Page 128 of Fortress of Ambrose
“Liar.” Yani slams her fork down on her plate. “Erla, tell the truth.”
“Erla,” I press. “If you know something…”
“My brother did mention the stones could be in Triveyna. But I didn’t know anything about him planning to go there.”
“Because I wasn’tplanninganything.” His words bite. His sister sighs and pushes her plate aside.
“Jordan, look at me,” Yani demands. “You know I’m not lying. Ube is the liar at the table.”
“She makes a fair point,” I say. “It doesn’t look good, Ube.”
Quell stands. “This dinner is over. See yourselves back to your room. I will talk to Jordan privately and then discuss with each of you what’s next. Am I understood?”
They all nod. Except Yani.
Toushana flutters under my skin, skimming my fingertips before disappearing back inside. Quell tosses the napkin on the table and storms out. Behind her is Ube. Erla starts to speak, but when she spots Yani, who hasn’t moved from her seat, she leaves.
Yani exhales. “I’m so glad that’s over.”
“You were told to leave by the Headmistress of the House.”
She gets up, pushing in her chair. “You need those stones from Triveyna, it sounds like. I don’t know what he’s up to. Send me to Triveyna to get them.”
If I send anyone anywhere, it would be to find Lady Ruby. She is the real hope. I study Ube’s map, which he left on the table. It doesn’t have travel coordinates or notes about cloaking restrictions. It looks like more of a visual scope of the area, as he said.
“You can’t leave to get the stones,” she says. “This place will buckle at the seams. They don’t like you. They dislike her less, but they despise you most of all. She’s too soft.”
“Quell?”
“Don’t deny it. You’re fire, and she’s…lukewarm water.”
Insubordinate.
She’s never truly respected you.
Or the girl you love.
I won’t listen to insults about Quell. I excuse myself, pausing at the door.
“IfI need the stones, I’ll consider sending you, as long as Quell likes the idea.” It’s still too early to tell. But if someonehasto retrieve an item, Yani makes the most sense. She’s so eager to prove she can be trusted. That’s more than I can say about Ube.
She blocks the door. “Thank you for listening to me at dinner.” She plays with the collar of my shirt. Then she fingers the top button and leans into my mouth, inches from my lips.
“I can be as quiet as a mouse,” she whispers.
Protect Quell. At any cost.
Cold hardens in my chest.
I grab her in the Dragun choke, gently but firm enough to get her attention. Shadows seep from my body, swallowing the floor. “You are loyal to Quell above all else. Any hint of betrayal from you, and—” I squeeze, then release her and leave.
When I reach my room, there is a letter from my brother waiting for me, full of questions about how to get House of Duncan talking and an address of where to meet him. I check the time. I need to tell Quell I’ll be away another night.
Fifty-One
Nore
Nore strode the halls of Dlaminaugh, checking on the state of things, hoping her audacity was working in her favor. She needed everyone convinced she wasintothis Headmistress gig. A dozen dead trailed behind her. They were with her every time she left her room now, and they became belligerent if she didn’t have some kind of toushana study material on hand.
