Page 74 of Cycle Keeper’s Shadow

He studied her face, as if trying to convince himself she was right. “We don’t know who’s working with him,” he said under his breath. “Could be anyone.”

“Not these children, surely.” She let her hand fall. “Pretend we’re two friends spending the day at the festival.”

“Right.” A wry smile ghosted across his face. “Two friends waiting until the ground falls out from under them.”

“Exactly,” Wren said with a laugh. “Might as well enjoy the view on the way down.”

She turned, scanning for a distraction, and spotted Branwynn’s round, cheerful face bobbing through the crowd. Her curls were pinned with bright blooms, her smile radiant as always. In her arms, she carried a brown paper parcel.

Tommick danced beside her, his gloamguise painted with crooked flowers and vines. The mask hung askew, half-revealing a sticky grin as he took it all in. He waved with sugar-coated fingers.

“Miss Wren!” he shouted, darting forward and throwing his arms around her knees.

Wren bent to hug him properly. “You’ve eaten too much candy already,” she teased. “I can see it all over your face.” She slipped a copper from her purse and tucked it into his palm. “Save that for when you run out.”

Tommick nodded solemnly, the coin clutched in his small fingers like treasure. Then his gaze lifted to Orzen—and kept going. He rocked back on his heels, neck craning as if the man might never end.

“You never told me you were friends with a knight,” he whispered, awestruck.

“This is Sir Orzen. He’s just arrived in town,” she said lightly. Wren chuckled, catching Orzen’s eye over her shoulder. “You haven’t met Squire Tommick yet. He’s quite brave.”

Orzen played along instantly, inclining his head, voice pitched low and serious. “Bravery’s where every good fighter begins.”

Tommick’s grin faltered into something thoughtful. “Oh, uh, I’m not really a squire. Wren’s teasing.” Then he glanced back at Branwynn, hopeful. “Unless Momma says I can be. Maybe he could train me!”

Branwynn’s expression pinched, but she tried to smile through it. “A knight, dear? That’s dangerous work.”

“She’s right,” Orzen said, tone gentling. “But maybe one day. For now, you can start by keeping your Ma safe. That’s the most important kind of training there is.”

Tommick puffed his chest a little at that, clearly taking the challenge to heart.

“Glad I caught you before you vanished,” Branwynn said. “Pell insisted I deliver this when I saw you.” She held the package out to Wren. It was heavier than it looked. “Poor man’s running himself half mad keeping up with the crowds.”

“Thank you,” Wren said, curiosity flickering as she turned it in her hands. “Are you running your booth again this year?”

Branwynn nodded, catching Tommick’s arm as the boy lunged toward a troupe of tumblers flipping through the square. “Busy day! You look lovely, dear.” She nodded politely to Orzen. “And thank you for indulging his imagination—it runs wild sometimes.” Tommick tugged his mother back into the crowd, practically skipping.

“You never told me you were a knight,” Wren said, lips curling into a grin. “Very dignified of you.”

“I like to keep my secrets.” His gaze flicked to the parcel in her hands. “You going to open that?”

She tugged the knot loose and unfolded the parchment. Inside were two smaller bundles—one marked with her name, the other with his. She handed his over with a grin. Beneath them lay a folded note in Pell’s meticulous script.

Hope you’ll indulge me. Special items for special people, if you will. Mostly you, but I’ve included something for that man since he’s hanging around. Tallis said you might both need help. Far too many strange things lately. Stay safe. I’ll surely need more tea by the end of this madness.

Wren smiled faintly, picturing Pell muttering to himself as he wrote it. She glanced over as Orzen unwrapped his package, revealing a set of thin leather pads shaped like boot soles.

“Soundless Soles,” he read from the note inside. His brows furrowed, then he huffed a laugh. “Can’t tell if he’s joking or not. Says here, ‘put these in your boots and you’ll stop making such a racket.’ Suppose that’ll be useful—if it works.”

“Well, go on then,” she said, smirking. “Might as well see what they do. Maybe they’ll make you invisible.”

He tugged off his boots with a grunt while she opened her own parcel. It was heavier. Inside were two smooth stones, flat as river rocks, their surfaces shimmering faintly with swirls of color—one red, one silver. She tilted her head, running her thumb across one as she read Pell’s note.

You’ll need allies nearby. Could be that man, if you trust him. Whoever you choose, grasp the whisperstone and focus on its pair—it’ll lead you to them. You can also send brief messages, but use it sparingly. I could only charm them so much.

She held one in each palm and focused on the red swirl. Nothing happened. Maybe they only worked if someone else held the pair.

“Hey, hold one of these—” She looked up. Orzen was gone.