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She cut him off. “Don’t say my name here. The keys.”
He threw an arm up. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Not your concern, just like my heart hasneverbeen your concern. You won’t ask me another question unless you prefer to be implicated, right? Give me the keys and report them stolen when you wake up.”
Kellan scrunched his face in disagreement.
Thessa held firm. “You owe me.”
He rolled his eyes and mumbled, “My boot,” before slamming his head into the pillow.
23
LECTURE NOTES FROM ANIMAL HUSBANDRY:
Knots —
Horses require slip knots. If they startle, all it will take is a quick pull and they're free. They’re far too large to panic safely. Canines require the opposite. The stronger the breed, the stronger the knot.
Thessa turned to Leora, smiling wider than she had in months. “We did it.”
They marched from the residential quarters and toward the dungeons, not paying any mind to the guards they passed along the way. Walking with purpose was what kept them from being stopped. Soldiers were always confident—despite being pawns—that she knew. Moving past each guard with the keys inside her pocket kept her heart thumping and feet moving.
When they reached the wide, marble staircase, Thessamade eye contact with Leora. There were no guards at the bottom, just a hall leading to a single iron door.
They stepped down.
Thessa reached for the keys and sifted through them. The lock was circular with four indents, so it wasn’t difficult to match. She pushed it in, and the satisfying click had her smirking. They slipped inside, shut the door, and wound down the dark stairwell.
When the smell of rock and moisture hit her, it sent a familiar prickle down her arms. Landing at the bottom she overlooked the dungeons, lit by a single flame, watched over by a single guard.
Her smile faltered.
The guard was larger than most. He stood to attention. “Orders?”
Thessa and Leora stopped, tapping their shoulders in salute. Thessa recited their names. “Guard K. Phillips and Guard S. Blooning, reporting for duty.”
“Your orders,” the guard repeated, viciously.
She pursed her lips, thinking. Thessa hadn’t thought this far, her lies were running thin. “Relieve you of duty, you’ve been called upstairs,” she said blindly.
The guard scoffed. “On whose order?”
When Thessa hesitated, Leora answered, “General Valstrom’s. You’ve been called to review records on the Greenier family, on her behalf.”
The guard relaxed his stance and stood. “I see.” As he walked past them, he said, “Thank you for the message.” There was nothing about his tone that made Thessa feel like he’d believed them.
And he hadn’t. The soldier whirled around with a cold expression on his face. “The general doesn’t call on fifth-years for record review.”
Thessa had known that, Leora … had not. She swore under her breath as Elemental magic, the same color as the guard’s ice-blue eyes, pulsed to his fingertips.
He’d trapped them down here; his massive body blocked the only exit.
Leora stepped in front of Thessa and said, “This ismyfault. Take me, I’m the imposter.” She dropped both hands, spreading her fingers wide. Thessa watched Leora’s opalescent magic flourish, giving away their lie.
“Leora!” Thessa gasped, part in shock by her actions, part not surprised, and part impressed.
Leora looked over her shoulder. “Other than praying, I had time to practice last night. I’m so sorry, Tess. The goddess will help us. I promise.”