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A muffled laugh comes from above the corridor junction.

Ziku is sitting on a crossbeam with his writing board against one knee. He makes no attempt to hide it when Daurek looks up.

“Good walk?”

“Yes,” I say before Daurek can answer. “You may write that down.”

Ziku scratches a mark on the board.

Daurek brings his attention back to me.

Only then do I let his hand go.

The vines part when I press my palm against them. I step into my room, turn, and find him still at the entrance with the red flower in his fingers.

“Thank you for showing me the garden.”

“I’d like to take you again.”

“I’d like that.”

He leaves. I watch him reach the junction before I close the door.

My palm still feels warm.

I put the flower in a cup of water and set it on the writing ledge, where I’ll have to look at it all afternoon.

VAI

Last night, after supper, Daurek took my hand again and walked me to my door, and said good night while I was still deciding how to ask for more.

This is my eighth morning in the Ilden. Karev arrives for his scheduled inspection before I’ve seen Daurek alone.

Karev wears mountain grey, with a silver clasp bearing his lord’s three-line mark. He is human in shape, with sharp teeth and a pale mineral sheen along his temples. Two clerks follow him into the receiving room with writing tablets.

Reivaka introduces him as Surevai’s road-master, here to inspect the route changes on his lord’s behalf. Neimura has brought the old records she asked for.

I sit beside Daurek. Reivaka takes the chair opposite Karev, and Neimura sits near the door with the road reports. The clerks stand behind their master.

Karev looks at me before he begins.

“Lord Surevai hopes you’ve been treated well.”

“Would you like my answer to take back to him?”

His smile holds.

“I would.”

“Yes. Daurek is arranging my release from the marriage. I have my own room and money, and I decide how I spend my time.”

“Lord Surevai’s challenge names Neimura’s marriage agreement,” Karev says. “The council will need your account as well.”

“Then record this,” I say. “I chose Daurek because Neimura told me he had approved the marriage. I asked him in front of the registrar.”

One clerk begins writing. I remember the registrar waiting with his pen while I asked all the questions I thought would protect me.

Daurek turns to Karev. “What do you need to know about the road?”