Page 64 of Shadows of Perl

“I’m having it looked into by a Healer friend,” Mynick says. “The Dragunhead’s aware of the rumors about your grandmother tethering graduates to her House, you know?”

Chills skitter up my arms.

He goes on. “I heard the Council is pushing for her to be beheaded and her House to be shut down. Like Duncan’s.”

“What would happen to everyone in the House?” I ask.

“They’d be removed from the Order permanently.”

“Everyone?”

“The House no longer has an heir,” he adds, giving me a knowing look. I feel sick. At one point in time this would have all been my responsibility. “It’s all rumors, who knows.” He hooks an arm over Abby’s shoulder and she sniffles. As much as I don’t want Abby’s career to dissolve, my grandmother has to be dealt with.

I squeeze her hand. “Well, if the truth comes to light, we have to fight for a solution that’s fair. You don’t deserve that.”

She chews the inside of her lip.

An elderly couple has come in and sits at a table by the window, far enough out of earshot. After another careful look around the coffee shop, I pull out the invitations.

“Abby, could I show you what I found?” I ask, hoping Mynick takes the hint. But he’s dressed as if he’s in on this. She takes the invites, flipping through them.

“Where are you staying?” Mynick asks, his elbows on the table.

“I’m on the go, not staying in one place too long.”

“Where did you get these?” she asks, flipping through the invites.

“My mom was looking for places I’d be. And she still is.” I move the Veil of Mums Ball invite to the top. “This one is across the street. It starts in a half hour. I was thinking you could go and find her. I’ll wait here.” They don’t respond, so I keep going: “She’ll be trying to blend in, in plain sight.” I slide to the edge of my seat. “She taught me that becoming part of my surroundings was the key to going unnoticed when in public.”

“Wait, why would you have to go unnoticed in public?” Abby asks.

I swallow. She’d never believe a blatant lie.

“She didn’t want anyone from the Order to find me.”

Abby raises an eyebrow and sits back. “That’s…weird.”

“I think she must have known about the tether and never wanted my grandmother anywhere near me.”

“Why didn’t you say something before?”

“I’m sorry.” I exhale sharply.

Mynick strokes his bangs.

“Oh, have I mentioned that my mom is very wary of heights? She also doesn’t do elevators. Always stairs. It’s a fear she’s had since childhood, she told me. Should you write this down?”

“Quell, we’ve been doing this for months.”

When I meet Mynick’s gaze, his eyes pan away.

“Something to say?” I ask.

“I’m just here to support Abby. Ignore me.”

“What are you thinking? Please share.”

He sighs. “Look, sometimes I wonder if your mother’s better at hiding than Abby is at searching. No offense, babe.”

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