Page 276 of Split or Swallow

I want to see my father.

She said nothing of the elimination process—mentioned no part of what had happened last night in the maze. Caspen sensed her evasion, but didn’t address it. Instead, he replied:

That is not a good idea.

Why not?

Someone may see you.

Tem was having trouble hearing him; it was as if they were talking through a wall.

It’s early. No one is around.

It is not safe.

I’m not asking permission, Caspen.

He bristled. Some small part of her enjoyed his distress.

Then what are you asking, Tem?

Do you know where he’s being kept?

No. I do not.

Haven’t you asked him? Or any of the basilisks who were imprisoned here?

Bloodletting weakens basilisks. They cannot use their minds as we can.

Tem thought about how her conversations with her father were always brief—a few words at most—before his voice faded.

Fine. I’ll ask him myself.

She sensed his disapproval.

You need to be careful, Tem.

I will be.

You should—

But his voice cut off abruptly.

Caspen? Are you there?

No response.

Tem shook her head as if to clear it. She would worry about their connection later. Caspen wasn’t the basilisk she needed to talk to anyway.

Tem concentrated again, feeling for another presence nearby. When she found it, she wasted no time:

Where are you?

She stood in bated silence, awaiting an answer. His response was barely a whisper.

Below.

Tem pursed her lips as that connection faded too. It was their shortest conversation yet, and it wasn’t much to go on. But it wasn’t a stretch to guess what “below” meant. Surely, there would be dungeons in the castle—places where the royals kept traitors during the war. And where they kept basilisks after the war.