I walked through and he slammed the door and locked it. I blinked. We...were still going to be able to leave, right?
A rhythmic tapping made me turn. “Are you going to tarry there all morning, or shall we go find our prey?” Noble asked with the lift of a perfect brow.
I took a quick step forward, unnerved. “He is not our prey, you horrid man.”
He put a hand over his chest and bowed his head. “Your words warm my cold, brittle heart.” His hand fell to rest at his side, the walnut appearing out of nowhere and once again rolling between his fingers. “Let’s find our prey, princess.”
He took the first turn. I glanced right and left, noticing the cells for the first time—Noble once more having captured my entire attention when he was within the same space, cursed man.
Filthy, ragged hands appeared around the warded bars, followed by ripped sleeves black with dirt. Soulless eyes stared back.
“I’ll be your prey, pretty.” A clawed hand reached through the bars toward me—the bars warded against magic but not flesh. Before I could move, something pinged off the iron and the claw disappeared back inside the dank cell. A walnut rolled into the corner and wobbled to a stop.
I turned, but Noble was nowhere to be seen. Moving quickly, I was relieved when I turned the corner and could see his back once more. I concentrated on it as I walked, the edges of his garments brushing as they met in perfect alignment along his shoulders, hips, and legs. Better to look at the cursed man than to see the monstrous conditions of the cells and inmates—and to think of Kennen’s state.
We took the last turn and I saw my brother. In a solitary cell as dreary and dark as the others we had passed, he was absently picking at the buckle on his shoe, looking miserable.
“Kennen!”
His head shot up and he sprang forward, gripping the warded bars, his ripped shirt falling off one shoulder, making him look even more gangly and lanky.
“Mari!” His fingers clawed at me as I awkwardly embraced him through bars brimming with spells. “Finally! It’s been wretched. I’ve ruined my shoes. My hair’s a mess.”
“I’ve a lump on my head that still smarts. Hit right smack in the back of it!” I tried to say something but words kept falling from his lips, as if he hadn’t spoken to anyone in a week. He gripped me harder. “Tackled in the middle of the street. Thank the spirits you are here. Where’s the key?”
“Key?” I untangled myself from his arms and the bars. “There’s a slight problem, Kennen, with—”
“Yes, I know! They’ve held me here for a week! The food is wretched and there are rats. Rats! One stole my bread last night.” He sent a glance toward one corner of his cell and pressed harder against the bars. “And the Vein Ripper’s somewhere in the prison. What if he rips me in my sleep? The guards mutter about him all the time. They’ve even forgotten to feed me meals because of him.” His stomach rumbled. “Happy they nabbed the bastard, but I can’t say that I agree with them reducing my rations because of it! What if he gets me? Mari, our veins are already terrible! I need what I have!”
I took a firm look at my brother, who was gasping for air after spewing that all out in one breath. He didn’tseemto be suffering from insanity. “Kennen, you know why you’re here, don’t you?”
He waved a hand. “They think I killed someone. Ha. As if I could stand the blood.” He shuddered. “Knew they’d discover their mistake sooner or later. But it’s been a week! Outrageous. Where’s the key?”
He looked so expectant that all I could do was blink. A hand shot through the bars to grip my arm. “Mari? Ow!” He yelped, snatching his hand back and holding his fingers in pain.
Noble’s hand fell from my arm before I even realized he had pried Kennen’s grip free.
“What was that for? Who are you?” Kennen asked, sucking one suspiciously clean finger into his mouth.
“Do you really expect us to believe you are that clueless as to why you are here?” Noble asked.
Kennen looked bewildered. Poor boy had never been the brightest tulip. “I’ve been falsely arrested, and Mari has come to save me?”
There was so much hope in his face that I hated to be the one to ruin it.
“Yes, your sister has come to save you,” Noble said, surprising me. “Little though you seem to deserve it.”
Kennen’s eyes widened. He’d always made friends easily, unlike me. “I didn’t kill that woman. No one can believe I did.”
“Not only do they believe you killed her, but they think you mutilated two others as well.”
Perhaps he wasn’t the quickest, but Kennen wasn’t terminally stupid. Comprehension turned to horror. “They thinkI’mthe Vein Ripper?”
I moved to touch him and Noble shifted his position accordingly. “Kennen, you are in real trouble. Were you truly not aware?”
He chewed his lip. “I thought they were keeping me away from the real villains. The guards mostly avoid me. Do they really believe I’m...? Does—” his voice lowered. “Does anyone else know?”
“Yes.”
