Page 21 of Shadows of Winter

Kaylina bit her lip, doubting people that wealthy cared that their cursed castle wasn’t bringing in any rent. She might need the rangers’ help to convince the Saybrooks to lease it to her.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Frayvar said, “There are other places we can find to rent, places that aren’t cursed. If that ranger thinks there’s magic there, then there probably is. The Kar’ruk might have lived here once, but this whole land once belonged to the ancient Daygarii druids. They’re the people who enchanted plants and animals before abandoning this realm and returning to the Vale of Origins.”

“Other places would be more expensive though. And less… epic.” Kaylina spread her arms, still able to envision how grand having a castle for their meadery and eating house would be. “People might come just because we’re in such a unique building.”

“People might avoid us because of the building. It could go either way.”

“Hm.” Kaylina stood.

Targon and Vlerion were still speaking, Targon doing most of the talking while Vlerion stood flint-faced, his arms crossed over his chest. From her position, it looked like Targon was the subordinate instead of the superior.

“Where are you going?” Frayvar whispered.

“Nowhere.” They weren’t looking at her, so she stepped out of their view to approach the wall. Using it for cover she turned her head toward the hole, hoping to catch a few words.

“…finished here, I could return to the mountains,” Vlerion said.

“We need you here.”

“Killing humans.”

“Humans plotting to assassinate the king and overthrow the government? Yes, that’s a priority right now.”

“If King Gavatorin passed a few laws to give the Virts the work conditions they want, maybe there wouldn’t be a rebellion brewing. His father would have at least negotiated with them.”

Kaylina raised her eyebrows. She wouldn’t have thought Vlerion would be the more reasonable of the two, or at least more openminded. Maybe she shouldn’t have called him an asshole.

“Ssh, Vlerion. Watch your tongue. I can’t protect you if the king’s agents hear seditious words from your mouth.”

Vlerion grunted. “When did it become sedition to speak about politics and economics? I’m not joining the commoners, simply saying that some concessions might appease them. They’re simple people. They don’t want much.”

She rolled her eyes at the superciliousness. Asshole had been the right word.

“Your family lost its right to have control over such matters when your great-great-grandfather abdicated,” Targon said.

“I’m aware. I...”

Frowning, Kaylina leaned her ear closer to the hole. Had they turned their backs?

A shadow loomed in the opening, and she stumbled backward. Vlerion grabbed her and pulled her outside while skewering the captain with his icy eyes.

“This one is trouble,” Vlerion said. “You’d better forget any plan you have that involves relying on them.”

“We’re not relying on them.” Targon waved an arm, as if indifferent to Kaylina’s spying.

But Vlerion’s grip bit in, and he eyed her sidelong.

“We’re just using something that happens to have been made available to us. We need extra eyes around the city, eyes that aren’t known to Wedgewick, Cougar, and their legions.”

“When did you change from ranger captain to spymaster?”

“In times like these, our duties require us to wear many mantles.” Targon’s tone grew firmer when he said, “Go see Lord Saybrook, Vlerion. Or one of the girls. Don’t they run half the businesses for him now?”

“Ghara does, yes.”

“Is she the pretty one or the prettier one?”

“Does the king pay you to categorize noblewomen like that? Ghara is the one who apprenticed to a bookkeeper and can out-calculate an abacus.”

---