Page 37 of The Verdant Cage
“You’ll help with the census.”
I jump. I’d been sinking so deeply into wretchedness that I hadn’t noticed Misia break from her group. “Pardon?”
She sniffs. “We will not have you lazing about in our cottage. Leaves too much time for trouble. If you can’t get married today, you will work. We’ve decided you’ll help the Record Keepers.”
The annual census is crucial to our survival. Its collection is the Record Keepers’ most vital task. I glance over at Jarek, Boudicca, and Perez. “The Record Keeper agrees?” I phrase it as a question. I’m still not understanding. Doing the work of another House outside of an emergency is unprecedented. It destabilizes the very foundation of our community.
“It is done,” she says.
She’s not answered my question, not really. My scalp prickles. Are Jarek and Misia trying to trick me? To set me up to break the law so they have a reason to Harvest me? I’m still trying to make sense of it when she calls Marina over.
Marina is wearing the same soft gray as the rest of us, but she glows in it. Her hair is styled in cascading waves. Her navy-blue eyes twinkle like jewels. “Such a shame about your betrothed,” she says, her lips quivering with the effort of holding in laughter, “growing very public, very cold feet.”
“Enough,” Misia says. Before I can consider if this is a kindness, she continues. “Rose is going to help your House conduct this year’s census.”
“We don’t want her!” Marina protests.
I didn’t think I could feel worse. Wrong.
“I didn’t ask your opinion.” Misia’s tone is icy. “But if you prefer I bring over Jarek to reiterate his command, I’m happy to do so.”
I’m not so pleased that my bully is being put in her place that I miss the power shift. A Guardian should not be commanding the duties of another House. When proud Marina doesn’t protest, I wonder if this isn’t the first time it’s happened.
“Fine,” she says, wrinkling her nose at me. “You can go cottage to cottage tomorrow, gathering information. I’ll warn you, it’s cold, boring work that involves a lot of writing.” She tilts her head innocently. “Youcanwrite, can’t you?”
She means to insult me, but something wonderful has just occurred to me. The Record Keepers visit every House with their questions. They’re unsupervised and free to roam anywhere in the village.
Misia thinks she’s punishing me with this job, I’m sure of it, offering me busywork to keep me out of their way until I can start training. But in doing so, she’s handed me the perfect cover to investigate my mother’s murder.
23
Marina tries to ditch me after Misia tells her I’ll be helping with the census, but I don’t want to return to the Tzu cottage a second earlier than I have to. Plus, I need to get in the vault. I follow her out of the chapel, pulling my cloak tight.
“Marina,” I call out, “I’d like to get a head start on tomorrow’s work.”
She picks up her pace, calling over her shoulder. “That’s not necessary.” Her tone indicates annoyance. “Your part won’t require any planning.”
“It’s an important task. I want to do a good job,” I say as I hurry to reach her side. “Even if I only peek at last year’s census, that’ll help me to mentally prepare.”
She tosses me a festering look, but I’ve given her nothing to argue with. “Whatever,” she says. “But Lozen is dropping by, so I won’t be able to help you. Maybe Simon can.”
Even better. If I have to deal with the Record Keeper children, I much prefer Simon to Marina. Besides, I just saw him talking with Eero back at chapel. If I hurry, and if Lozen distracts Marina, I might be able to slip into the cellar unsupervised.
Marina’s shoulders are bunched around her ears as she walks. I think there will be silence between us, but then she says, “You’re lucky to get a sunshine wedding for your second one.” Her tone’s sullen.
“You’re lucky to still have your brother,” I respond, just for something to say. My mind had been wandering into plans for sneaking downstairs once we reached her cottage.
Marina stops walking, her eyes blazing. “Lucky?”
It takes me a moment to recall what I’ve just said. My heart skips a beat. I might be unraveling inside, but these are dangerous times to let it show. “I know how much you love him,” I say, my words tumbling over themselves. “That’s all I meant.”
Her lips curl. “It’s an honor to be chosen for the Harvest, don’t you agree?”
I nod, my heart thudding. “Of course.” I swallow loudly. “We must trust in the Wall.”
She looks like she wants to say more but, instead, starts walking again. We continue without talking until we reach her home, where Lozen lounges out front, leaning against the cottage with a foot balanced on the wall behind her. She’s sister to Leonidas but looks little like him or their parents. Her hair is long and wavy, brown at first glance, though I’ve seen it glint orange in the sun. Her most memorable feature is her mouth, which is always curved as though she’s tasting a delicious secret. I don’t recall her being in Marina’s friend circle, but I’ve seen the two of them together quite a bit at celebrations and chapel the last few weeks.
“Rose Allgood,” Lozen says. She pushes herself off the wall. “Marina didn’t tell me you were invited to our afternoon tea.”
