“I have a favour to ask.”
Alvert raised his eyebrows. “What is it?”
Sonja took out two silver coins from the small purse at her waist. “Will you wait here until I come back, and then take me back to Wildkeep? I’ll give you this afterwards.”
“I’d be delighted.”
Sonja smiled at him. “Thank you. I won’t be long.” She put the coin back into her purse and headed towards Ivy House.
When she got there, she was surprised to see the gate and the front doors were open. People were going in and out of the building, their arms full of clothes and other things. Isavetta stood to one side, her arms crossed over her chest.
Sonja went to join her. “What’s going on?”
“Some of us are being evicted. When the new lady arrives, she’ll be bringing her own household.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
Isavetta shrugged. “You’d better get your fabric out of here, and quickly. We’ve put them at the foot of the stairs for you.”
“Thank you.”
There were four rolls of material propped up against the banister: red, blue, green and brown. Sonja quickly bundled them up and carried them awkwardly towards the door of Ivy House, swerving to avoid two of the maids.
Just before she reached the door, she stopped and took one last look at the home she had grown up in. It was only for a second, then she turned back.
Immediately, she collided with someone. She dropped the rolls, sending them tumbling across the floor.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s all right.” The other person ran after the red roll and picked it up. It was Rael. She was wearing the same white shirt and black corset she’d worn on her first day at Ivy House. Both sets of knives were strapped to her waist.
As Sonja picked up the green and brown rolls, a thought struck her. Most of the servants at Ivy House lived in Kenauste, but Rael didn’t. Where was she going to go?
Rael was about to hand Sonja the last roll of fabric, but paused when she saw the other girl already had her arms full.
“Do you have anywhere to go?”
Rael narrowed her eyes a little. “Why?”
“It’s just…It’s just that my house is big enough for two. You wouldn’t have to pay rent, just help out with chores and things. Just until you find somewhere else.”
Just then, Isavetta walked up to them. “Ah, Rael. I was looking for you. Do you have anywhere to stay? If you don’t, you can stay with my family for a bit. We’d be happy to have you.”
Rael moistened her lips, then took a deep breath. “Thank you, Isavetta, but Sonja’s already offered - and I’ve said yes.”
“Well, if you’re sure. I wish both of you the best of luck.” Isavetta nodded and smiled at them. “Oh, you’ve missed one.”
She handed Rael the blue fabric and walked away.
There was an awkward silence.
“Is there anything you need to collect?” Sonja asked.
“No,” Rael said firmly. “I didn’t bring much with me. Are we going to go now?”
“Yes.”
The ride back to Wildkeep was completely silent. Sonja kept a wary eye on the fabrics, wanting to make sure that they didn’t roll around in the cart. Rael stared at the trees as they passed.
It was going to be strange. Sonja had only just got used to the house and now she was sharing it with someone else. But she didn’t regret her decision.
The question was, did she tell Rael about the glade? She didn’t know how long the other girl was going to be staying with her, and it would be hard to keep it from her if Sonja kept sneaking away. But was it worth telling her if she would only be staying for a short while?
Where else was Rael going to go?
The cart drew to a halt. “Here we are,” Alvert announced.
“Thank you.” Sonja gave him the coin she had promised and picked up two of the fabrics. She reached for another, but Rael scooped it up first, her bundle dangling from one shoulder.
The two girls walked down the well-trodden path. Rael’s eyes darted from one side of the path to another.
How were the people of Wildkeep going to react when they saw her?
“It’s true about the Black Wall.”
Sonja stopped in her tracks. “What?”
Rael moistened her lips again. “George was right about the Black Wall. It is crumbling.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because that’s how I got through.”
Sonja gripped the fabrics tightly. “You said…”
“I lied. There were no traders. I saw the gap in the wall, and I took my chance to slip through.”
“But how did you…” Sonja froze. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
Hoofbeats were echoing on the wind, and they were coming closer.
Heat suddenly flared through Sonja’s palms. She cried out and pressed them against her sides.
“Are you all right?”
Sonja nodded, eyes tightly closed. As she kept taking deep breaths, the warmth gradually died down until all she felt was a vague flicker.
“Stay here.” She put the fabrics down and ran towards Wildkeep. Villagers emerged from their houses and shops just as a troupe of soldiers rode into the square. Sonja clenched her fists when she saw the rider in front; although his hair was prematurely turning silver, she would have known General Aleksei anywhere.
He drew his horse to a stop and raised a hand. Immediately, the village fell silent. Sonja looked around and saw the twins staying close to their mother’s side.
“People of Wildkeep.” The voice rang out across the square. “My name is General Aleksei of Her Majesty Queen Perchta’s army - and I regret to inform you that Eraune is now at war with Aleveth.”
To be continued in…