Page 29 of The Starling and the Hatter

I should have known. White’s parents were good people. And what made me think that anything Daggon and Morley had said was true?

“Do you mark people?” he asked, his curious expression making the accusation sting less.

I shook my head. “No.” That was something I’d decided the night I’d left my brothers. I would stay in the festival world, I would perform, but I wouldn’t hurt people the way my brothers had. Even though I was done cheating people, I still understood why a lot of festival rats did it.

He looked away and let out a sigh. “See? Most of us aren’t so bad, really.”

“I know that,” I assured him.

He gave me an understanding smile. “To answer your question, no, I wasn’t looking for new marks. I was looking for an adventure and new places to explore.” He stepped closer, fingering the feathers that rested against my upper arm and making me shiver. “You probably know quite a bit about that. You went off on your own.”

I just nodded, pretending that a need for adventure was part of my reasoning even though it had nothing to do with it. It was easier to pretend that I’d fled for the sake of adventure rather than fear. I mustered a smile, determined to salvage this reunion. “I’m happy to see you, Robert.”

His smile was soft, his eyes friendly. “I am”—he seemed to falter for a moment—“more happy than I can express that I ran into you.”

My heart leapt at his words. He seemed truly glad to have found me, and somehow that knowledge stitched up a few of the tears in my heart.

“Come,” he said, holding out a hand, inviting me to place my own palm in his. “Will you walk with me?”

Oh, stars and moon, my heart felt like it was burning. His easy invitation made me smile and bite my lip. “Yes, I just have to put these away.” I set the hat back on my head, then picked up the perch.

“Here. Let me take that,” Robert insisted, removing the perch from my arms.

“Thank you,” I said, disappointed that his hands were now filled and thus I was unable to take the hand he had offered before. I took a breath. No need for me to read too much into his words. We were old friends. Just because my head and neck seemed to be buzzing with happiness didn’t mean I should jump to hasty conclusions about what he might want from me. I stepped forward, leading the way toward the Hatchers’ tent. “Have you seen anyone else I might recognize?” I asked as we wound through the crowd.

“Yes, I believe the Aurora Acrobats are here, as well as Bear the Brave and a few others.”

I nodded. I had assumed as much. The festival crowd was fluid, so it was never quite the same. And Murrwood being the spot where the northern and southern routes collided made it even more varied than the other villages from year to year. “I thought I saw Madame Celestine.”

He grinned. “Did you talk to her?”

I laughed. “No. I have enough reason to worry about my future. I don’t need her adding to it.”

“I don’t mind Celestine. It’s Garnet who I try to avoid.” He chuckled. “She’s always warning me that the devil is after me.”

I grinned. Though I didn’t personally know Garnet, I knew enough of her to appreciate the old woman’s flair for the dramatic. “Are you up to no good, then?”

He winked at me. “Mischief, my dear Elise. It’s called mischief.”

I smiled at the idea of that distinction being important. Leave it up to a festival rat to tout mischief as a good thing.

“And what of you? Tell me what mischief you’ve been up to since leaving the wolf.”

I stopped abruptly, looking about to see if there was anyone who might recognize that name or me. We were approaching the Hatcher Hats and Costumes tent, and if the day ever came when Hatcher learned who I was, I wanted to be the one to tell him. “Robert,” I said once I was convinced that no one was giving our conversation any mind. “You cannot tell anyone that I am acquainted with the wolf wagon or my brothers,” I said, my voice gravely serious.

The laughter in his eyes dimmed. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want them to know where I am. I don’t want to be connected with them…” I trailed off, flustered that this was something I had to explain. He’d been there the night I left.

“Yes.” He shook his head, as though reprimanding himself. “Of course. I’m an idiot. I’ll keep my mouth shut from now on. I promise.” He mimed locking his lips.

I let out a quiet breath of relief. “Thank you.” I turned and we kept walking, crossing the final distance to the Hatchers’ tent. Hatcher stood in the opening, his presence immediately setting me at ease.

“How did you do?” he asked as his eyes jumped from me to Robert and back again as I passed him.

“It was a good day,” I answered, then took the perch from Robert so that I could stash it, my shawl, and the nest full of coins in the back corner. When I went to join Robert, I found him and Hatcher looking at each other. “Oh, this is Robert White,” I announced, proud that I could introduce someone to Hatcher. “We used to travel together.”

Hatcher lifted his chin in greeting, and Robert returned the gesture.