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He saw no signs of life except for threads of s into the sky from a few of the chimneys The manor had quite a few chimneys, as a matter of fact The seeker buzzed around his ears

“Aye, I’ll go,” he

The seeker led the way to a side entrance fra rose vines The roses were done for the season, their fruits fallen and shriveled Sweat strea down on hi into his flesh

Should’ve run away to Rhovanny, he thought Could’ve joined a merc company there

The seeker flitted beneath a green door and Thursgad paused, looking around before reaching for the door handle It was crafted to look like the looping rose vines and he shuddered, but all he felt when he grasped it was cold wrought iron He cracked the door open and peered inside No one was to be seen, just the seeker bobbing in the air, waiting for hie kitchen The seeker sped off

Thursgad had to run to catch up, passing ovens and tables and pantries, then into a forthy table He had no tis for the seeker floated out of the dining room into a wide corridor There it hovered for a moment

Entry hall for h the s that frarand doors Opposite the doors, stairs cli room was a parlor

Which way? he wondered

As if in answer, the seeker pulsated and whisked up the stairs Thursgad placed one foot on the first step and his hand on the railing when someone behind him cleared her throat

“Look, sister, we’ve a guest just in time for tea”

“I’m not blind yet I can see him very well for myself”

Slowly, very slowly, Thursgad re and foot from the step, and turned around Two elderly ladies stood there in the light of the entry hall gazing at hireen scowled at hie dress, smiled kindly

“He is pungent,” the thin one said

“Yes, and dirty”

The thin one cast the pluests dirt, sister Letitia will not be pleased, but he’s no time to bathe Tea is ready now”

Thursgad glanced around for this Letitia to appear, but she did not

“We shall overcome his scruffy appearance,” the plump one said, “and we shall be brave in the face of Letitia’s wrath” She walked toward hih of course she possessed nothing of the sort She took his arm and started to lead hi behind the man, you must tell us all about yourself”

Thursgad sweated as he’d never sweated before The porcelain teacup and saucer, decorated with dainty flowers, were slippery in his hands He sat perched on the edge of a plush chair and sun rippled through the leaded s, catching in his eye The two ladies, one of as called Miss Bunch, and the other Bay or Miss Bay or Miss Bayberry—it all rather confused him—kept up a chatter that filled his ears with noise He wondered where the seeker was, how he’d allowed hiet away from the ladies and find the seeker Would he have to kill them?