Page 78 of Lake of Sorrow
“Nope,” she whispered back. “I’m still an independent.”
“With a leaning toward helping rangers, I hope.”
“Helping one ranger whom I happen to like. I’m less enamored with the others.”
“Even Doc Penderbrock? He’s healed you and your brother. I thought you might be favorably inclined toward him.” Vlerion took her hand and guided her to the back half of the root cellar.
“He’s the one ranger I like.”
Vlerion snorted softly as he un-shuttered a lantern, letting its yellow flame appear, the soft light warming his face from below. He glanced toward the pantry trapdoor as a footfall thudded on it and released Kaylina to grip the hilt of the sword belted at his waist.
“I don’t know if I got the door fully shut,” Kaylina admitted.
“We’ll find out.”
More boots thudded across the flagstone as the Virts searched the pantry and the rest of the kitchen. At least some of their people were aware that Stillguard Castle had an access point to the catacombs, but maybe Mitzy's bunch didn’t know where.
“Did you hear their conversation?” Kaylina whispered.
“No. I was coming to see if you, with half the city looking for you, were unwisely visiting the castle everyone knows you leased.”
“I haven’t been unwisely visiting anything,” she said, even if that was a lie.
“Are you certain? You’ve an atypical aroma about you.”
Maybe that was the polite way an aristocrat told a person they stank.
“Targon’s secret way out of ranger headquarters involved a trek through the sewers.”
“It’s hard to keep your route a secret for long when such a stench is wafting from you.”
“No wonder you didn’t greet me with a kiss.” Kaylina was surprised he’d grabbed her at all. Maybe her anrokk blood really did magically compel him to be close to her. “I spotted Virts wandering around in my castle and was compelled by each and every god to sneak in and eavesdrop on them. I thought they might say something important.”
“How did you know they were inside if you weren’t here, unwisely visiting?”
“I happened to be walking past the castle on my way to see the poisoner my brother hopes will link Jana Bloomlong to the tainted mead. Really, Vlerion. I can’t believe you suspect me of foolishness.”
“Uh-huh. If you mean that paint maker, he lives two miles away. I also looked him up.”
“We were taking the scenic route to avoid guards.”
“There are castle and kingdom guards watching this place, and I think the boy across the river may be one of the spymaster’s kids.”
Kaylina hadn’t spotted the second guard or anyone across the river, but she refused to admit she’d been foolish. Not when she’d learned information from eavesdropping.
“That’s why I came through the catacombs,” Vlerion added. “That and the fact that Targon ordered a number of us to search them. He thinks the preserve might not be the only place the Kar’ruk have infiltrated. I came here first.” He pointed toward the ceiling—the castle above. “I had a hunch the purple glow would draw you.”
“The possibility that I can lift the castle’s curse—and get clues about how to lift your curse—is what drew me. Not some glowing plant.”
“I appreciate you wanting to do that.” Vlerion shifted the lantern to his sword hand so he could wrap an arm around her shoulders. “But your mission is to clear your name.”
“So my brother keeps telling me.” Kaylina hoped Frayvar was staying out of sight up there. She hadn’t realized there were that many people watching the castle. “But, Vlerion...” She gripped his forearm, the muscles tense under his sleeve—he still had an eye toward the trapdoor, as if he expected an army to storm down at any second. “The Virts know about you. About the beast.”
“After the incident in the castle dungeon, I’m not surprised.”
“They’re calling it a massacre.”
He winced. “Perhaps not inaccurate.”