Page 27 of Degradation

Andrew would stop me if I told him what I meant to do. As would the others.

My gaze drifted to the window. Brandle and the others would never let me out of their sights again if I left without word. Yet, I refused to remain safely tucked away while they went about their business.

Uncertain how much time I had before they returned, I quickly stripped from my gown and dressed in Liam’s ill-fitted clothing. Even with my hair tucked in an old cap, I knew my face would draw attention. So I touched my fingers to the room’s charred candlewick and filled in my sideburns and dirtied under my nose.

Satisfied, I opened the window and looked out. The building’s derelict exterior benefited me. I easily found footholds in the missing chinking between logs and climbed down into the side yard between the inn and its vacant neighbor.

Sensing the energy of the people around me made it easier to avoid notice. The boy hidden in the hay never saw me as I silently crept around the back of the building and cut through the yard of the business behind it.

I made my way along Adele’s outskirts until I found two casters living near one another. My hope was that, if they sensed me, they would think it was the other caster.

As I strolled by, I nudged the lid on my well and touched the energy within while keeping my senses open. Neither caster hid themself. In increments, I removed the lid from my well, and it wasn’t until it was almost halfway off that the energy from both casters immediately disappeared. I promptly hid my energy and continued on my way.

People filled the main streets. With their heads down, they minded their own business as they moved about. I could feel their tension and fear, which increased each time an armored group of guards patrolled the street they walked.

Following the locals’ example and listening to the warning that continually tingled along my skin, I avoided the guards as well.

It took almost an hour to reach another set of casters living close together. Both homes had signs advertising their services and a large flat stone in front of their door to keep visitors from tracking in mud. I knocked on the door of the caster whose stone was more worn smooth.

A woman not much older than me opened the door. Her gaze swept over me from head to boots then back to my face.

“You look like trouble. What do you want?”

“A spell.”

“Obviously. What kind?”

“Might we speak inside, please?”

She glanced up and down the street then stepped back to let me in.

CHAPTERSIX

“If you wanta spell that will change you into the man you’re pretending to be, I can’t help you. Transfiguration spells, even the temporary ones, are beyond my ability.”

“You know I’m a woman?”

“I have eyes. And no man ever says please.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, looking around her shop at the herbs and amulets. I recognized very little.

“What do you want then?” she asked impatiently.

“My father brought me to Adele to wed me off,” I said, keeping with Andrew’s story. “I would like to prevent that.”

“Keep dressing as you are, and it should do the trick.”

“We both know there are men who either won’t care or will feel that a good beating will help me remember the proper attire for a woman.”

She sighed and turned away from me. “My first husband was like that.” She picked up a stone from one of the shelves.

“First? How many times have you been married?”

“Three.”

I knew I shouldn’t ask, but I couldn’t help myself.

“How old are you?”

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