Page 71 of Silver in the Bone

“The people sleeping downstairs ... ,” Neve said, hesitating. “How can we accept this when they’re on the floor?”

Speak for yourself, I thought. I could accept this gladly.

“They choose to sleep together for comfort and protection,” Betrys reassured her. “These chambers are normally used by the priestesses of Avalon, but my sisters and I prefer to sleep among the others in case a need to defend the tower arises in the night.”

Well. I put my hands on my hips, tilting my head back. Annoyingly, I now felt a little bad too.

“Many of our elders are resting in the other chambers, so I ask that you keep as quiet as possible,” Betrys continued, giving me a particular look. “And do not wander the halls.”

“Will we be able to meet the other Avalonians?” I asked. If he was here, Nash would have to be among them.

Betrys merely opened a door for Cabell and left without another word.

“Come on,” Neve said, giving my arm a gentle tug. “It’ll be better to look for Nash after a few hours’ sleep anyway.”

I sighed, shooting Cabell an uncertain look.

He nodded, that hopeful smile still on his face. “Better to be sharp, right?”

“Right,” I echoed.

Neve picked up the candle on the small bedside table, carrying it over to the tapestry for a better look before turning to the wardrobe. A painted fox and hare were caught in a circular chase across its doors. Opening it, she found our bags stowed inside and two long coats made of a patchwork of different fabrics.

“Wand?” I asked, already knowing the answer by her expression.

She moved to sit down on one side of the bed. I sat on the other, my back to her. The room didn’t have any sort of window or opening in the wall, allowing the heat of the fire to linger with us. It took me a moment to realize that I wasn’t smelling smoke—instead, four stones with carved spirals had been pressed together in the hearth, flames flickering lightly upward.

“Salamander stones,” Neve said quietly. “I’ve read about them. Never thought I’d actually see them.”

“An ongoing theme of this misadventure for all of us,” I noted, moving outside the fire’s glow. I ran my hands along the walls, keeping to the edges of the room to ensure there were no hidden entrances or spellwork. As impressive as the large stones were, their cheerful glow did nothing to offset the constant baying of the creatures in the ravaged forest below.

“How are we ever going to sleep?” Neve asked.

I blew a wispy strand of hair out of my face. As tired as I’d been on the way here, I was wide-awake now. Neither my mind nor my body seemed willing to wind itself down, so I went to retrieve my bag from the wardrobe.

“I think I have some pills or a tonic,” I said, rummaging through it. “Let’s just make sure they didn’t help themselves to anything—”

I swore.

“What?” Neve asked, twisting around.

“I left Ignatius at the springs,” I said, hanging my head.

“Who’s Ignatius?” Neve asked.

“The Hand of Glory,” I said.

“I knew that’s what it was!” she said, glowing with excitement. “Where did you find one? Did a sorceress make it for you? Does it really open locked doors?”

“That, and more,” I said, then, resigned, added, “I have to go get him.”

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Of all the idiotic moves I’d made in recent days, this was the most boneheaded. Ignatius had behaved himself so far, but if one of the priestesses or Avalonians found him and he decided to open his eye and take a look around ...

I didn’t want to know what they would make of something as sinister as a Hand of Glory.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Neve asked. “It’s a long walk through the dark.”

I hesitated, surprised by how hard it was to turn her down. “I can manage on my own.”

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