Page 97 of Silver in the Bone

At the word mushrooms, I turned back to face the statue.

The Nine were gathering around the image of the Goddess. They chanted quietly, laying down offerings of herbs and filling the bejeweled chalice that sat near the Goddess’s foot with glowing water from the sacred springs. All were focused on their task, save Caitriona, who was watching us.

Not us.

Neve.

Catching my eye, Caitriona whirled back around, body bracing as if for a strike.

“You do seem upset,” Cabell said quietly from my other side. “Everything okay?”

I gave him a look. “When was the last time anything was okay?”

There weren’t many things I didn’t tell him, but this—whatever this was—felt like more trouble than it was worth.

“Just tired.” After glancing around to make sure no one was watching us, I lowered my voice to add, “Emrys thinks he found something and wants us to meet tonight.”

Neve had been swaying dreamily in her seat to the ballad, but that caught her attention. “I told Olwen I’d meet her in the library for more research. I’m worried she’ll get suspicious if I back out.”

“And I told Bedivere I’d walk the wall with him on tonight’s watch,” Cabell said, his expression all apologies. “You got this one?”

If I said no, I knew he’d come with me. I also knew we needed what information we could get out of Bedivere. “Yeah. Of course.”

“Let’s catch up in the morning.” Cabell eyed Emrys like a crow did a worm. “Behave.”

Emrys ignored him, leaning back around Neve to whisper, “Looks like it’s just you and me tonight.”

I raised my goblet, only to remember it was already empty. “Great.”

After the light and song of dinner, the shadowy great hall seemed brooding by contrast. The long tables were barren now and only the candle at the center of the Goddess’s idol was still burning. The white rose, with its creamy petals, beckoned from the heart of her palms.

I moved toward it slowly, my hand reaching for the achingly perfect petals. The candle flame shivered, causing the statue to glow as if it were alive.

“It’s the Rosa × alba.”

Emrys peeled away from the shadows near the hall’s entrance. I jumped, bumping the offering table hard enough to splash myself with the bowl of springwater.

“Do you make a habit of lurking, or is it a special thing you save for me?” I hissed.

“Only for you, Bird,” he said, slinging his workbag over his shoulder. “Got to say, I didn’t take you for a flower type, but you’ve spent all night watching that rose like it’s about to burst into flames.”

I sidestepped that and asked, “Where’s this thing you just have to show me?”

He brushed his hair out of his eyes with a secretive smile. Without another word, he looked back over his shoulder, searching the entrance for any movement on the steps or in the courtyard. Satisfied, he moved past me, toward the statue.

“Where are you ... ,” I began, trailing after him.

There was a small space between the altar and the back wall, just enough for him to crouch down. Pressing both hands to one of the wood panels on the statue’s platform, he slid it to the right, revealing a hidden set of steps leading down into darkness.

“God’s teeth,” I whispered, crouching to stick my head through the opening. It was impossible to see what was below. Behind me, Emrys donned his head lamp and clicked it on.

“I knew you’d like it,” he said with an infectious grin.

“I have been known to appreciate a hidden passage from time to time,” I allowed. “Provided there aren’t curses trying to behead me along the way.”

“I swear on the sainted soul of my grandmother that your pretty little neck is safe,” he said. “After you ...”

“Necks aren’t pretty,” I said after a too-long pause. “How did you even find this?”

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