Coldmaker(85)

‘Get the boilweed off the foot.’

Leroi gave an audible wince. ‘It’s all gone. The whole foot.’

‘We tried to get him here as quickly as we could, sir. I’m sorry.’

A bottle popped and I saw some clear liquid drip to the floor. There was no reaction above, however, and I imagined that the body was no longer conscious. ‘Sundamnit!’ Leroi shouted.

I heard several sharp intakes of breath in the tinkershop.

‘Sorry.’ Leroi made a noise that sounded like a howl. ‘I’m sorry. I just— Hold him down. I have to cauterize.’

Even our cubby-hole lit up as a flame was sparked to heat up the iron. I wanted to retch at the idea of what Leroi was about to do.

‘Put this in his mouth,’ Leroi commanded. ‘In case he bites down.’

Leroi took a breath and the iron was brought to the flesh. The sizzle made me shudder. It was followed by an astounding sickly smell, which reached us all the way under the grate. I couldn’t help myself as I let out a gag.

Shilah’s grip became even tighter, her face panic-stricken. One of the Jadans followed the sound of my retch towards the grate.

‘Focus!’ Leroi demanded. ‘Look here. Hold him down.’

The hisses and sputters subsided, but the putrid smell kept attacking us. Shilah wrapped a hand around my cheek, trying to pull my face away and into her neck to hide me from the smell, but I felt compelled to watch, struggling to keep my head afloat and the gags down.

No wonder Leroi hadn’t wanted to tell me about the anklets.

Leroi’s feet moved around the table, I presumed to check the body’s heartbeat. ‘He’s going to be okay. He lost a lot of blood, but he’s going to live. Now, please would one of you go grab some Cold from that bucket over there, and there’s a waterskin on my—’

Leroi stopped himself. All the Jadans dropped to their knees simultaneously.

A tapping rang out from the direction of the main door, as a cane slowly made its way down the stairs. When it came into view, I saw that the cane was made of stained glass, and the legs that walked beside it were adorned in fine silk. The feet moved slowly, each step ringing a deep thud in the tinkershop.

‘Cousin,’ Leroi said, his voice coated in regret. ‘Is this what you wanted? Is this why you had me create them? You were supposed to have a turn-key with each of the taskmasters. You told me …’

There was no reply, just a slight rap as the cane was rested against the table.

‘He’s going to live,’ Leroi said, unable to get the words out fast enough. ‘They brought him here in time! These Jadans should get triple rations for their service.’

I could now feel a wet hot pain on my arm, where Shilah had pierced my skin with her fingernails.

‘I’ll build him a new foot,’ Leroi said, his words coming out even faster. ‘I can attach a brace to the knee and run it down to— Cousin, just hold on a minute. He’ll still be able to serve you. Please, just wait. I can make him— Cousin, please. I beg you, just—’

A voice, which sounded like Cam’s but older, cut across him. ‘You’ve brought this on yourself, Leroi. You should have kept her on a tighter leash.’

‘Please let go,’ Leroi implored. ‘Please. I can fix him. I can—’

Fast, strangled breaths came from the table, until they eventually culminated in a final, juddering gasp. Silence then resumed. After a few moments of stillness, the feet I was now certain belonged to Lord Tavor stepped back from the table. No other word was spoken. The High Noble picked up his decorative cane and began tapping his way back to the stairs.

The door creaked open, but wasn’t immediately closed. ‘Oh, and, Leroi,’ Lord Tavor said, ‘I see you’ve been tinkering again.’

A tense pause followed. ‘Yes.’

‘Is there a reason?’ he asked, voice smooth and calm.

‘It was time. I’ve mourned.’

‘Good for you. Would you like a new assistant? I’m sure my son would be glad to find you one.’

My face flushed deeply at his words. Lord Tavor couldn’t know we were here. Could he?

‘No,’ Leroi choked out.

‘Because you can have one, now that we have these anklets you so lovingly bestowed.’

‘No,’ Leroi practically sobbed.

‘The kitchens tell me you’ve been requesting more food. Eating more than usual, have you? Where have you been packing it away?’

‘I need my strength,’ Leroi said, sounding like his teeth were clenched. ‘Those anklets took a lot out of me.’

The door creaked open again.

‘Then I’ll have the kitchens send you a whole roast,’ Lord Tavor said. ‘Because I expect you to make another anklet to replace the one this slave lost. I’ll send someone to pick it up in a few days.’





Chapter Twenty-Nine


Shilah put her hands on the table without any fear or hesitation. ‘Here.’

I backed away. ‘I don’t think so.’

She leaned forward, putting her weight on the wood. ‘If we’re going to talk about important things,’ Shilah said, her dark skin blending with the table. ‘This is where we’ll do it.’

I looked at the table, now spotless. While Shilah and I were hiding under the grate, the three Jadans had cleaned the place and then taken the lifeless body out to the sands. Now, the table resembled a workspace like any other.