Next, she dragged out the map. She unrolled it and spread its edges flat, and then she leaned over Ravenwood. She’d not noticed a town between Loxlen and the sea, but she’d not thought to stare at the inked trees. She found Verity at last; it took much longer than it should have as it was written the same camouflaged way the entire town lived.
The candle near her arm flickered and spat a black cloud. Lux’s nostrils flared. These candles were cheaply made, mostly fats, and it smelled of it. She didn’t want more of its venting to tarnish her painting. With a huff of breath, it snuffed. She leaned back in the chair, where she stared instead out the window. A thin fog began to brush against the buildings, caressing lampposts and shutters. It didn’t curl or creep, but still, it brought back memories of Ghadra she didn’t wish to linger on while alone.
It was harder than she’d thought.
When she left, she’d been so intently focused on achieving her dream of escape, she’d not thought about what it would feel like in these moments. How, now that she’d carved away the darkness inside her, there’d be so muchspaceleftover.
She’d forgotten. What it felt like to spend time with those she cared about. To talk about things that excited her. She’d become accustomed to her companionship with silence in all those yearsalone that trying to create a similar relationship with her voice now felt awkward and strained.
And now there was something else the matter with her, and she had no one to tell.
Her fingertips no longer buzzed, her body quieting nearly to normal. But two enchantments in a single evening would have had her trudging to her bed only a month ago.
What has happened to me?
Because she felt like she could walk all night.
Her stomach grumbled, and she placed a hand over it. The idea of going back downstairs to enter a common room full of sideways glances sounded like something worth starving for. But the smells… She smelled roasted things. Savory things. Things that were not travel food. And she did want to ask after that carriage.
“You’ve survived a plague and devouring trees to be scared off by a few suspicious townsfolk? Unacceptable.” She shoved to her feet.
She opened the door and stepped out.
Her shoulder collided with another’s.
“Blessed Saints! Apologies,” said the stranger, righting her. “I suppose I should pay closer attention when walking a corridor of occupied rooms.” Gloved hands left her shoulders to adjust the sharp cut of a black coat. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” said Lux. “Yourself?”
The crude excuse of a lamp offered little light in the hall. The squat candle only lit one half of the man’s face. A strong jaw, a straight nose, hair several shades fairer than Shaw’s bothersome sister, and a grin stretching his mouth. “Never better. I’ve made it through worse.” He stepped back from her. “After you.”
Lux didn’t like the idea of that. After being shot with arrows, she’d joined the rest of Verity’s occupants as a suspicious sort.“No, I’ll follow.”
She watched his eyes widen, a pale frost-like blue. “If you insist,” he said, and turned away.
She waited a few seconds until he disappeared down the stairway. She followed then, but slowly. Something had pricked at her while she had stood in his presence, but she couldn’t describe it more than that. Lux flexed her fingers.
“You have to figure out what’s the matter with you—and fast,” she whispered crossly to herself. “You’re about halfway to useless.”
She headed down the stairs.
Chapter nine
Luxcouldn’thelpbutwatch him. Though he wore black, the man stuck out like moonlight in a barren landscape. He stood at the bar, his back to her, and while it couldn’t be said the people of Verity dressed poorly, everything about him—from his perfectly swept hair to his polished black boots—shouted wealth.
But he was not the same wealthy man she’d encountered in Loxlen.
For one thing, he wore no bowler hat. For two, he was much younger.
Lux jolted when a body appeared at her elbow. She relaxed only a little when she realized it was Magda.
“Viktar told us what you did for him.”
“Did he.” Lux observed the man slide a few coins across the counter.
“What do you expect for payment?”
Lux finally tore her gaze from him. Her brow furrowed as she focused on Magda. “Payment? I would like the payment of youleaving me be. Of no longer targeting those just trying to live. Viktar’s hopelessness clearly drove him to desperate crimes. Are you the same, that you’d condone it rather than help him?”
