“Your keeper approaches.”
I turned sharply.
Far behind me, through the archway where I’d entered the courtyard, I saw a small, dark shape pushing through the fog.
Barlen.
He moved quickly, one roll tucked under each arm and pure panic in his eyes.
“There you are,” he wheezed as he stumbled into the courtyard. “Do you understand what happens when a guest of the Priestess vanishes while I am buying rolls?”
“I assumed it would take you more time to get the rolls.”
His mouth opened and closed before a finger went up in the air, and a roll almost fell out of his armpit.
“That is not the point.”
“It feels slightly like the point.”
He thrust one roll at me, then noticed the old man in the doorway and went completely still.
The old man looked at Barlen, and Barlen looked at the old man.
Neither of them spoke.
“You two know each other,” I said.
“No,” Barlen said quickly.
The old man gave a dry little laugh. “He lies poorly.”
“Everyone keeps saying that in Shadowick.” I shook my head and clutched the roll as my mind raced about the escaping shadow.
“Because no one here has the energy for better lies,” the old man replied. “This place wears a person out.”
Barlen’s ears flattened, and he scowled at the man. “You should be inside.”
“I am inside. Doorway counts.” He tapped his frail fingers onto the frame.
“It does not count.” Barlen looked angrier than I’d seen him yet.
“At my age, many things count if I say they do.”
Despite everything, I liked him too.
I looked over at the wall where the shadow slipped away, and my shadow mark flared in response. Behind the wall sat nothing but looming trees that I couldn’t see through.
Barlen noticed immediately and grabbed my hand.
“We are leaving.”
“No.” I shook my head. “There’s something I need to investigate.”
His eyes widened. “No? You’re telling me no?”
“I need to see where that shadow went.”
“You need to return to the compound before someone notices you’ve wandered out of the approved streets.”
