In other words, at night, the kitchen was empty. Most likely, anyway.
“That’s definitely not worth the risk. Cleaning the soldiers’ smelly, dirty laundry sounds miserable. I hope you never have to do it.” I really meant it, too. Frannie was sweet. Innocent.
She secured the hair tie around the end of the braid. “I did do it once. Never again,” she said, almost gravely. “All done.”
I turned and smiled at her, running my hand over the smooth plait. “Thanks, Frannie. I hope I didn’t hold you up.”
One glance at my eyes, and she shriveled. The reaction left a sour taste in my mouth, even though it shouldn’t have. I didn’t need her to like me.
“Do you need anything else?” she asked.
“No, thank you.”
She pivoted and fluttered from the room in a rush.
I made quick work of breakfast as I thought about what I’d learned. I’d just finished when Callen strode through the door. I jumped to myfeet, taking in his brown fighting leathers and neatly combed hair. Those green eyes were flat as he stopped, silent.
Clearly, he was still angry with me about what I’d done during Koerlyn’s ambush. It bothered me far more than it should. We weren’t friends. Not even close. I was planning to leave and escape them all soon. But his congenial nature had been a welcome—albeit annoying—presence amidst all these strangers. His teasing had almost made him feel somewhat like a temporary ally, and to see him turn so suddenly cold and apathetic toward me was, well, bothersome. I wanted to change it back.
I spoke before he did. “Are you still mad at me?”
His expression didn’t shift. “Why would I be mad, Etarla?”
Etarla, notFish Eyes.Oh, boy, was I in trouble. “I think we both know why.”
“I think I need you to explain.”
He wanted to be stubborn, then. I sighed. “You told me to listen to you, and I did. Then Joris was about to be killed, and I have no clue why I did it, but I intervened. Koerlyn’s men saw me, and instead of leading them back to you—which would have made you fightfourpeople at once—I ran in the other direction.”
“I could very well handle four people. You should have come back.”
Disbelief rolled through me. “How was I supposed to know that you could fight four men at once?”
He smirked, that easy light returning to his bright eyes. Relief rolled in, quickly followed by wariness. It was a look of mischief. “You were worried about me?”
I rolled my eyes. “Absolutely not.”
“You were worried I would die if you led those men back to me,” he pointed out, that smirk pulling into a victorious smile.
“No—”
“Youlikeme, Fish Eyes.”
“That’s not my name.” I suddenly couldn’t remember why I wanted this version of Callen back. He was obnoxious.
He shrugged a shoulder, unperturbed. “I know the truth. No need to be embarrassed.”
“Callen—”
“Come with me,” he said, cutting me offagain.“We have to meet Harthon and the others. We have things to show you and plans to make.” He spun on his heel, marching from the room.
Rolling my eyes again, I trudged behind him. “You’re annoying.”
“You mean, likable,” he quipped, the guard outside my room bowing as he passed.
“I should’ve encouraged those men to kill you.”
“But then you’d miss my lovely presence,” he said over his shoulder, leading me down the hallway. Five doors marked the long, windowless hallway, the end bringing us to a spiraling stone staircase.
