Page 102 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

SOUNDTRACK: Early Grave by Steven Rodriguez

~ DONAVYN ~

When I finally returned to our chambers, it was to find Voski and Gil in the sitting room with Bren. They both jumped to their feet and saluted the moment I entered. I urged them to relax, though it was through gritted teeth.

Bren met my eyes and sent a soothing embrace in the bond, which I returned. Yet, the memory of that fucker Hanson, his hand on her arm, his lips brushing her ear, had burned in my gullet all evening. I’d been looking forward to returning to her and replacing that arrogant prick’s touch with my own. But her brothers wouldn’t be here unless it was important, so I walked to the sideboard and poured myself a drink as I instructed them to fill me in.

Bren’s yearning reached me in the bond, so I gripped my cup harder and kept my eyes off of her.

“…as I told you when I reported, I didn’t have time to find anything of use,” Voski said, jaw tight with frustration at being thwarted. “But I did see our target check a hiding space in his room when he returned. I know where to start my next search.”

Bren frowned. “How did you beat me to the banquet hall if you were still there when he went inside?”

Voski’s smile was chilling. He was a dark man. I’d always found him a little difficult to read, though steady as a rock, and utterly focused. I was glad Bren had him as her Shadowfang Wing Captain. He would teach her well.

I prayed she never learn that predatory grin, though.

“I’m half-convinced he uses the secret passage in his room more often than hallways. It leads directly through the walls to the garden next to the main doors. I was able to enter as if I’d come from the stables. No winding through the wings and guest halls. I suspect we may have discovered why he was given rooms in the courtier’s wing, rather than the guest suites, as you were.”

I nodded. “Hanson must have requested to keep him close. Which means, he is likely in on whatever Ruin is here to do,” I rumbled.

“Are the passages all like that? Escape hatches?”

“No,” Voski and Gil both replied quickly.

“I had to run the moment I saw him turn from that box—there was no telling if he’d take the exit I was in. So, I was only able to watch for a moment. But he obviously feared you’d entered his quarters because he locked the door and walked directly to that spot. I was already obscured though, and able to make use of a peephole in the wall. Whoever built that meant to both leave and return to the room that way—it allows them to ensure the room is clear before entering by that route. Be aware of that. This castle is a nest of servants halls, secret passages, and hidden corners. Excellent when you’re the one doing the hiding. But you can never be certain if you’re being watched. Or listened to.”

I nodded. “I warned Bren. This suite is clear as far as I can tell. But you’re welcome to do another sweep in case you catch something I missed.”

Voski shook his head. “I already did. While you were both gone.” I balked at the idea he’d entered our suite alone, but he continued as if it were of no consequence. “I couldn’t find anything that led to these rooms, or from here. It would seem they trust you.”

“Or they don’t want to give us a chance to use their own subterfuge against them,” I muttered. “A caged bird can only leave by the exit you allow—our location is easy to monitor if we’re in a room with no hidden exits.”

Voski nodded. “Either way, it means you can be fairly certain you aren’t being watched. Listened to, however? Never entirely. The doors are thick here, but… it’s just never certain. In any case, even if I couldn’t search tonight, at least I learned how to enter and exit that room without being seen. The next time we can confirm that he’s elsewhere, I’ll search.”

“That may come faster than you think,” Bren murmured. “I gave him reason to send a report tonight, and I don’t think he’ll wait. I’d wager he leaves for a quick trip to the city tonight—or early tomorrow while everyone is sleeping.”

Voski and Gil met eyes and Gil nodded.

“Thanks for the warning. We’ll watch for him to leave.”

“Do pursue that, but I want you to do it together,” I said bluntly, taking another sip of my drink. “Help each other. Right now, he doesn’t know you’re here. His guard is down. But if he discovers one of you, I don’t want you facing him alone. He’s a sneaky, powerful fucker.”

“Our sister managed to put him on the back foot,” Voski said with amused approval.

I couldn’t share his smile when I thought of that. I cleared my throat. “Things did go well tonight—on all fronts. But don’t allow that to make you complacent. We assume our efforts weren’t discovered. We don’t yet know.”

Voski and Gil made a plan to watch the two exits of Ruin’s chambers and assist each other if an opportunity presented. We determined to prioritize intelligence over traps. We discussed a plan in the event Ruin recognized one of the men—and their instructions for remaining out of the castle whenever possible.

Bren listened hard and spoke little, except when she filled us all in on the timeframe she’d established with Hanson. “…if I don’t meet the Lord and Benji the morning after next, and take him to the dragons, he’ll assume I’ve rejected his proposal. Whatever he has in place with our friend will begin the following morning. I believe that’s our final chance to uncover… whatever it is they’re doing. He claims that is the point of no return.”

I ground my teeth in frustration. Two days from a turning point, and we didn’t even know what it was?

“On it,” Gil said grimly. “Once we’ve determined if there’s any treasure to be found, I’ll turn focus to following the handsome man.”

I shot him a look. I knew we were being vague on purpose, but I didn’t appreciate the implication that Bren’s admirer was definitively handsome.

She sent me a rush of reassurance—and some amusement in the bond.