Page 87 of The Verdant Cage
“You’ll not want to leave yet,” he says.
I turn as quickly as my wounds allow and get in his face. “And why’s that?” I ask.
“You’re needed in here.”
I stick out my chin. “Did Marina tell you to say that?” Almost immediately I regret my words, what they reveal about the state of my heart.
“No,” he says, gently leaning me against the nearest wall in an exact recreation of the move he’d used on Marina last night.How dare he!I hate the way it makes my stomach flip.
“But she did allow me close enough to retrieve this.” He holds up the white-ribboned key to the Record Keeper vault.
Relief verging on euphoria courses through me.
Gryphon’s body molds to mine, ensuring that the Guardians behind cannot see him hand me the key. He studies the thing with distaste until I slip the tied-off ribbon over my head, hiding the key beneath my clothing.
“You owe me,” he says. “Her lips were greasy.”
My heartbeat echoes off his chest and returns to me, stronger than it left. “Why?” I ask. I mean why did he take the risk of stealing the key, why is he helping me, why did he make everything so confusing?
Why???
He places his finger under my chin, continuing the ruse that we’re lovers reuniting after an awful night apart. “You said Jonas saw something in the vault, something you think caused his Harvest. It could be connected to whatever is going on with my father and the other Guardians. In any case, you wanted the key, so I got it for you.”
Folded in the warmth of his body, I weaken, tears pricking my eyes at the surge of emotions his explanation brings. Emotions I ought not feel, given my plans for tomorrow night. I’m going to abandon our sacred union, and yet, for one selfish moment, I want to stay here with Gryphon forever. “Thank you,” I say.
His mouth tightens. He glances over his shoulder. One Guardian has exited through the chapel’s rear door, presumably to get supplies for the prisoners. The other is watching Gryphon and me suspiciously. He breaks away from his station and begins striding toward us.
I speak quickly. “Did you know it was a plant attacking us?”
He shudders. “No, that’s the first time I’ve seen it.” His glance flicks to my shoulder. “And I’m sorry I threw a knife at you. I couldn’t…I couldn’t let you kill him. I wish there’d been another way.”
I nod. He’s telling the truth. The approaching Guardian is nearly upon us now, his hand on his sword. Sojourner Confucius steps out, her expression severe.
“Rose,” she says loudly. “I’m ready for you.”
The Guardian who’d been approaching stops, confused.
I look to Gryphon. He steps aside and holds out an arm, the picture of graciousness. “My mother has requested pre-wedding counseling for each of us, given the situation. I’ve already completed mine.”
54
I follow Sojourner into her office, running through all the excuses I can think of to get out of this. I cannot possibly listen to homilies and marriage advice for a union I have no intention of honoring, especially not while Noah’s Valley is under attack from within.
Sojourner closes the door behind me. The chamber is hushed, soothing, the walls lined with dark wood and bookshelves, a desk in the center. I’ve landed on what I consider my best bet—telling her I’m ill—when she holds up a hand to silence me. She presses her ear to the door. Listens. Then reaches for one of the red cloaks of her House and hands it to me.
“It won’t pass close inspection, but if you keep the hood up and stay off the main streets, you should be all right.”
I’m stunned. “What are you doing?”
“Gryphon said you need to get inside the Record Keeper cottage,” she says, guiding me toward the rear exit.
I stop so abruptly that my feet skid. “No, I meanwhat are you doing? Lying about my duty is illegal.”
She takes the cloak from my hand and wraps it gently around my shoulders, clasping it at my neck. “Rose, a good heart always breaks a bad law.” She pulls up the hood, the simple blue cross tattooed below her ear exposed when she glances again toward the door to the chapel. “You have until the bells ring. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
And then she shoves me through the exit, which I’m surprised to find leads directly outside. I hear the distant sound of voices, Leo and someone else. I flatten against the back of the chapel. Brown grass scratches my ankles. Outside of the chapel’s shadow, there’s a broad open stretch of cobblestone I must cross to get anywhere else in the village.
“…Only for another night,” Leo says, his voice low. “Then he’s sending the four of them out first, after we kill the Beast and blow open the Wall. Let them draw the worst of whatever’s out there.”
