Page 103 of Thief of Silver and Souls

Torstem doesn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. He strides right up to the carriage. “Let’s be off immediately.”

Without another word, he heaves his stout body onto the seat above my hiding place.

The driver flicks the whip, and the gelding in the harness clops forward. The wheels rattle over the cobblestones on either side of me.

Julita speaks up again in a mildly droll tone.So… you and Benedikt appear to be getting along well.

I adjust my grip on the bar, swaying as the carriage veers around a bend in the road. “Is this really the best time to be talking about that?”

My lips purse of their own accord, bringing back the giddying sensation of his kiss. I shake my head against it as if answering my own question.

Julita clearly doesn’t agree.Why not? I’m the only one who can hear you with all the clatter out there. Have you got something better to do during the trip?

“I guess not,” I mutter.

There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. He is appealing in his own way.

“Kissing him wasn’t my idea in the first place.”

You enjoyed it well enough.

My cheeks flare all over again. “You can’t just assume—”

She lets out a tinkling laugh.I might not be able to read your thoughts, but I experience everything your body does, Ivy. I know.

“Well, it isn’t going to happen again.” If he’d even want it to, now that he’s scratched that itch.

He might be a bastard, but he’s still only twice removed from the royal family. Not a bad catch at all.

“I’m not going to be catching him.” I make a face at the base of the carriage. “If we have to talk, can we talk about something else?”

Hmm.Julita is silent for a few minutes, as if put out by my refusal.I suppose this is a rather convenient way of traveling while staying concealed. If you have the arm strength for it. Or does your gift help with that?

My gift that I don’t actually have. I swallow thickly and rub the stump of my finger that’s my supposed sacrifice. “A little of both, let’s say.” I pause. “Didyoumake a sacrifice? What was your dedication?”

Oh, yes. I wasn’t going to pass that chance up.Something firms in her voice, a hint of steely resolve.I gave my lowest two ribs to Creaden.

I wince. “That must have hurt.”

For a little while, to be sure, but the devouts sealed up my flesh just like they will have for your finger. It was worth it. He granted me the gift I asked for: that when I say no to a request or demand, it’ll be heeded.

My stomach knots at the thought of why she’d have wanted a gift like that. Why her brother’s experiments must have stopped after her dedication.

I don’t know what to say. Julita goes quiet after her answer, leaving me feeling guilty that I’ve shut her up even though I didn’t want to talk in the first place.

Then the carriage rolls to a stop. Ster. Torstem steps out, tossing a few words of gratitude to the driver. “I’ll need you back by the bell for the second hour.”

“Of course, sir.”

That’s my cue.

Torstem’s feet tramp up the steps of the stone building we’ve stopped in front of. I can’t see anyone else ambling nearby from my vantage point. Two trimmed shrubs jut up on either side of the building’s doorway.

The driver prods the horse to walk on. Just as the mare starts hauling the carriage forward again, I release my hold and whip myself to the side.

In an instant, I’ve rolled off the road and onto my feet behind one of the shrubs. I crouch there, watching for trouble.

No one shouts in alarm. I smooth the makeshift ties out of my now-scuffed skirt and tug the pins from my hair so it drifts down to partly conceal my face. Combing my fingers through the strands, I step farther into the shadows between this building and the neighboring one.

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