Page 44 of Shadows of Winter

“My lord,” he corrected.

“You’re an ass, my lord.”

“If you’re that mouthy to a less tolerant noble, you might end up back in jail.”

“And flogged?”

“The law would allow it.”

“It’s a mystery as to why people are rebelling up here.”

His eyes narrowed again, but he didn’t object to the statement.

“As for things of note that you don’t know, the girl who came with the furniture delivery wants me to give her intelligence on the Saybrooks if I learn anything.”

Kaylina felt guilty about mentioning that—would Vlerion want her to describe Milzy so he could locate and arrest her?—but she also didn’t want him to think that being here was a waste of his time. She had worth, damn it.

His eyes sharpened with interest. “Did you tell her anything?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“She hasn’t won my loyalty with her wit and scintillating conversations the way you have.”

He snorted. Well, at least he didn’t accuse her of colluding with the enemy.

“What kind of noises did you hear from below?” Vlerion pointed at the kitchen floor and raised his brows.

“Clanks,” Frayvar said from the dining room where he was scrubbing the flagstones, trying to remove what they were both pretending wasn’t an old bloodstain. “And thumps.”

“You’ve been down to the catacombs?” Vlerion asked.

“No.” Kaylina had no idea how to go down to the catacombs. “There hasn’t been anyone to give us a guided tour.”

“That didn’t keep you from trying to investigate the light.”

“Do you know what makes it?”

Vlerion shook his head. “I only know it’s been there as long as I can remember. Probably since the curse was placed two hundred years ago.”

“What happened two hundred years ago?”

“Seven winters of famine.” Vlerion walked toward the pantry and opened the door.

“Did that… answer my question?”

“I’ll go down to see if the boarded-up tunnel leading this way has been un-boarded again.”

“Okay.” Kaylina hadn’t moved and didn’t intend to, despite now being curious if there was a catacombs entrance in the pantry.

Vlerion looked back and considered her thoughtfully. “Do you want to come along and learn what’s down here?”

“I don’t know. Are the catacombs included in the lease?”

“The root cellar would be.” Vlerion waved toward the floor of the pantry. “The rest, likely not. The catacombs and sewers are owned by the king.”

“What a thing to inherit along with the crown.”

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