Page 100 of Shadows of Winter

“He is… effective.”

“What was he doing? Is he gone?” Milzy lowered her voice to a whisper. “Is it safe?”

“As safe as it always was.” Kaylina glanced in the direction of the glowing tower. “I’m surprised you came in.”

“I wasn’t going to, but two other rangers on taybarri were riding down the street out front. I didn’t want them to think I was lurking or loitering. Whatever they call it. I’ve been arrested before, even though I wasn’t doing anything.”

“They like to throw people in jail.”

Milzy looked at her. “That’s right. You were there that night. When the ranger captain and Lord Vlerion were killing our people outside.”

Our people. Kaylina had already known Milzy was allied with the Virts, but the words voiced out loud where anyone could hear them made her nervous. She glanced toward the kitchen, half expecting to spot Jankarr in the shadows listening.

“I’ve heard they’re interested in this place. And you.”

Milzy’s expression was curious rather than accusing, but it also made Kaylina nervous. She didn’t want to be known as being aligned with the rangers and not only because it might ruin Targon’s plans. For whatever reason, she and Frayvar—especially poor Frayvar—were already targets.

“Not so much interested in as mistrustful of,” Kaylina said. “Their taybarri have come here of their own accord for my honey and mead.”

Milzy blinked. “What?”

“Apparently, they like sweets, and the rangers only give them protein pellets.”

“Huh. That’s interesting. I wonder if you could intentionally lure their taybarri out of the stables with such things.”

Kaylina didn’t point out that Vlerion had brought up that very notion. He’d seemed certain that honey alone wouldn’t draw them.

“The rangers are dangerous all on their own, but they wouldn’t be quite as effective without their fearsome mounts. And they wouldn’t be able to get across the city so quickly.” Milzy’s eyes had grown speculative.

Kaylina wondered if Milzy was older than she’d originally believed. And higher up in the Virt organization than one would think?

“I don’t know.” Kaylina glanced toward the kitchen again. She didn’t see anyone but had the feeling of being watched.

“Would you be willing to try it? Luring the taybarri out of the city? On a particular night when it might be useful to those who want to change things and make it better for people like you and me?” Milzy pointed to Kaylina and herself.

“Look, I’m sympathetic, but I can’t get involved. My brother and I just suffered a financial blow, not to mention the blow to his ribs, and we need to focus on making the meadery work before we run out of money. We don’t have a backup plan.”

“You’re sure? If things changed and Port Jirador was less oppressive, and factory owners had to pay more, there’d be a lot more people who could afford to eat fancy food and mead.”

“Our food won’t be that expensive.”

“The menu looked fancy.”

Did that mean Milzy had been by earlier? How many people were keeping an eye on the castle?

“That’s only because Frayvar can’t write anything down without using big words.” Kaylina gently took the girl’s arm and walked her toward the exit. “I need to clean. Thanks for checking in. Come on by for the opening. I’ll give you a free cup of mead.”

If her mead was still palatable. She needed to check it more thoroughly.

At first, Milzy let herself be led, but a few steps from the door, she rooted her feet to the floor. “Are you sure you can’t help us? There’s going to be a night soon when we’ll really need some distractions. Having all the taybarri escape would help.”

Kaylina started to shake her head, but if she could get the date the Virts were planning something and give it to Vlerion, he might trust her more. Maybe she shouldn’t want his trust, especially since Milzy was right, and, logically, Kaylina should be on the side of the underdog workers.

But Vlerion deserved to have something go his way. Her desire to make that happen had nothing to do with his class. Just with him.

“What night do you need the distraction?” Kaylina asked quietly, hoping she’d been mistaken about someone watching her. Even though she planned to give the information to Vlerion, if she were heard asking, it might sound condemning.

The girl smiled. “I knew you were with us.”

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