Page 44 of Lady for Embers

“As much as Scarlett teases Sorin about this, I have to admit, Briar’s ship is grander than his,” Cassius said, taking in the ship as they moved.

Cyrus snorted. “Be sure and let Sorin know that.” He pushed open a door and found two more behind it on either side of a short corridor. “You’re up, Witch-Child. You feel those wards?”

“What?”

“The wards,” Cyrus hissed in impatience. “You feel them?”

“Of course I can feel them. The people who put them in place can feel them as well. They are meant to keep people out.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Cyrus said, waving a dismissive hand. “That’s where you come in. They’re meant to keepFaeout, but you are not Fae. I need to get in that room,” he added, pointing to the door on the right.

“Why?”

“We don’t have much time. Can you get me in or not?” “Cyrus...”

“It’s nothing nefarious, you pious prick. I promise I’ll explain. But seriously, can you get me in or not?” Cyrus said, shoving down his impatience. Or trying to. Sawyer was still on the other ship, but it was only a matter of time before he came back here to get ready for his round of watching over the children. Nakoa and Neve were there now, and their watch would be ending soon.

Cassius sighed, stepping forward. He raised his hands as if he were feeling for physical barriers.

After a few minutes of silence, Cyrus hissed, “Can you do it or not?”

“Can you shut up long enough to stop breaking my concentration?” Cassius bit back. “I almost have them undone.”

Cyrus smirked to himself. It had beenyearssince he’d been able to pull this off. Sawyer wasn’t going to ?gure it out for just as long. Finally, Cyrus felt the wards falling away, and another minute later, Cassius was pushing the door open.

Inside was a small cabin with the usual amenities bolted to the ?oor— bed, desk, armoire. Various papers, clothes, and other objects were scattered throughout. Cyrus moved about, lifting up pants and parchment.

“Who’s room is this?” Cassius asked, still standing in the doorway.

“Sawyer’s.”

“And why did we break into Sawyer’s room?”

“Help me look for a mirror.”

“A mirror?” Cassius repeated. “You had me disable wards and break into a room for a mirror?”

“Don’t worry. He has plenty more.” Cyrus moved to the desk, opening drawers and ri?ing through contents.

“Oh good,” Cassius said. “I was worried we were taking his last one.” Cyrus turned and smirked at the commander’s snark. Cassius sighed. “What exactly does this mirror look like?”

“It’s small. Will ?t in your palm. Round. Set into glass as blue as the sea.”

“And why do you want this mirror?”

“It’s super special to him,” Cyrus replied. “He wouldn’t have left it behind.”

“Great, but that didn’t answer my question.”

“The ?rst time I met Sawyer he was a gods-awful prick. He was already Briar’s Second at that time. So I watched him. Figured out what he prized most, and he loves this fucking mirror,” Cyrus said.

“Are you telling me you’ve been waitingdecadesto steal this mirror? To get back at him for something that happened just as long ago?” Cassius asked incredulously, turning from ri?ing through the armoire to look at him over his shoulder.

“No,” Cyrus countered. “I’m looking to steal itback. It took me several years, but I ?nally managed to nick it from him one night while we were celebrating something or other at the House of Water. The others had gotten drunk, but I’d only pretended, knowing it was the perfect opportunity.”

“And what is so special about this mirror?”

“It’s imbued with his super special Water Gazing power,” Cyrus answered.

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