“It’s complicated.”
“I have time,” Garrick said.“And as long as we’re telling truths, maybe you can tell me what really happened the night you broke into Orlik’s house.I’m guessing it’s related?”
As usual, Garrick was sharp as a whip.I suspected that this conversation might lead to that question.After opening up to Elena, I was learning to appreciate the benefits of not keeping secrets from people I trusted.And yet I still hesitated.I closed my eyes, let out a long breath, then let the words flow.
“I ran into another thief when I was stealing the gold.I could sense that he was Emberborn,” I said.“Which I recently found out is an Emberborn ability.”
“Dust, Cas, you have Veilsense?”
“Yes.Same as the Sentinels, as much as that sickens me.”
Garrick’s face looked as sour as I’d ever seen it.“What happened to the thief?”
“He was after a book in the safe.We did the thief’s parlay.He took the book, and I took the gold.”
Garrick nodded.“That explains why the Sentinels showed up here.What was in the book?”
“It was about Emberborn and how the Crown corrupts them.”
“And why did you choose not to tell me about all this?”Garrick asked, and his tone didn’t sound too accusatory.He seemed genuinely curious.We’d been partners for years and rarely kept secrets without good reason.
I considered for a moment how much to tell him, but I owed him an explanation, especially since this involved him now.The only thing I wasn’t ready to reveal was any personal details about Darion and me.
“The thief is a member of the Order of Emberlight.He invited me to the Emberlight Trials.I was worried that telling you would disqualify me.”
“Ah,” Garrick said, nodding.“This is starting to make sense.That explains why you needed the catacombs map.”
I nodded.
Garrick sat back and let out a long sigh.“You really are in deep, aren’t you, Cas?”
“So it would seem.”
“I know you’re an adult, and I’m not here to lecture you, but the Emberlight Trials?Isn’t that dangerous?Those are designed to weed people out, not let them in.What about your sister?”
“Elena’s showing signs of being Emberborn,” I said.“I could sense her Ember, and that means the Sentinels will be able to sense her too if her Ember ever manifests.”
“Oh.”Garrick frowned.“Well, thatdoescomplicate things.”
“Just the other day, we saw the Sentinels murder a man simply because his Emberborn daughter was taken away and he spoke up about it.”Saying that out loud made me unexpectedly emotional, and my throat constricted.I had to choke back tears.“I can’t lie low anymore.”
“I understand,” Garrick said.“So what do you need from me?”
“A way to get into the Citadel Clock Tower.”
Garrick laughed, then stopped when I stayed silent.“Oh, you’re not joking.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Garrick stroked his beard.“Cas, you’re my best man, but this is putting me at tremendous risk.”
He paused, and for a moment, I imagined he was figuring out how to let me down gently.
But then he said, “I have a friend who owes me a favor.He works at the Citadel Library.I’ll need to contact him.For now, go home.I’ll let you know when he responds.”Garrick paused again and looked me right in the eye.“Don’tcome back here.”
The first night came and went with no word from Garrick.
I was anxious and jumpy cooped up in our barn.We couldn’t sell herbs during the day, and I didn’t have my usual jobs at night to keep my mind from wandering to dark places.
