Page 40 of Orc’s Hex

“The sigil escalation started when they arrived. The most recent maintenance layers in the sub-inscription are consistent with someone working the sigil monthly or more. The sigil has been at maximum intensity since they arrived.”

Drazhul looks away from the document.

He looks at the archive wall—the shelves, the centuries of clan records, all of it sitting here while the mechanism beneath the hold ran and the person maintaining it walked through his corridors every day.

His face goes to the stillness that comes after the decision is already made. Not deliberation. What remains when deliberation is done.

“Where are they now.”

“East wing corridor.” Isen has already looked. “Assigned to the morning clean of the Hall of Ancestors.”

Drazhul moves for the door.

“Drazhul.”

He stops.

I stand. Cross to him. Get between him and the door—not blocking, both of us know I couldn’t block him if I tried—and put my hand flat on his arm over the strapped ribs.

“Not alone. You don’t go to confront an active Blood Law practitioner with a cracked rib and an elevated curse while the sigil is in a reactive state.”

His eyes are on my face.

“Those are my words. From this morning.”

“They were correct this morning.”

Brynna has gone still by the window. Isen is studying his documents with extraordinary focus.

Drazhul’s hand moves.

He covers my hand on his arm—just for a moment, his palm over my fingers, the size of his hand making mine disappear completely—and then he steps back and turns and I’m beside him instead of between him and the door.

He could have gone through me. He didn’t.

I’m not thinking about his hand. Not at all.

“Varek.”

Brynna is already moving. “I’ll send for him.”

“Tell him to secure the east wing corridor. No confrontation until I arrive.” He looks at me. “Both of us.”

I look at him.

Both of us.

Not a question. Both of us.

“Give me five minutes. I need to put protective marks on us before we get anywhere near an active practitioner in a corridor with oath stone in the floor.”

“Four.”

“Four.”

I pull out the chalk and the ritual blade and I move.

NINE