“I asked what the hell you’re doing here.”
“What does it look like?”
“It looks like you disobeyed my direct orders to stay in the tower.”
“You never gave me any orders. You weren’t even there when I woke up, in fact.”
His teeth clench together. “Do not test me. I’m not in the mood.”
“As far as I can tell, you’re only ever in one mood.Grumpy, gloomy, grouchy…”
Farley and Jac swallow laughs.
“Get up.” Penn glares at me, unamused. “Now.”
I glare back at him, stubbornly keeping my seat on the stone wall. He tolerates this show of defiance for about three seconds before he reaches down, wraps his hand around my biceps, and jerks me to my feet.
“Hey!” I snap. “Let go! We’re in the middle of target practice! And Jac is about to teach me some dagger play.”
“Not anymore.”
“But—”
“Say goodbye.”
I cast a desperate glance at Farley and Jac as Penn tugs me away. Both of them are grinning broadly. Farley lifts one of his crutches and waves it at me as I am tugged around a corner, out of sight.
“Must you always act like such a brute?” I hiss.
Penn remains silent.
We do not take the main road, but divert onto a narrow back route that cuts behind the barracks and winds past the rear of the stables. It is far less busy than the market thoroughfare; we pass only a handful of young grooms mucking out stalls and polishing saddle leather. They keep their eyes respectfully averted as Penn forces me along, ignoring my visible struggles.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Back to the keep,” he says, never pausing his long-legged strides.
“I thought I wasn’t a prisoner.”
“You aren’t.”
“Then why do I have to stay in the tower?”
“It’s safer.”
My heart quails. I battle to keep my tone even, but worry sluices through my words nonetheless. “I thought you said I was safe here. That no one could get to me.”
“It’s notyoursafety I’m worried about.” He halts so abruptly, I trip over my own feet. Only his hold on my arm keeps me from careening into the dirt. “Until we know what you are capable of, I’m not letting you wander about causing trouble. Understood?”
“No, it is notunderstood. You can’t keep me locked up there all alone for the rest of eternity. I’ll go mad!”
“I can do whatever I see fit.”
My temper flares hotly. “I will not spend my days locked behind walls, hidden from view, with only books and dust bunnies for company. I’m not your perfect, precious Enid, in need of constant protection.”
His hand falls away from my arm like I’ve scalded him. “I’m acutely aware of that. You could not be more different from her if you tried.”
“I…” My words die at the look on his face. Pain. Unmistakable pain. He hides it quickly, but not quickly enough. At the sight, my temper vanishes as suddenly as it appeared. On its heels comes a rush of regret at my hasty words. “I’m sorry. I should not have…It’s not my place to…”