Page 16 of Shadows in Bloom

As promised, Kaz agreed to call it a night after a couple of hours, most of which he spent colorfully describing where he got each of his scars. While the rest of us began to make our way up the stairs to our rooms, Zorinna motioned for Alandris to follow her outside.

Kallistra excused herself to the bath, and I took a seat at the window, staring out into the night sky. I heard voices I recognized as Alandris’ and Zorinna’s and peeked down over the windowsill to spot them standing just around the back entrance of the inn. I hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but the serious look on Zorinna’s face had piqued my curiosity. It took little to convince myself it was okay to observe them.

“I wanted to chat with you about something—privately,” Zorinna said as Alandris approached.

“Outside in the cold?” He pulled his cloak from his shoulders and wrapped it around Zorinna’s. “You’re turning blue, and it isn’t my magic gone awrythis time.”

Her cheeks blushed, matching the shade of her already reddened nose. “That is not a fond memory.” She narrowed her eyes at him playfully.

Alandris smiled. “It is for me. You were so willing, actually, excited, if I recall correctly, to assist with my first alteration spell. What are friends for if not to act as your test subjects?”

Zorinna pursed her lips. “What are friends for…” She pulled the cloak around her and leaned back against the inn wall. “I am concerned about our choices.”

“You will need to be more specific.”

“Kaz is one thing. He’s somewhat rough around the edges, but he’s experienced, and trust me—he was the best one I could hunt down.” She rubbed her forehead and shook her head. “The other two… something is off. That display in there was uncomfortable, to say the least. Maybe it’s better if we are only three. They shared nothing about themselves tonight. In fact, they avoided any personal questions altogether. It’s odd.”

My chest tightened, and I pulled a bit further away from the windowsill, enough that they hopefully couldn’t see me, but where I could still see and hear them. Fading into the background was my specialty. Whatever they had to say about Kallistra and me—I needed to know.

Alandris took a moment before responding. “I-I believe it’s best we see this through. I trust Nairu, and I trust her judgment of Kallistra.”

“You have known her for a few days!” Her irritation flooded into her voice. “Don’t be ridiculous, Alandris. She hardly says a word! How can you trust her?”

“She speaks to me.” He bit the inside of his cheek and pressed his back against the wall, looking up at the sky. “I need you to have some faith in me.”

“I have been. Blindly, mind you.”

“Zorinna.”

She groaned in frustration. “I only worry about you. You have a tendency to want to save everyone around you, even when it means putting yourself at risk. I feel bad for the girl, but… I don’t know.” She shook her head. “My intuition has never let me down, and something doesn’t add up with Kallistra. She’s smarter than she lets on. She’s constantly vigilant, poised to attack.”

“I’m not one to play things safe because it’s easy, am I?”

Zorinna wrinkled her nose. “Is that to imply that I am?”

“Don’t read into it,” Alandris said plainly, crossing his arms. “Regardless, this conversation is done. We need the help, and they need it, too. I’m not abandoning them on a whim. Goodnight, Zorinna.”

“Your cloa—”

“Keep it. It’s cold.”

Alandris hurried back inside the inn, slamming the door behind him.

I rushed from the window and placed a hand over my chest. Zorinna had reservations about Kallistra and me. She didn’twant us to join them. And Alandris had defended us? No. I couldn’t deal with that part right now. I had to find a way to gain Zorinna’s trust. We needed this job. I needed to talk with Kallistra. Find a way to get her to relax her behavior without cueing her in on what I’d just learned.

When Kallistra returned from the bath, I wasted no time with my warning. “We need this job, Kallistra.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I am aware.”

I sighed. “Look, I don’t know what has you so on edge lately. I know our village elders must be pressuring you, but we need to get along with these people. Maybe we can let them in a bit. Get to know them. Be friendly. We have our first lead in a long time… We need this.”

“My job is to protect you. Mine. Not anyone else’s. I don’t need help.”

If I could’ve ground my teeth down into dust, I would’ve. I tried to maintain my composure. “I’m not a child anymore. I am a grown woman. I don’t belong to you.”

“Not me—us. Our village. You belong to us.”

Her words hit their mark like a sharp knife to the chest. A belonging. A doll. A tool. She didn’t stop there.

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