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"Oh good I can barely stay awake now from all the boredom" My voice dripped with sarcasm Only Valek would consider an attenored my remark "It’s your choice, Yelena"

My choice wasn’t contained in one of Valek’s scenarios My choice was to be soer My choice was to be where I didn’t have an assassin for a boss, and so to make my already intense life even hed The safer course of action was theI had learned the hard way that avoiding problems didn’t work Run and hide weretrapped in a corner with no recourse other than to blindly strike out

The results were not always favorable The lack of control unnerving My survival instinct seeic The word floated at the edge of my mind No Someone would have noticed by now Someone would have reported me Or would he if that so the thoughts It was in the past I had le on the hook to see what fish swi to hold the net?"

"I will"

I let out a slow breath The tight feeling around my stomach eased

"Don’t alter your plans I’ll take care of everything" Valek picked up the paper with e into a lantern, setting it on fire "I should probably follow you to the fire festival toic has made you decide to turn down Rand’s offer and stay in the castle" He let the burning paper float to the floor

"How did you--" I stopped I wasn’t going to ask It ell known that he didn’t trust Rand, so I shouldn’t be surprised that Valek had an inforo IIt’s a risk So what? I take a risk every tiet a chance to enjoy myself"

"It’s hard to have fun at the festival withoutee"

"Would you like an advance on your wage as fugitive?"

"No I’ll earn the money" I didn’t want Valek to do htfulness froht destroy our strange tug-ofwar relationship, and I was reluctant for it to alter Besides, thinking kind thoughts about Valek could be extreerous I could admire his skills, and be relieved when he was on ht But for a rat to like the cat? That scenario ended only one way With one dead rat

"Suit yourself," Valek said "But let e your mind And don’t concern yourself about the books Read all the books you want"

Heading back toon the doorknob "Thanks," I spoke to the door, unwilling to look at Valek

"For the books?"

"No The offer" My eyes traced the wood grain

"You’re welco servants rushed through the corridors, laughter echoed off the stone walls It was the first day of the fire festival, and the castle’s staff hurried to co celebration Their exciteht of sleep, I was beginning to feel like a child again Deter me at the festival to a far, dark corner of my mind, I allowed ’s events

I fidgeted through an afternoon lesson with Valek He was trying to teach me how to spot a tail It was mostly commonsense advice, and some techniques that I had already read about in one of his books, andoverrabbed a clean uniforiven me and headed toward the baths At this ti pools were eand aahing until the water reached an to wrinkle did I leave the water I had been avoiding the mirror for a month Now, curious, I scanned ain soht My cheeks were hollow and h my flesh What had once been dull, uncoht elbow had turned fro, I looked far into the mirror Had host floating behind one I wondered what Reyad wanted Revenge host? I decided not to worry about it tonight

Changing into a clean uniforhtly colored ribbons into my hair, I let the ends fall past my shoulders and loosely down my back

When I reported to the Commander to taste his dinner, I expected a tart comment on my unmilitary hairstyle All I received was one raised eyebrow

After dinner, I raced to the kitchen Rand greeted , so I helped scrub the countertops and floors to avoid the aardness of just standing around waiting Rand reigned over an immaculate kitchen, and only when the kitchen was spotless was the staff dismissed