Page 68 of The Fury She Holds
Sybil had a vision the previous night of Tal entering a dark room with fire in her eyes. Despite her assurances, the group decided Tal should no longer track Badger and Gully for fear she would take matters into her own hands.
“Anything interesting happen during Ed and Jens’s watch last night?” Rain asked without tearing his eyes away from his reading.
Faron stretched his legs out in front of him. “Still nothing. Jens has been a big help in looking further into the thugs, but they’re as predictable as ever. Nothing on the mage, and no apparition sightings either.”
Tal searched through the basket. “Did Syb take the custard?”
He held up both hands in surrender. “I tried to stop her, I swear.” His eyebrow twitched.
“Liar.”
Faron shoved a sizable chunk of salted meat into his mouth and stared pointedly at the ceiling.
“What are Ed and Waylon up to today?” Tal took a large bite of jellied toast.
Faron’s mouth turned down as he shook his head. “Ed has been sent on a mission by the council, and Waylon’s father has had him locked in his study for the last week.”
“Sounds dreadful,” Tal mused around a mouthful.
Rain set his quill down. “Still no luck with the king? How about information on that room in the palace?”
Faron sat on the floor in their common area, staring at the wall while nearly chewing a hole into his lip. “No. I’m no help there. But I have other news.”
Tal perked up. “News?”
“Where is Carrick today?” Faron’s voice didn’t hold its usual cheerful tone.
Rain closed his notebook on the quill. “He’s on a job. He won’t return until tomorrow.”
Normally, Tal would have expected that revelation to pique the noble’s interest, but it appeared he had been expecting more of an audience. “That complicates things,” he sighed.
She placed the toast back on the cloth napkin in her lap. “Why? What does it complicate?”
“I’ve been looking into that invitation.” His head dipped toward Rain.
“The one the nobles mentioned at the masquerade? Is it related to the mages?” Rain leaned forward.
Faron hesitated. “It’s for something tonight.”
“Tonight?!” Tal jumped to her feet. “Why aren’t we getting ready then?” She stuffed a few more treats into her pockets, about to get into her leathers and grab her weapons.
The noble reached for her hand. “Woah! Slow down. I only learned of it today. And we’re not going.”
She froze. “What do you mean we’re not going?”
“I only know when and where. I don’t know what the invitation is for, who or what will be there, or even how to get in thereourselves. Weren’t you the one that chastised me for running into the incinerator without any kind of plan?”
Tal opened her mouth to brush off his logic. She couldn’t pass an opportunity to gain information, but she also couldn’t deny his reasoning.
Rain shook his head. “You’re right, but we’ve had no development in weeks. We can’t lose this chance. Is there time to wait until the others get back? Or any way the two of you can sneak in—just to observe,” he added when Tal’s face brightened in a mischievous grin. “We need to take advantage of this.”
“The two of us?” Faron asked. “You won’t be joining?”
Rain gathered his things and stood. “I’m off to interview another family from this list.” He held up the notebook.
Faron sighed and nodded to himself. “Alright. But we are only going to gather information.”
“Right. I’ll get ready,” Tal called over her shoulder, already running to her room.
