And it was evening now.
Tardiness was one thing. But missing an entire shift?
Gideon frowned, thinking of the mutilated bodies of Blood Guard soldiers found across the city these past few months. Like a trail of bloody bread crumbs.
An ominous feeling settled over him.
He glanced at his watch. “Can you send Laila to check their apartment?”
“Laila’s at the prison tonight.”
He could send another officer, but what if the brothers weren’t there? Would another soldier know where else to look? Gideon would know. But he was already late for the Luminaries Dinner. If he went to look himself, he might miss the dinner entirely.
Gideon ran his palm across his forehead.
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll go. But I need a telegram sent immediately.”
“Of course, sir.”
Walking back into his office, Gideon grabbed the fountain pen off his desk and scrawled a hasty note. Folding it, he wrote down the address, and handed it over. “Make sure this message gets to Wintersea within the hour.”
THIRTY-FIVE
RUNE
MAJORA: （n.） the second-highest spell category.
Majora Spells are major spells requiring the fresh blood of someone else, either taken with permission or given freely. Examples of Majora Spells include: summoning a natural disaster or inflicting a deadly disease.
—From Rules of Magic by Queen Callidora the Valiant
“I ENCHANTED THE JACKET,” said Rune, standing in her shift as Verity pinned up her hair.
“Gideon’s jacket? That was bold.” The words were mumbled around the pin clenched between Verity’s teeth. “Where did you put the spellmark?”
“In one of the interior pockets.”
Rune had drawn the bloody mark for Truth Teller inside the pocket a few hours ago and sent the package off. If it arrived on time, and Gideon wore it, Rune would pull the answers she needed from him like loose threads from a sweater.
Rune was determined to be more ruthless tonight. After three days of his silence—no telegrams, no flowers, no more requests for walks—Rune had to conclude he’d forgotten her. Normally after such an encounter, her suitors tried to secure her affection by sending extravagant bouquets or inviting her on intimate picnics in the countryside.
Not Gideon Sharpe. Clearly, he couldn’t care less.
“There,” said Verity, twisting up the last red-gold strand and putting one final pin in Rune’s hair. “All done.”
Rune glanced into the mirror. In a style that looked deceptively simple, her friend had braided several thin strands and weaved them into the loose waves, then pinned all of it up in an elegant bun at the back of Rune’s head.
Having grown up with older sisters who’d taught her all their tricks, Verity always did Rune’s hair better than she ever could.
“What are you going to wear?” asked Verity, who was still in the white blouse and pleated skirt of her school uniform. She’d come straight from class to get Rune ready for the Luminaries Dinner. Verity might be displeased with Rune courting Gideon, but she was still committed to helping her.
As Rune went to fetch her new dress, Lizbeth knocked at the door.
“A telegram for you, Miss Rune,” said the housekeeper, setting it down on the dresser.
Rune picked it up, her pulse quickening. She broke the seal and unfolded it.
MISS RUNE WINTERS
WINTERSEA HOUSE
I WILL BE LATE TO DINNER TONIGHT. THERE IS A MATTER THAT NEEDS MY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
GIDEON
Her shoulders fell, along with her hopes. This was the first she’d heard from him in three days, and there was neither an apology nor a promise to make it up to her.
Is there truly some urgent matter, or is he avoiding me?
“Who is it from?” asked Verity, peering over her shoulder.
Rune shook off the sting and held the telegram out to her friend.
“Gideon’s going to be late.”
Verity’s eyes narrowed on the message. She glanced up. “Will your spell last long enough?”
“It should last until midnight.” The magic would fade a little as the night wore on, but that wasn’t what she was worried about.
What if he doesn’t come at all? What if he’s changed his mind about me?
Maybe their conversation had convinced him she was exactly as shallow as she pretended to be. Or her kissing wasn’t up to his standards. Or maybe, upon seeing her fully undressed, Gideon had decided he was no longer interested.
Rune chewed at her thumbnail. She wasn’t used to being rejected. She hated feeling like she wasn’t good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough. Was this how a real courtship made you feel? Fragile and unsteady? Like the slightest breeze could knock you over?