Page 15 of Winds of Ruin
The tension in his shoulders relaxed as he nodded. “I won’t keep you from wherever it is you’re off to and not telling me about.”
I narrowed my eyes, ready to rebut his accurate assessment of my dishonesty.
Krait lifted one of Lark’s arms and waved her hand at me. “Don’t be late for dinner, Aunt Lora.”
“Lora?” I questioned, with a scrunched nose.
“Lark said it earlier when you walked away.”
My hand found my heart. “She saidmyname?”
“Well, she renamed you. But yes, I suspect so. You were third only to Mama and Papa. It’s mostly babbling otherwise.”
I shook my head; the air knocked from my lungs.
Lark’s big green eyes stared at me from Krait’s arms, and she reached her chubby hands out, squealing, “Anny Lorrra.”
“Oh, you aresoscrewed now,” I said. “Sybilla will need to watch that mouth of hers.”
He made an amusedhmphsound of agreement.
Smirking, I turned to step away. Then, I spun on my heel. “Wait. You wantmeto be her mentor? Are you certain?”
Krait shrugged. “I see no one better suited for the role.”
I quirked up a brow, trying very hard not to appear too affected by the ease of his trust in me. “I always knew you were smarter than you looked.”
He chuckled. “Seriously, don’t be late. It pisses Syb off.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I lied over my shoulder, wiping at my eyes as I ambled down the cobblestone path toward the cottage.
Chapter 5
Elsedora
Twelve years into the Sethe curse…
Cassidee poured more plum wine into my chalice as Wyeth ground herbs at the nearby butcher block.
Set into the hills, on the outskirts of Luz’s border, this house had been their dream. The yard sprawled with enough space for a large garden where Wyeth could grow nearly everything she needed for her healing tonics. A spacious stable comfortably housed Cassidee’s Griffith, Paren.
I’d met Cass and Wyeth through their work in Luz. The latter being Sybilla’s head healer and Cass being the Corridor’s Constable.
I laid a map across the worn dining table between me and my Wind-wielding friend.
“Asterie read of ceremony sites where the Sources used to receive mortal requests for power. InThe Book of Isolde, the scribe writes about one. It notes sea cliffs and yellow wildflowers—which makes me think of the West Corridor cliffs.” I dragged my finger over the region.
“It’s not much to go on, if I’m honest. But if we could just search the Corridor…”
“Bringham made it clear we’re not to set foot on his land without permission,” Wyeth warned, followed by atsk-tsk.She perched on a tall stool to give herself more elbow leverage over the mortar.
That was where the trouble lay. Haag Bringham never granted any Source-wielder access to the West Corridor aside from for political discussions. The western King refused to believe what he’d been told about Caym’s rise.
“We should go anyway. Bringham can lick my boots,” Cass grumbled.
I laughed, but Wyeth shot her partner amind yourselfexpression.
“Any luck in negotiating with him?” Wyeth asked me.
