Page 37 of Fortress of Ambrose
She let out a breath. “What will happen to magic? Does he have a plan?”
“We.”
“You’re actually working together?”
He shifted at all the questions. Hadn’t he calledherhere? She exited the row. Her chin over her shoulder urged him to follow. There was no joy in her turned-down lips, no hope in her make-up-streaked eyes. He followed her to the next row of books. For a few minutes they perused, until Nore appeared.
The book fell from Adola’s hands as she gaped at her.
“What areyoudoing here?”
Nore gazed between them. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said to him before leaving them there. When she was out of sight, Adola replaced her book on the shelf and hustled toward the exit.
“Wait, please.” He rushed after her.
She walked faster.
“Excuse me, miss,” he said, far too loud on purpose. Heads swiveled in their direction. Adola huffed and pulled him hard by the sleeve into a shadowed corner. Window light cascaded over hard lines etched into her face. It had only been three years since he lived in the same prison with his cousin, and she’d aged so much in such a short time.
She squeezed his wrist. “You’re working with a ’Roser now? Are you out of your mind?”
“I know what I’m doing. She’s smart as a whip and hates her House. The perfect ally.”
“So she says.”
His nerves churned. “Look, I need your help.”
“I’m not helping her.”
“You’re helpingme.” It felt good to be honest with someone. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t critically important. I need you to find something at Hartsboro. It’s a piece of old parchment from House of Ambrose that we were given stewardship of—”
She covered her gasp.
“What?”
“A scroll.”
Ice slid down Yagrin’s spine. “How did you know that?”
“Ellery Ambrose and his fiancée visited recently. They spoke with Mother privately two days ago. The girl left hours after they arrived. Then she brought me to greet him. As I was leaving, I overheard him saying Mother’d been entrusted with something from his House.”
“Do you know for sure it was the Scroll?”
“I don’t. But the next morning he left with a square of old parchment. I used the corridors between the walls and watched him pack it in his things.”
Yagrin’s heart leapt. Beaulah didn’t just hand over things of value. Even if she’d written off the Scroll as legend, she wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to have power over someone who devoutly believed in it. “Why’d she give it to him?”
“I don’t know. But I do know that halfway through dinner, Mother sent the dogs out of her quarters, to their kennel. And she and Ellery dined until well past midnight.”
His neck broke out in sweat.
“I have to go, Yagrin. Don’t call for me again.”
“Ado—”
“Stay away, alright?” Her stare deadened. “Stay far away. Mother’s sick. I’ve been moved into position. It’s not official yet, but it will be soon. She’sravenousfor blood. I have to commit, you understand?” Her grip tightened, and a glint in her eye he’d never seen before sank his heart like a stone in a river.
“Goodbye, cousin.”
