Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
“But why you? You’re just a fledgling.”
“I don’t know.” Gwenna gets to her feet, clenching her fists. “I haven’t been in the tunnels since last year. I don’t have access to anything in the archives. Where would I get something like that?”
From a connection in the city, obviously. Her friend in the archives, Sparrow. But Sparrow would never do such a thing. And Gwenna seems incredibly upset at the sight of the artifact. She could have hidden it away in a loose floorboard or under the garderobe sink (the spot where I hide my illegal potions) and I would have never known. Instead, she’s bringing it to me. That’s got to count for something. Because I’ve got a soft spot when it comes to her, I put my hands in the air. “All right, all right. I believe you.”
“Why would I show it to you when I could just mucking sell it to someone and get it off my hands?” she continues, practically hysterical as tears pour down her face. “If I’m caught stealing again, I’m destroyed. They’ll send me away—”
“Shhh,” I say, moving forward and capturing her smaller hands in mine. I’m growing more and more convinced that she’s not involved. No wonder she’s panicked. She doesn’t know what’s going on. Doesn’t know that I’m here to hunt a thief. She just knows she’s been given an artifact she shouldn’t have. “It’s going to be fine, Gwenna. We’ll get rid of it.”
“What if someone comes looking for it?” Her hands are shaking like leaves in my grip. “It can’t just have been misplaced.”
“We’ll take it to Hawk and Sparrow. They’ll know what to do with it.” And we’ll turn it over to the right hands.
Gwenna nods jerkily. “I’m sorry. Truly. I shouldn’t be involving you in this—”
“Nonsense. I’m a friend. Friends help each other out.” Even as I say the words, my mind is racing. It’s the weekend, so anyone could have come into the fledgling dormitory. Everyone knows that Master Jay takes off on the weekends. The nestmaid could have planted it here. A courier. Kipp is in his shell house in the kitchen, but he could have acquired the item at some point and decided to leave it in Gwenna’s bag while we were at the wedding.
There’s no sign of Hemmen or Arrod, either. Those two are under suspicion as well.
I want to believe Gwenna’s telling the truth, I really do. But if she is, that means someone else related to this particular nest is in on things, and that means it all needs watching. I glance down at Gwenna’s expression, but she’s just as miserable as before, her chest heaving.
Surely it’s just coincidence that Gwenna’s practically got her tits out. It’s not necessarily a distraction. But if it is, it’s a mucking good one. If I wasn’t full of knot-withering potions at the moment, I’d be all over her right now. Perhaps that was the goal?
Or am I now thinking in conspiracies, too?
Eighteen
Raptor
One Week Later
Hawk (and Rooster),
As you both suggested, I continue to monitor the situation here in the nest.
There has been no further mention of the artifact that one of my Five claims was planted in their bag. Master Jay is unaware of the situation, and no one else is acting out of the ordinary.
If it is indeed a plant, someone is bound to come looking for it. I will remain vigilant. Furthermore, I’m going to find a way to remain at the targeted student’s side for every moment. If they’re the thief, I’ll find out.
—Raptor
PS—I’m having to do obstacle courses alongside the other students. My pay for this undercover job had better be mucking worth it.
Nineteen
Gwenna
Dere Ma,
Classes are continuing. I haven’t had a chance to work at any odd jobs to make coin. I’m sorry. As soon as I have some I’ll send it home. We are not in the tunnels yet. Master Jay wants us to learn how to do obstacle courses by hart, and that means running them blindfolded. If you don’t here from me for a few weeks, it’s because I fell flat on my face in one of our drills and hurt myself. Just kidding. Please don’t worry. It’s all part of the job. I’m looking forward to the weekend when Master Jay gives us time off.
Love you and miss you, Gwenna
It has been the longest week of my life.
I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I can’t concentrate. Every time I close my eyes, I see that stupid mucking artifact tube lighting up, and I fear I’m going to be caught. That someone’s going to find out that I was somehow involved and I’ll be imprisoned and booted from the guild for good.
If I am, it’ll be the destruction of all the dreams I’ve cultivated over the last year, all the hopes for a better future. I’ve allowed myself to imagine what life would be like if I wasn’t a maid, and I want it so badly I can taste it. I can’t help but feel that I’ve been targeted because I’m a woman attempting to join a guild primarily full of men. That has to be the reason, doesn’t it?