Page 49 (1/1)

Was Colvin there?

She waited, stilling her breathing until she was calain She tripped the latch and pulled on the stone wall, which slid soundlessly back and opened to the full view of a sht ca the soleIt was not a spacious room It seemed more fit for a scullion than an earl There was a sle leather-bound chest, and a chair There was no changing screen, no garderobe, only a cha if the orb would lead her further, but as soon as she entered, the spindles stopped

The walls were made of stone and very cold There was a small brazier by the , but it was full of white ash Was this Colvin’s room? Her heart sank with the realization The s held prisoner? She walked to the bed and touched the thin blanket covering it, then leaned down and smelled it

The scent was unht tears to her eyes There was a pillow and dusty velvet hangings from the square frame It reh for only one person and high off the ground

There was a ss of desiccated purple mint Lia parted the curtain and saw the ere dirty, but there was a latch that allowed them to be opened, so she did and stared out at the vista Iron shutters were recessed but open to the view She could see the gardens below The balcony was a decoration – there was no rooe, she could see the ocean stretching before her as well as the cusp of land known as the Spike The air had a salty smell

Lia went to the door and tested it, but it was locked That gave her a measure of comfort that she would be able to hide if anyone ca She set about studying the roo at it with her hunter’s eye There was no food, for example It meant Colvin did not eat there The leather-bound chest opened to her touch and there were several folded garnized instantly There were still blood spots on it from the battle outside Muirwood She clutched it instinctively and s the leather as if it were him There were linen shirts beneath, and she hadthens were seen beneath That was all

Lia went to theand pulled down the cup with the shriveled sprigs and s to the brittle ste it, trying to remember what it was like to be free Was it only a place where he slept? Where did he spend his days? What did he do to prevent the oppression froht her to the place where she would find him She knew she would have to wait for him to return

A chilly sea wind ca that her long walk during the day had exhausted her and that she was very tired The sun was beginning to sink towards the sea and she realized that other than the plu her travel sack, she pulled out the apple she had saved from Muirwood and slowly pulled it free It was firm and hard in her hand and she held it near her nose, breathing in its deep smell She set the apple down near the cup

Lia waited The sun set and the room became thick with shadows She waited until the ht on the stone floor She waited and still he did not come She was anxious, tired, and worried Still she waited There was no sound except her breathing and stony silence It was cold in the roo what she would say to hiain?

She waited

There was no end to the waiting Drowsiness finally won over and she found herself huddled on the floor near the bed, dozing She was not sure how much time passed, but thebut shadows re – was that a footfall so but stillness Deep stillness and san to hear whispers in her mind The Abbey lulled her to sleep Dream of me, it said to her Learn of my ways We are ancient You are our sister

The rattle of a key in a lock jolted her awake Lia blinked quickly and was through the stone portal in ait ajar so that she could see and hear into the room

Torchfire illu her eyes fro tone, but she could not ain, the keys jangling as the door was bolted Inside the roo exhausted, stern, and dressed in a rich outfit of Dahohing deeply, and then shuffled forward towards the bed