Kate watched her go, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Janelle headed to the front of the room and began speaking to a matronly woman standing by the door into the kitchens. She wore her gray hair piled on top of her head in an intricate coiffure, and not an inch of bare skin showed below her neck—the mistress here, Kate guessed.
In moments, she realized that her innocent question wasn’t being taken so innocently. Everyone around her was whispering now. Some were pointing. The mistress started a slow, measured walk toward her. Kate reached for her wine, feeling an urge to fidget, but she held back, afraid she would spill it. It wasn’t just fear rising up in her but anticipation. If anyone would know why her father was making such large payments to this place, surely it was the person in charge.
The woman stopped at Kate’s table. “I am Madam Anise. Are you enjoying the wine? The food?”
Kate nodded, once, twice.
“Good, that’s good.” Anise folded her hands in front of her. “And will you be partaking in any of our other services this evening?”
With warmth spreading up her neck, Kate shook her head.
“I see. Then as soon as you’re done with that wine, I can expect you to take your leave, yes?”
Kate gritted her teeth. This was not how it was supposed to go. With a defiant look she said, “I might have another, and another after that.”
Anise leaned forward now, and Kate could see she was a tall woman, strong of body and even stronger of will. “I don’t believe you shall.”
Kate searched for a response, but before she could think of one, a man at a nearby table stood up and stumbled toward them. His long, bushy beard glistened with spilled wine, the smell of alcohol coming off him in nauseating waves.
“Who’s this girl trying to pass for a boy? It’s that Traitor Kate, ain’t it, Anise?”
The madam turned a shriveling look on the man. “What she is, Boyle, is a paying customer. Now go back to your drink. Or would you like me to send for Kristiana?”
The man Boyle made a quick retreat, but it didn’t matter. Others were approaching. Searching for a quick exit in case she needed one, Kate’s eyes fell on a familiar face across the room. The sight of that red stain across the man’s nose and cheeks, mark of the Shade Born, sent a clench of fear through her stomach. In the four weeks she’d been here, she hadn’t forgotten Master Raith’s threatening words to her. Now here he was sitting at a table a few yards away. For some reason he wasn’t wearing his mask or robes, which was why she hadn’t noticed him before. He’d seen her, too, but a second later, he passed out of view as Kate found herself surrounded by a group of hostile men.
“Get up, girl,” Anise said, her voice brooking no argument.
Kate stood, and Anise took hold of her arm, escorting her past the men. Her grip felt like a vise. Kate tried to pull free but couldn’t.
“Let me go,” she said as they passed through the archway back into the entrance. “I have questions. I’m not leaving until I get answers.”
“Be quiet, you stupid girl. Do you want every person in this place to learn why you’re here?”
Kate’s mouth fell open, outrage surging through her before reason asserted itself. She was making a scene, revealing her business to people who wished her harm. And that included Raith, a man who already knew her most dangerous secret. She clamped her mouth shut and stopped struggling. But Anise didn’t let go. She dragged Kate through a narrow door into a small room Kate hadn’t noticed when she first came in. It was a private office, barely big enough to hold the narrow desk and two chairs, one on each side.
“Sit.” Anise pushed Kate toward the nearest chair. She closed the door behind them before swinging to face Kate again. “Why did you come here?”
Kate debated a lie but knew she only had this one chance to get what she wanted. “My father, Hale Brighton, made regular, large, and secret payments to this establishment during the last three years of his life. I want to know why.”
Anise folded her arms over her chest. “How exactly do you know he did this?”
“A ledger. It’s in his handwriting, and the Sacred Sword is clearly marked.”
Anise’s nostrils flared, and she looked ready to stab something. But when she spoke again, her voice was low and calm, another command. “Come back tomorrow morning. First thing. Don’t tell anyone. Wear the cowl again, but not that ridiculous doublet, and make sure you aren’t followed. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Kate said. “But—”
Anise silenced her with another look. Then she opened the door and called to one of the girls by the podium. “Escort our guest outside through the back.”
Kate followed the girl down the hallway on the left, her head swimming over what had just happened. Doors lined one side of the hallway, most of them shut. One that wasn’t revealed a small, lavishly decorated bedroom inside. Glimpsing it, Kate turned her gaze to the front and didn’t look again into any of the other rooms.
The hallway ended in a door that led to a dark, litter-strewn alley. Once outside, Kate hesitated a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust, then turned left, in search of a way back to the main road.
Moments later, she stepped out onto the street not far from the entrance to the Sacred Sword. She took a deep breath, glancing at the doorway. Fear and anticipation coiled inside her like two snakes ready to strike. She would never be able to sleep tonight, when in just a few hours she would learn the truth about her father. Not even Raith’s appearance could dampen her relief. I’ll run away if I have to, once I know—
A group of men exited the Sacred Sword, some of those who had threatened her just moments before.
“There she is,” one of them shouted, pointing. “There’s that Traitor Kate.”
Kate spun and hurried down the street, straightening the cowl over her hair. There was still a crowd, and she should be able to lose them in it. With their shouts chasing after her, Kate picked up the pace.
They will get tired of the game soon, she told herself. But the crowd was thinning out ahead, and still they followed. Spying an alley, Kate darted down it, breaking into a run. She would lose them easily now. The alley dumped her onto a quiet street, nearly deserted this time of night. The lamps in the streetlights were dim, the oil almost burned out, but the moon was full overhead, the silvery light glistening against the cobblestones.
Kate slowed to a jog, making sure of her location. She didn’t want to get lost out here. This street seemed to run parallel to the one she’d left behind. If she followed it long enough, she could cross back over, then find her way to the castle.
Two men stepped out of the darkness at the intersection ahead, and Kate froze, recognizing their faces. They were huffing from the exertion of getting in front of her to cut her off. She spun around, only to find the other three were here now, too, cornering her on the narrow street. Drawing her dagger, Kate faced the first two. They would be easier to get past. She couldn’t stand and fight, not with so many of them and her only weapon a dagger.
Steeling herself, Kate darted forward and made a quick slash with the dagger. She took the first man by surprise, slicing his forearm. He stumbled sideways, and she surged through the opening. But before she made it past, a hand seized her. The others had caught up, moving faster than she’d anticipated. Fingers closed around her upper arm, yanking her back. Kate lost her balance and the dagger flew from her hand. Spinning toward her attacker, she let fly a wild punch. It landed on the man’s chest. He puffed out a breath but didn’t let go. Stupid, Kate. Aim higher. For the throat.
She tried, but more hands seized her. She struggled but couldn’t break free, not under such a coordinated attack, not against men whose purpose wasn’t to fight but to subdue.
“Let me go!” Kate screamed. “Let me go!” She began to flail, throwing all her strength into it.