Page 71 of Of Scale and Blood

I drained my shamoke, then put the cup on the table and rose. “I’d better get going.”

He nodded. “Be careful up there.”

“Be careful plotting,” I said.

Again, that flicker. Again, no explanation was forthcoming.

Frustration surged anew, but I pushed it away, collected my weapons and my packs, and headed out.

The halls were abuzz with movement and sound, and the scent of freshly baked breads combined with the faintest touch of ginger and spice was so strong in the air that, despite the fact I’d already eaten, my stomach rumbled. I couldn’t resist the temptation and followed my nose down to the kitchen. Trail rations were all well and good, but nothing—nothing—ever beat fresh-out-of-the-oven bread. Especially when it was Hutzelbrot, a thick and heavy loaf that was jam-packed with dried fruits and had a delicate gingery-cinnamon flavor. Candra—our chief baker—generally only made it when ginger had come into season.

She turned as I entered the overpoweringly hot room and gave me a wide smile. “Wondered how long it would take you to follow your nose down here, Princess. You never used to miss baking day when you were younger.”

I grinned. “I think it fair to say I practically lived for Hutzelbrot season when younger, and I definitely consumed more than my fair share.”

She laughed. “Aye, I think you did. How many do you need today?”

“Three, please. We’re off on a day-long scout.”

She slapped her hands together to get rid of the excess flour covering them, then walked over to where the racks of various breads stood. “Had another visitor in here earlier.”

There was something in the way she said that that had my instincts twitching. “Not one of the usual Hutzelbrot thieves, I’m taking it?”

“No, this one was sneaking around, looking for the entrance into the servants’ tunnels. Rude woman; Zephrine origins, I’m thinking.”

There was only one fitting that description staying here right now, and that was Gayl. “Did you ask her why she was looking for it?”

The why was pretty obvious—she was trying to find a way around Damon’s protection barriers—but it had to be asked, or Candra would think it odd. Of course, none of the tunnels to the upper floors ran into our suites—for security reasons—instead opening into the hall, close to our rooms but in full sight of the guards stationed there. But therewasa network of tunnels between the walls throughout the ground floor that catered to the banquet and various smaller dining rooms, and a number of them ran right underneath both my suite and my parents’.

If Damon’s spell only encompassed the walls, and not the ceiling and floor, then it was very possible she could still listen in to our conversations

“Of course I did,” Candra was replying. “Got no time for sneaks obviously up to no good. She claimed she heard rodents in the walls and wanted to check the tunnels. The affront of the woman, thinking I’d allow those dirty animals to run about.”

“Hard to believe indeed.” I paused. “Can the door into the tunnels be locked?”

She hesitated. “Please excuse the bluntness, Princess, but it’d be fucking inconvenient, given we’re never sure when your family or your guests will scribe down for food.”

“Then I’ll have a guard placed here in case she appears again.”

“I thought she was a guest?” Candra wrapped the three loaves separately in oil-treated cotton to give them additional protection if it rained, then placed them all in hessian sacks for easier carrying and handed them to me.

“She is, but that doesn’t give her the right to be going wherever she wants.” I raised the sacks. “Thanks for these.”

“Welcome, Princess. You want a loaf sent up with breakfast tomorrow?”

“If you could, I would love it.”

She laughed. “Done. Enjoy your day, Princess.”

“Thanks, Candra.” I turned and headed back out, but hesitated once I’d reached the foyer. I really had to get going, because the later we left, the closer it would be to night when we returned. But if I didn’t warn Damon about his aunt, and his machinations reached his father’s ears, subsequently placing people in danger, I wouldn’t forgive myself. I swore softly and ran back up the stairs to our room.

Damon was squatting in the middle of the floor, examining the tablet he held in one hand while chalking various symbols onto the stone with the other. I stopped in the doorway and frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Practicing.” If he was at all put out by my sudden reappearance, it didn’t show. But maybe that nebulous connection neither of us were verbally acknowledging had already warned him. “What did you forget? And what is that gorgeous smell?”

“Got some Hutzelbrot from the kitchen, which is where I learned your aunt was trying to get into the servant tunnels. If your protection spell doesn’t cover the floors and ceilings, you need to extend it—today.”

“I will but?—”

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