Page 45 of Shadows of Winter

“If criminals are using this part of the catacombs as a thoroughfare again, and you’ve set up shop in the castle, you might be in danger from them.”

“I’m in danger from a lot,” Kaylina said.

“I’ve noticed. Perhaps your disrespectful tongue is the reason.”

“I’m sure your tongue lands you in a lot of danger too.”

“It is my uniform that does that.” Vlerion gestured for her to join him.

Before, he’d asked if she wanted to come along, but something told her that she didn’t have that much of a choice.

Kaylina caught Frayvar peering into the kitchen and said, “I’ll be back soon. Will you finish arranging the tables and chairs?”

“Oh, sure. You know I love using my prodigious muscles to heft furniture.” Frayvar curled his arm to flex his biceps.

“In exchange, I’ll hold your groceries when you’re ready to shop for provisions for your first meals, and I won’t be snarky and roll my eyes at how long you take to decide between cumin and coriander.”

“No eye rolling at all?”

“Nope.”

“Will you sigh melodramatically?”

“You have to leave me something.”

“All right, deal.”

“If you’re ready.” Vlerion extended a hand toward the pantry floor.

“Yup, I can’t wait. A trip into the catacombs with an uptight ranger sounds like a delightful adventure.” Kaylina grabbed her lantern, her pack, and her sling and joined him in the pantry. “And not at all dangerous.”

“Just watch your tongue.” His look was grave, a warning in his blue eyes.

“With the criminals? Surely, I don’t need to call them lords.”

“No. But don’t talk a lot.”

A sarcastic response came to her lips, but the warning lingering in his eyes kept her from voicing it. A warning and… was that a hint of uncertainty? Like he thought taking her down there would be a bad idea?

Maybe she should stay behind. But she would like to know if danger could pop up from below, especially since she and her brother were sleeping on the floor in the kitchen scant feet from the pantry.

“No problem. I’ve got a romantic adventure novel in case I get bored without your melodious voice in my ear.” Kaylina patted her pack. “It’s good. Love, treachery, swashbuckling, and nobles who aren’t full of themselves.”

Vlerion used his sword to pry up a flagstone to reveal a ladder descending into darkness. “I doubt the catacombs will put you in the mood for romance.”

She doubted it too.

12

Per the One God’s instructions, the dead will be guarded as assiduously as the living.

~ Kar’ruk High Shaman Velkar

They didn’t descend the wooden rungs into darkness as far as Kaylina expected. A scant six feet down, she landed on a flagstone floor similar to that on the main level of the castle. Vlerion had to stoop to keep from hitting his head on the ceiling.

Kaylina wrinkled her nose at the dust, the air damper and mustier down here than in the keep. Her brother would have been sneezing already.

Shifting her lantern around revealed a root cellar with wooden shelves lining one earthen wall and cask racks on the opposite. Surprisingly, they appeared to be in decent shape.

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