Page 71 of Foul Days

13

Day Six

The house was unusually quiet. The only sounds were the creaking of the floorboards and the wind whistling in the chimney. The spirits had finally fallen asleep after banging about all night. Kosara put the copper cezve on the stove and waited for the coffee to come to a boil.

It was getting late, and her eyes were closing on their own, but she couldn’t waste time sleeping now. She had monsters to catch.

She cast a quick glance towards Asen over her shoulder. He sat next to the hearth, carving aspen stakes and whistling. Now that she knew what she was looking for, she had to admit Vila had been right. He smelled of Belograd—of spices and fruits and the sea—but under it lingered a familiar smell. Magic. It was barely there, expertly hidden, but once Vila had pointed it out, it was unmistakable.

“Do you carry an amulet?” Kosara asked, busying around the stove, completely casual.

“Excuse me?”

“An amulet. Or a talisman. Something like that?”

“I don’t, as far as I’m aware.”

“What about a potion? An elixir? A tincture of some sort?”

“I have some lip balm in my pocket if that’s what you’re after.”

“Not unless it contains magic.”

“I’m fairly certain it’s one hundred percent beeswax. Why?”

“Just curious.”

There had to be some innocent explanation for this. He’d probably bought an enchanted baldness cure, or a magical pimple concealer, and was too embarrassed to admit it. Belograd was full of magic, even if they didn’t create any of it. Vila was being dramatic about it, as usual.

What were the chances he’d acquired a dangerous spell back in Belograd? After all, he was just a clueless copper.

A clueless copper who’d looked like he had no problem accompanying her to the palace of Chernograd’s most powerful monster.…

“Listen,” she said, “are you sure you want to come on this trip? It’s a suicide mission.”

“And yet, you’re going.”

I have no choice. Kosara’s shadow sickness now gripped her shoulder, its dark tentacles stretching towards her chest. Once her heart turned to shadow …

Actually, she had no idea what would happen. Shadow sickness was taboo and, as such, not that well researched. It was considered a fitting punishment for being stupid enough to give your shadow away. As stupid as Kosara had been.

Would a shadow heart attempt to pump shadow blood through veins made of flesh? Kosara winced. She’d rather not find out.

“That’s different,” she said. “I have to get my shadow back.”

“And I have to catch a murderer.”

“It will be dangerous.”

“Please, I crossed the Wall illegally, defying the explicit orders of my boss. I thrive on danger.”

Kosara measured him with her eyes. “Do you really?”

“Of course not. I’ve never done anything so foolish before.”

Interesting. Kosara had started to assume Asen disobeyed the rules as a matter of habit. He’d been so casual about crossing the Wall and breaking into Roksana’s house. And now, he was willing to risk his life to catch a murderer.

“What is it about this murder?” she asked. “How come you’re suddenly happy to break all the rules?”

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