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Her eyes snapped open in surprise.

“I’m sorry to disturb you,” I said quickly. “I entered through the back door, and I won’t linger.”

“You came in through the door in the wall?” she asked softly.

“Yes. But don’t worry. The secret is safe with me.”

“No one has ever come in through that door before. And my goodness, look at you. You’re very dirty. Have you come all the way from—” She squinted at the mud-covered mare, which nearly filled the small room. “How far have you traveled?”

“I’ve followed the marked path all the way.”

Her rheumy eyes widened slightly, deepening the wrinkles in her forehead. “Why would you return?”

“I have an errand that I must attend to. It’s urgent.”

“Tell me, do our sisters still wait on the other side? It’s been years since I’ve heard anything. I worry every time I send a young woman through that door.”

I smiled. “They do.”

She nodded slowly, and I thought she might have fallen asleep again.

“Thank you for what you do for the women of Corlivo.”

She opened one eye. “We do what we can. What we must.”

I left her dozing with her head in her hands, closing the door gently behind me. Glancing up, I saw that the wooden sign hanging over the shop displayed only the carved image of a full moon.

I RODE THE tired mare through small side streets, making my way toward the center of the city. I was struck by how narrow and quiet even the main thoroughfares were after the endless noise and crowd of Panpirion. It seemed smaller than I remembered. Perhaps travel always has that effect; perhaps the price the adventurer pays is to return home and find it diminished.

Because it was autumn, the start of the low season in the mountains, only the hardiest travelers braved the chill to enjoy the pleasures of the city. Several cafés were open, and they were doing a fair business, but the streets weren’t crowded. The few people I passed, shopkeepers, visitors, even two courtesans in lush fur cloaks with their hair sparkling with jewels, did not so much as glance in my direction. After months of attracting attention everywhere I went, I now drew no notice at all with my long, tangled hair, my dirty cloak, and my filthy, ragged horse. It was a strange feeling: as though I had become invisible in the city of my birth.

By this time, night had fallen. I moved unseen through the streets, winding my way up and up until I reached the final stretch of road that led to Casa Caligine itself. The stone building loomed above me. Unlike in the summer, no music or laughter came from the terraces, but a warm glow shone from the windows. I imagined guests and courtesans mingling inside near a roaring fire, drinking fruit wine, eating delicious food. My stomach clenched with hunger. I could see my breath white in the cold air.

Torches burned on either side of the front gate, illuminating the stern faces of two door wardens standing sentinel. The gaping hole in our plan was suddenly evident. How was I to get inside Casa Caligine to meet up with Sebastianus? I could hardly knock on the front door. What if he wasn’t even there? Anything could have happened. He might have been delayed or called away. He might have left me behind, as Pollux had done.

I stood alone on the dark road, just out of sight, stamping my feet for warmth and gripping the mare’s lead. The poor, exhausted beast nosed my arm. I would need to stable her somewhere, and I, too, was about to drop with fatigue. An idea came to me. Although I couldn’t enter the pleasure house itself, perhaps I could find a way into the stables. The mare could at least enjoy some hay, and I’d be able to see if Capitan was there. If his horse were stabled here, Sebastianus would likely be here as well.

It seemed the women of Casa Caligine were more carefully guarded than the horses. I was able to slide the stable door open easily and walk the mare inside. Several horses whickered at the sound of our footsteps, but there was no sign of a stablehand. The horses were comfortably blanketed against the chill, and the stalls were of a generous size, filled with fresh hay and clean water. I led the mare into an empty one, where she began to munch hay with enthusiasm. I walked along the row, straining to see the face of each horse in what little moonlight shone through the partially open door. Finally, a familiar eye glinted down at me, and a massive black stallion lowered his head and whickered. Capitan. Sebastianus was here.

All the fear and fatigue of the past days caught up with me, and my limbs began to tremble. With a shaking hand, I unlatched the stall door, went in, and fastened it behind me. I curled up on a small mound of fresh hay in the corner, as far from Capitan’s big hooves as possible, spread my dirty cloak over me, and before I knew it, I fell fast asleep.

xxviii

I OPENED MY EYES TO FIND DON LOOKING DOWN AT ME over the stall’s half wall, an expression of amazement on his pale face.

“Anna? By the gods, what are you doing here? I don’t believe it.”

I had forgotten just how tall Don was. He seemed as big as a horse himself, dressed in his black livery, blinking at me as though he didn’t trust his own eyes.

Of all the feelings that might have come over me at that moment, anger won out. I sat up, pulling hay out of my hair. “Yes. I’m here. I survived, no thanks to Pollux.”

He scratched Capitan’s nose and pulled the stall door open. “When the groom sent for me to say there was a vagrant woman sleeping in Capitan’s stall, I never thought— By the lightning-blasted gods. Survived what? Where have you been?”

I stood shakily. “Where have I been? I traveled alone for days through the forest to reach our agreed meeting point after your lover abandoned me on our route. Did you think that would be easy for me? Pardon me for not traveling faster.”

He frowned. “Pollux abandoned you? He described the reverse.”

“How am I to know what he described? All I know is what happened.” I brushed dust and chaff off my filthy dress.