Page 17 of Zenith Tower

“Does anyone know they’re here?”

One of the stewards shifted behind him. Marrow did not.

“This is your warning,” he said. “The passage is not secured. That does not make it part of your assigned route.”

“They’re locked behind glass.”

“They are contained according to the requirements of their Marks.”

“That boy is a child.”

Marrow looked at the boy. Something in his face closed. Then he took the pitcher from my hand and gave it to the nearest steward.

“Fill this.”

The healer left with it.

Marrow turned back to me. “You waited until Marsh was asleep and the others were occupied. Then you went looking for a corridor you had not been shown.”

“You’ve been watching us.”

“You are under review.”

“I went for water.”

“You took the first unguarded turn you found.”

The healer returned and offered me the full pitcher. I took it with both hands. Cold water shifted inside, heavy enough to pull at my arms.

“The next time you leave an assigned route, you will be escorted whenever you leave your room,” Marrow said. “If you attempt to enter a secured area, your room will be secured instead.”

“For how long?”

“As long as required.”

He stepped aside. The passage back to the stairs stood open behind him.

I looked once more toward the boy. He had lifted his head. His face was thin in the silver light, his eyes fixed on the pitcher in my hands.

Then one of the stewards moved between us.

I returned to our corridor with the healer close behind me. She waited until I entered Kieran’s room before turning away.

Caspian was standing when I came through the door. Hale remained beside the bed, one hand resting near Kieran’s wrist. Kieran’s eyes were open.

“You were gone too long,” Caspian said.

I set the pitcher on the table. Water spilled over the rim and ran across my fingers.

“There are more people inside the mountain,” I said. “Rooms behind glass. More levels than I could see.”

Hale’s attention sharpened. “Where?”

“Below the kitchen stair. Marrow found me there.”

Kieran pushed himself higher against the pillows and winced. “What did he do?”

“Warned me. Threatened to lock my room if I leave the permitted corridors again.”