Page 52 of A Fractured Song

Svetlana’s eyes were slightly narrowed as she looked back at him. “Our business with the elves is just that—ourbusiness.”

There was a moment of silence during which Zev and Marieke exchanged a look.

“Well.” Zev stood, mirroring Svetlana’s posture. “If you’ve nothing more to say, we’ll be on our way.”

He knew before the older woman spoke that it wasn’t going to be so easy.

“I don’t think so,” Svetlana said. “I was going to send someone with you to Ondford, to ensure you passed our message to the Council of Singers there.” Her eyes flicked to Marieke. “But since you tell me you have no access or influence when it comes to the council, I’m not sure it’s worth it. You’ll remain here until I decide what to do with you.”

“What right do you have to keep us as prisoners?” Marieke demanded, rising to her feet as well.

“You trespassed on our home,” Svetlana said, unconcerned. “You’ve even admitted that you came here to pry into our affairs and ask questions about our community. We have every right.”

She waved a hand in dismissal, and a man moved forward from the doorway. Zev recognized him as their guide from earlier.

Marieke seemed inclined to protest further, but Zev put a restraining hand on her arm. Her eyes darted quickly from his hand to his face, and he gave his head a little shake. They would get nowhere arguing with Svetlana. They needed to come up with their own plan to escape.

Still looking far from convinced, Marieke collected her bag from where she’d put it on the floor. Zev had no need to—he’d kept his on him at all times, not trusting any of the monarchists not to rifle through it. They’d already taken his spare knife when they searched the pair’s packs the night before. And of course, the blasted elves had destroyed his favorite blade.

The monarchist ushered them forward, his eyes sharp and his face grim. When they reached the main cavern, Zev noted that he made a point of staying between them and the entrance that led to the outside world. On high alert, Zev tensed as a young woman jogged across the space, her eyes on a stack of bowls in her hands and her attention clearly not on where she was going. She was heading straight for them, and Zev’s warning cry didn’t come in time to stop her from colliding hard with Marieke.

Both girls fell from the impact, and Zev hastened to help Marieke up. He noted in doing so that the other girl had somehow managed to hold on to her bowls, none of which were broken.

“Can you go and be clumsy somewhere else, Trina?” their guide said irritably.

The name made Zev’s eyes dart to the girl again. He hadn’t even realized she was the same one who’d approached them after their meal the night before.

“Sorry,” Trina said breathlessly, looking none of them in the eye as she hurried on.

Still muttering, the guard gestured for them to move toward the same route they’d taken the night before, but Marieke stayed still.

“Wait,” she said, sounding self-conscious. “I need to relieve myself again.” Her eyes passed to Zev. “Do you, Zev?”

He opened his mouth to say no, then paused. Her eyes were suddenly shooting daggers at him.

“Yes,” he said smoothly. “If we’re going to be locked away indefinitely, I’ll take the opportunity.”

The guard sighed. “Hurry up, then. I have better things to do than herd you around all day.”

“So sorry to hold you up,” said Marieke with cold politeness. “If you’re in such a rush, we’ll go at the same time so as to be faster.”

Zev tried to hide his surprise. He saw the guard’s lip curl, but he didn’t care what the man was thinking about either their relationship or their dignity. Clearly Marieke had some plan.

He followed her silently into the cave with the spring, and through it to the room with the holes in the floor.

“What is it?” he asked as soon as they were alone. “What are you up to? If you wanted to speak alone, surely we’ll have plenty of time for that once they lock us up and throw away the key.”

“No, it isn’t that,” Marieke said, her voice barely more than a murmur. He had to strain to hear it above the sound of running water. “That girl, Trina, said something when she knocked into me. She said to convince you to come into this room with me.”

“That’s all she said?” Zev asked.

Marieke nodded. “I know we know nothing of her, but it seemed worth taking the risk to me.”

“Definitely,” he agreed, looking around the small, cold space. There was nothing there but a row of half a dozen holes in the floor, the last one blocked behind a wooden sign with an X on it. A couple of lanterns lit the area with a cool, white light, but it wasn’t what one might call inviting. It also stank faintly of urine. “I wonder how long we’re supposed to wait here.”

His eyes had landed expectantly on the entrance, so he was caught off guard when Marieke let out a squeak of surprisebehind him. He swung around to see a head poking up through the latrine hole on the end, the one with the sign indicating that it shouldn’t be used.

“Oh good. You managed to both come in here at once. That makes it much easier.”

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