I nodded slowly, seeing no point to arguing. “I understand,” I said quietly. “But your intention does not change the consequences of your actions. Biko was badly hurt. And I…” I shrugged. “I am uninjured. Physically, at least.”
Although I tried to maintain my composure, I could not. The thought of losing Biko, Syndrian, and Idony brought tears to my eyes. “It would have been difficult for me to maintain my familiarity with the crofter after my marriage anyway. This other pain is one that will heal in time.”
“So they plan to leave, then?” my mother asked, sounding defensive.
“You released them,” I reminded her. “I would not presume to speak for them, but I expect they will be back for their personal items once Biko is well enough.”
My mother covered her mouth with a shaking hand. “I do not know…I…I don’t know what your father will think. I acted rashly, Palmeria, and…”
“What’s done is done,” I said, refusing to comfort or absolve her. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll return after the tournament ends.” I turned and descended the staircase.
“Pali, wait!”
I froze in place at my mother’s use of my nickname. She’d never once used the shortened form of my name. I turned to look at her. “Yes, Mother?”
“I want to give you something. Please. Come with me.” She sounded sincere, but for a moment, everything inside me resisted following her.
What if she planned to restrain me? Subdue me so I could not leave?
Instead of demanding my compliance, she sighed. “Just wait here. I’ll bring it to you.”
I couldn’t imagine what this “it”was, but I waited. If she sought to hold me back, I would put up a fight the likes of which she would not forget. I’d never intentionally injure my mother, but the events of the last few days had surprised and horrified me. I wasn’t certain that I could ever truly trust her or her motives again.
She returned carrying something. “Here.” She thrust a bag at me. “I cannot take back anything that I have done, Palmeria,” she said quietly. “But I have the power to make amends.”
I twisted my lips into a distrusting frown as I leaned forward. I dared not move my feet. If she was so truly regretful of her behavior, she would come to me.
She did.
“Do not tell your father.” Her voice was a whisper as she looked past me toward the main hall. “Is your key to the family treasury in your room?”
I nodded, holding out my hand to accept her gift.
“Good.” She visibly relaxed, her shoulders sagging slightly beneath the stiff edges of her veil. “Now go. And may the gods bless you with fortune.”
The bag was heavy. I loosened the leather lace at the top and peered inside. The pouch was full—completely full—of silver coins. Enough money to buy my way out of Tutovl and take Biko, Syndrian, and Idony with me. This might even be enough to take Syndrian’s family to another shire, maybe even another realm.
I kept my face still, passive, and nodded. I would not thank her. This money was my birthright, at least. At worst, it was a blood debt. Coins would not exonerate my mother. But they would help me in my quest.
She nodded at me and whispered, “Play wisely, Daughter. And be cautious.” Then she drifted up the stairs.
I could hear sounds in the kitchen, the early stirrings of Norwin preening and prodding at the staff about their tasks, Ms. Deylia preparing breakfast. I hurried from the manor quietly, clutching the sack in my hand as I headed to the stable.
I slipped into a stall long before Letti arrived—or so I thought. I spotted the woman walking the path from the crofter’s cottage with a concerned look on her face, her hair mussed and her clothes looking slept in. I wondered if she’d tried to find Idony and discovered the cottage empty. When she took the path leading back to her quarters, slightly away from the stable, I breathed a relieved sigh. As much as I wished I could alleviate her concerns, the entire household would learn the fate of the crofter and his mother soon enough.
Several stalls in the stable were still vacant. Those would remain empty until my father returned with the horses he and his party had taken on their trip. Since I’d had Rowan out all night, I helped myself to Poet, making certain to pack a torch—just in case.
Before leading the mare through the stalls, I checked over her condition. I trusted that Letti groomed the mare as often as she required it, and if I’d had more time, I would have done some brushing just to make sure Poet was relaxed and ready for a ride. But the mare followed me easily, and her coat looked clean and shiny, her hooves free of stones and debris. While I didn’t trust my eyes over Letti’s expertise, the sun was rising. It would not be long before the entire household was abuzz.
“Time is not on our side.” I gave the mare an apologetic pat and climbed astride. I took a last look over my family’s home and urged the girl onto the road. The morning air was brisk, so it wasn’t suspicious when I wrapped my linen veil snugly around my head and tucked it firmly into the collar of my riding kirtle. I pulled the hood of my cloak farther over my face and tucked the layers of my dress tightly beneath my thighs. Then I took off for Kyruna.
When I arrived, the village was just coming to life. Sleepy-looking vendors opened shops and dragged carts into the square. The lamplighter, a spry-looking young boy, stacked boxes and climbed them to extinguish the candles that kept the village illuminated at night. I checked the office of the shire-reeve, and to my surprise, there was light coming from inside. There was, then, some presence of law in Kyruna, but I ducked my face and avoided looking at anyone who might be inside. If this place was as dangerous as everyone seemed to think it was, there was no telling whether the law was even…the law. If Wilmot Otleich controlled the people and businesses here, then the shire-reeve might be nothing more than a place for tax records to be kept.
These were not my concerns today. I headed to the public stable, where the same bulbous-nosed stable hand was scratching his behind and sipping something hot from a mug.
“Good morning,friend,” I said, cocking my head at him. Whether he remembered me from the other day or not, he would recall that I knew better than to let myself be swindled when I reminded him. “The price is a penny per hour, if I’m not mistaken. Two when I leave her?”
He grunted and swallowed his tea, then worked his fleshy lips over his teeth and belched. “Yeah. You got that right.” He narrowed his eyes at me but took my pennies. “Not needing any directions today, are ya, miss?”