pray we never meet again.
‘After that, I told Blayze I’d walk the city with him. Scavenge supplies.’
Delphine rolls her eyes. ‘I’ll be fine, Mar. I’ll hold my own hand. Tides forbid you disappoint the Clanschief…’ She tosses her hair, affecting indifference as she twists from Maris. But as she steps into the receiving chamber where I presume the boys bunked last night, her hair turns the deep green of malachite.
I move into the dressing chamber, place a hand on Tansy’s shoulder. ‘How’s the patient?’
Tansy turns to me with a weak smile, then lets her watery eyes fall back to Briar. ‘She’s bearing up.’
I don’t need my gifts to know this is a lie – Tansy wears feelings like tattoos.
Maris comes to join us. ‘You look better, at least,’ she says, assessing me up and down.
‘Are Blayze and Astrophel still sleeping?’ I search over her shoulder, peering through the door Delphine just walked through.
Maris shakes her head. ‘Blayze can’t sit still. They went hunting at dawnrise.’
‘Together?’
Maris rolls her eyes. ‘Wonders never cease.’
‘You left out the best bit.’ Tansy’s lips twitch as she gets to her feet, though her eyes are still pained. ‘Blayze swore some sort of ink-oath to your betrothed after you fell asleep last night. Knelt down and everything.’
‘An ink-oath?’ I frown.
‘Said he owed him a debt and swore to ink the Vesparion sigil into his arm. Apparently, his honour demanded the pledge after… after what Astrophel did for us in Galtair.’
Maris turns to look out the grimy window. ‘They should have been back by now.’
I look too, but the courtyard is deserted.
‘Serafine and the cragstalkers are with them. They’re fine.’ Tansy squeezes Maris’ shoulder. ‘There’s not much to hunt, that’s all. I’d wager the frostfangs have picked the mountain clean.’
Through the window, I can see more of the Starshrine. Three of its seven silver points are visible in the distance, behind the rambling thicket and high walls.
‘I’ll set off soon,’ I murmur.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’
Tansy’s question pulls me up short. I expect that snowberry-sharp tone from Maris, but not from her.
‘The Starshrine. Noelani’s letter said—’
Tansy exchanges a tight look with Maris. ‘Surely that can wait till tomorrow, when you’re feeling stronger?’
I draw myself straighter. ‘I’ll take it slowly. I’ll be fine.’
‘I don’t think you should be going anywhere,’ Tansy mutters. I open my mouth to protest, but she silences me. ‘We still don’t understand what happened to you in that tower.’ Her gaze travels from my face to my hair, settles there. Worry lines furrow her brow.
‘What is it? Why does everyone keep looking at me like that?’
‘It’s… It’s nothing,’ she stammers.
Maris sighs, folds her arms. ‘She’s got a right to know. You said it yourself last night – she’ll find out as soon as she catches sight of herself in a mirror, anyway.’
I raise a hand to my hair. ‘Find out what?’
