A Poison Dark and Drowning (Kingdom on Fire #2)(6)

“We’re running out of time,” Blackwood said. “Howel has a point.”

I didn’t love the idea of having Blackwood as my guardian, but as my ally he was doing quite well.

“I know that you want to help,” Whitechurch finally said to me. He was using that smooth tone of his again, which meant the answer was no. “But you must do your part and nothing more. Train with Valens, and fight when we need you.”

“We should make certain Valens doesn’t hand me over himself,” I grumbled.

“He knows what he may do,” Whitechurch said, standing. “And so do you, Howel.”

I didn’t argue. He was the Imperator, after all. I would train, and I would fight. But no one could stop what I read in my spare time. And if I happened to find something useful? Well, better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

Making trouble was becoming a regular habit, it seemed.





As a servant took my gloves, I had to marvel at how in charge I felt in Blackwood’s house. At Agrippa’s, I’d been his ward and Incumbent, and while he’d been a generous host, I’d always known who was master. But here, Blackwood and Eliza and I were given supreme authority.

Lady Blackwood, their mother, was a reclusive woman who lived upstairs in her suite of rooms; I’d never actually met her. The door to her chambers was permanently closed, the scent of camphor and dried rose petals faintly emanating from it when I walked past. Though I was technically here as her ward—it would have been unseemly otherwise—we lived as though she did not exist. If I wanted a fire lit in any particular room, I gave the order; no need to check with Blackwood. If I wanted to go out, I could. Blackwood mightn’t approve, but I didn’t need his permission. Freedom was as intoxicating as strong drink, and I sometimes felt that the Blackwood siblings and I were playing an elaborate game of house.

As soon as we entered, Blackwood went to go find his sister. I gave the footman my gloves, bonnet, and robe, and then a smile. He accepted the first three and bowed swiftly to the last before leaving. The house ran like clockwork, organized but impersonal.

“You’d a rather busy night, I take it.” Rook stepped out of a shadowy doorway and into the light, his brilliant yellow hair glowing like the sun in the dark Blackwood house.

“Too busy, really.” I sighed.

Rook came to me, his eyes shining with ease. I felt myself relax. Despite everything that had happened tonight, the moment I saw him I felt as though I’d truly come home. He was warmth to me, and safety.

He also had one hand behind his back, his mouth quirked in a smile. “What do you suppose I’ve got here?”

“Twenty gold doubloons? The elixir of life?” I sighed again. “Really, don’t I have enough of those already?”

Rook tossed me a shiny red apple. Good lord, this might have been even more valuable. I marveled at the fruit’s glossy shine. Apples were more precious than gold these days.

“Working in a stable will give you the most fantastic riches.” Crossing his arms, he nodded. “Go on, then. Take a bite.”

“No, not yet. I want to savor it a little.” I brought it to my lips and inhaled, enjoying the heavenly scent. “Few things are sweeter than anticipation.”

As soon as I’d said it, I felt my cheeks warm. These past months, since Rook had survived Korozoth’s attack, I’d kept hoping we would…well, that we would become closer than before. I thought he wanted to—I knew I wanted to—but the moment hadn’t arrived. At this point, I was afraid one or both of us had lost our nerve completely.

Rook closed the distance between us. My breath lodged in my throat.

“When we were little and got that bowl of pudding at Christmas, I’d gobble it down and you’d make every bite last.” His smile was easy. “You don’t change, Net—Henrietta.”

I loved hearing him say my full and proper name. Rolling the apple between my palms, I murmured, “Maybe I’ll share it with Lilly. I know she loves apples, too.” Then I felt myself flush even more. But Rook only laughed.

“That’s a good idea.” He took one of my hands. “Are you worried about the Skinless Man?” He grew serious in an instant.

“How did you know?” I asked with a start.

“Lady Eliza had a letter from one of her friends. She told me what that monster did.” His voice held a low current of anger. He sounded as if he might simply go out there and challenge R’hlem himself. I looked down at our joined hands. His sleeves were buttoned, hiding the circular scars that still dotted his left arm.

“Well, I’ve some work to do regarding our skinless friend.”

“Then I’ll let you work.” He pressed his lips politely to my hand. God, I wanted him to be not quite so polite. “Eat your apple.” With a wink, he vanished down the hall. My body screamed to follow him, while my brain reminded me that was a frightening, uncertain prospect, and I needed to start my work anyway.

Blast. To business, then.

I went up the stairs to my room and dragged Mickelmas’s trunk out from under my bed. To the untrained eye, it looked like a perfectly serviceable wooden box with a rounded lid. A bit splintered and battered, perhaps, but good for storing linens. As with all things, though, appearances could be deceiving.

At my knock, the lid swung open and I took out the papers I had spent the past few months sorting. A thrill ran through my body whenever I handled Mickelmas’s spells. The cracked scrolls and books bound in red and green leather, gold lettering still visible along their faded spines. There was a sense of home when I held them in my hands. It wasn’t simply because I was born a magician; books offered a sense of safety for me. Taking my papers, I slid the trunk back under the bed and went downstairs. The chair by the library fire was comfortable, and I knew I’d be reading for a while.