“Ferguson!”
“He was given a real name, you know.” James tied the lead to the wagon. “But I suppose you don’t care.”
“His name is Ferguson.” I petted the gelding’s forehead as he nosed my stomach in greeting. At least on a horse, I’d have freedom of movement in case of an attack. I turned to Tobiah. “Thank you again. Ferguson will be a welcome companion.”
Tobiah offered a small bow. “I’d like to speak with you on the final matter in private. Inside your wagon?”
He’d said two things, so now what? “It won’t be private. The wardrobe is inside.”
“That’s all right. It doesn’t matter if he hears, as long as he doesn’t tell anyone, and you can order that, correct?”
“I can.” I checked the busy avenue, but if people were still watching us, they were doing a good job of hiding it.
The interior was set up like a bedroom, with a foldable partition to dress behind, and a second wardrobe with mirrors reflecting the doors. Most of my belongings—well, the things the Indigo Kingdom had given to me—were in crates pushed against the back wall. Another large mirror was propped against those.
They didn’t want to take chances. Good.
I dropped my pack on the small bed and knocked on the side of the wardrobe.
“My queen!” The wraith boy’s voice was muffled through the heavy wood. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Cover your ears and hum. I don’t want you to overhear what anyone is saying.”
Immediately, a deep humming came from within the wardrobe, followed by a double thud as his elbows hit the wood.
I turned to Tobiah just as James closed the door, cutting off the flow of cold air. They’d left Sergeant Ferris outside. Interesting. “What is it you wanted to speak about?” Even though the wraith boy wouldn’t hear us, I kept my voice low.
Tobiah pulled a pair of notebooks from his jacket, not the ones I’d taken for the Ospreys and myself. These were pale blue, with silver foil mountains stamped into the leather. Flat braids decorated the edges, and silk bookmarks peeked out from the pages. They were identical. Pre-wraith, definitely.
“Thank you?” I lifted an eyebrow and didn’t touch them. Considering what I’d done last night, this couldn’t be a coincidence.
“I know about your entangled notebooks.” He offered these to me. “Perform the same magic on these two.”
“Why?”
When I didn’t take the notebooks, he placed them on the small writing desk at the foot of my bed. “You’re going into Aecor with my uncle. He’s threatened you. You’ve made it clear that you will not give up Aecor, so who knows what he’ll do? And Lien is there, waiting. What does he have in mind for your return? Not to mention that.” He motioned at the wardrobe. “Why do you think I’m sending James? Ferris is a good man. James is better. But I still need a way to communicate with him, quickly and securely. Only you have the power to offer that.”
So he hadn’t meant the second notebook for me. The realization fell halfway between relief and disappointment. “How did you know about the ones I animated for the Ospreys?”
Tobiah shifted his weight, uncomfortable at last. “Connor told me. He sent an urgent note to meet me in the gardens at the first hour. He sneaked past all the guards at the house, and went all the way to the King’s Seat.”
I frowned. Connor had sneaked out? And no one had known? I hadn’t known?
Tobiah blew out a breath. “I don’t know why he insisted on meeting in secret. I’d have gone to him, or had him brought somewhere warmer than the gardens. Guess it’s the Osprey paranoia.”
I crossed my arms and waited for the rest of the story.
“He was hoping there might be a way for you and me to mend our relationship—to keep you from going to Aecor. He’s worried. Terrified, though he did a good job of hiding it. But what happened at the wedding—that’s not the only reason you’re returning to Aecor.”
“It’s time for me to go.”
“That’s what I said to him, and he replied he was just relieved you’d still be able to write to him. The notebook magic was a slip.”
Sure it had been. Connor wasn’t normally what I’d call calculating. Maybe it was time to revise my view of him. But I said, “I see.”
“I’d be grateful for a way to communicate with my cousin while he’s away, though I understand if you refuse. I know your feelings on magic use have become more complicated lately.” He nodded toward the wardrobe where the wraith boy still hummed.
If I refused, I’d insult him yet again. And while annoying Tobiah didn’t usually bother me, maybe I owed him a favor.