The next few days were filled with settling into our new home. After purchasing new beds to replace the shabby, old ones, new clothes for all of us, and needed tools, William used the last of our remaining funds to purchase enough supplies to fix the shabby stable. Isobel tended to the animals that were left in our care—one cow, a few chickens, some ducks, and even a small donkey. I worked on maintaining the crops to ensure we’d have ample food and, most importantly, planting the seeds of our precious black flowers that we use for our antidote, as well as the pink ones we use to create the capsules themselves.

I wiped the sweat from my brow and filled my basket with carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, and various fruits that were ready to eat. Onyx hopped around excitedly, and I threw her a handful of our fresh berries before heading inside. For the past few days, with the exception of our training, life had become quite mundane, and in the monotonous, day-to-day routines, I found more joy than I’ve ever experienced. It made me long for a life of normalcy, one filled with boredom, but I knew that could never be for me.

A sigh escaped my lips as I set my basket down, and I grunted as I pushed the water pump in our kitchen up and down, over and over until fresh water flowed into the sink. I washed our produce in silence. When my mind wandered to Theodore, I sighed and shook my head. He sent another letter by Onyx, but I refused to answer it. My voice of reason had finally returned, and I got a hold of myself and my foolishness.

William walked up behind me and stole a handful of berries from the fruit I’d just cleaned. “Can’t wait until lunch?” I laughed.

“Since when have either of us waited for an appropriate mealtime?” He winked.

“That’s fair.” I sat myself on the counter and joined William in eating through our fresh produce. As we ate, I observed his bloody, bruised knuckles and the lack of care he had for them. “Are you going to the taverns again tonight?”

He nodded. “I’ve developed a good rapport with several of the knights and a handful of mercenaries around there. They’ve proven to be great sources of intel, so I intend to continue gleaning what I can from them. Besides, the brawls bring in a bit of money when people bet on me, so it keeps you from having to steal quite so much.”

I bit my lip. I hated the idea of William getting hurt because I haven’t done my job as our primary thief. “I should probably go out tonight, too. We need more money, and I can get far more than you can.”

William grinned and nodded. “Maybe snag a few dresses for you and Isobel while you’re at it. She wants to keep talking to those high society ladies. I know we purchased several, but they’re not quite up to the par you’d need to pass off as true nobility, even if you are supposedly from the Southern Isle.”

I crinkled my nose and shook my head, thinking of the warning from Theodore but playing it off as if I had no desire to return to the life of dancing and fancy dresses—though, in reality, I found it quite enjoyable. “Dresses for Isobel, not for me. I’d like to stay as far from those snobs as I can.” I let out a quiet, relieved breath when William laughed. “Besides,” I continued, “I was thinking of eavesdropping during the night when people have the tendency to loosen their inhibitions and say the most offhanded things. I thought it could lead to a few good threads I could follow.”

William pursed his lips. “Not a bad idea. Seems like, between the three of us, we’ll start tracking down every member of the Council of Commons in no time.”

“My thoughts exactly,” I said, hopping off the counter and steeling my face to hide my guilt. William kissed my cheek and walked away, leaving me alone with the dread that ate away at my bones. Hopefully, that will kill me before the reveal of my secret transgression does.

My feet felt heavy as I walked back to my room; it was as though my shoes were made of lead. I threw myself down on my bed and released another long, heavy sigh before I shoved my hand beneath my mattress and pulled out the slip of paper I’ve read a countless number of times the past few days.

Might I hope to see you again, fate or otherwise? There is a clock tower not far off, presuming you are near Rodenwhal like your berry-loving bird is.

I bit my lip and hid the page once more, my mind racing back to the moment we shared at the clock tower in Midwaden, to the arguments we had both outside of that estate and inside of the palace, to the kiss—was it even a kiss? I guess I wouldn’t really know. I’ve never kissed anyone before, aside from the pecks on the cheek William, Isobel, and I shared. But that night in the palace was different. I couldn’t stop touching my lips every time I thought about it, though I told myself it was just the lingering sensation of the antidote. I still don’t have much experience with using it yet. Maybe I should ask Isobel. She’s had her capsules longer than either William or me, and I know she’s had to use them a few times during some of her missions.

I laid there, sleepless and tossing around my bed, for hours. And when the sun had begun to return to its home beneath the horizon, I groaned and forced myself to get ready. My tormented, confused mind found comfort in the sound of my daggers sliding into their sheaths on my harness and the feel of the cowl covering my identity—with the exception of these blasted eyes, of course.

I said goodbye to Isobel and made my way to the stable where Charis awaited me. Storm was gone, so William was clearly out at the taverns already, no doubt getting into more fights. I hope I can steal enough tonight to stop him from entering too many brawls for our sake. The wind whipped against my face as Charis and I rode. Even through the fabric of my cowl, the sensation of the brisk air brought with it a fleeting sense of freedom and helped me forget how trapped I felt in the lies I’d told.

Once we made it to the outskirts of the small town, not in Rodenwhal but in Twinvale where we were recently staying at that cramped inn, I hid Charis in the shade of the trees and scaled my way up the clock tower. I laughed to myself as I wondered if there was a way to make the rest of my life as easy as scaling these walls were. Once I made it to the top, I crept to the edge, careful to keep any signs of myself hidden from the people populating the streets down below.

Onyx circled above, her black feathers helping to mask her in the cloudy, dark sky. The unsuspecting crowd of less wealthy merchants and artists spilled out of an incredibly busy tavern and onto the street, and I laid there quietly, holding my breath and listening with intensity. One spoke of an upcoming wedding, some talked about the reluctant desire to return to their work in the market square. None of those were interesting, but one woman in a purple dress with disheveled hair and a loud mouth piqued my interest immensely the moment she spoke.

“Can you believe how ridiculous they’re being? All pious and flaunting about in their fancy dresses, yet never bothering to invite us?” she shouted loudly. A few others with her tried to calm her down, but she refused to listen. “I’m serious, Oswald! You and Victoria know it to be true!” Her arms waved about the air emphatically, and the group with her buried their faces in their hands. “The taxes have nearly stripped the hull of your trading ship, and what do they use it for? More parties, without even the decency to invite us?”

Perfect. I found the group I intend to tail the rest of the night.