“You must be exhausted, my dear. Bashin, has Winter arrived?”

The guard poked his head out the door, then widened it to let a servant in. The young lady curtsied.

“Winter, this is Miss Avry. You will be her lady’s maid for the duration of her stay. Show her to her rooms, and assist her with anything she needs.”

“Yes, my lord.” Winter curtsied. “Miss, please follow me.”

“Go on,” Tohon said to me. “Get settled and I’ll stop by later to make sure you’re comfortable.”

My heart did flips in my chest as I followed Winter through the castle. The day had not gone as expected. Not at all.

My rooms consisted of a receiving area with a couch, armchairs, tables and a rug all arranged in a semicircle in front of a stone hearth built into the back wall. Lanterns lit the room, revealing the deep purple, blue and green colors of the fabrics and tapestries. The colors blended well together. A small wooden table with a few chairs occupied the left corner, and a desk, chair and bookcase had been placed in the right corner.

Next to the hearth was an entrance to a bedroom that shared the hearth. I bent down and spotted Winter building a fire to push back the chill. The huge canopy bed used up most of the floor space. I walked around it, thinking Kerrick and his gang could all fit on it. The room also contained an armoire, bedside table and a lantern. I removed my cloak and tossed it onto the bed.

Heavy curtains blocked the three windows on the far wall. I pulled them aside and peered out into the semidarkness of twilight. A few torches bobbed below. My rooms looked like they were on the third or fourth floor. I let the fabric drop. The swish-thud matched the leaden feeling inside me.

My mood lightened a bit when I found the washroom adjoining the bedroom. The marble walls, floor tile and pedestal washing basin were nice, but the tub had captured my full attention.

Winter appeared in the doorway. She held my knapsack. Blond wisps of hair had sprung from her bun and her blue-eyed gaze held apprehension. She wore a long white apron over a light blue linen shirt and a navy skirt that reached the floor.

“Shall I put your effects away now, miss?”

“No, thank you.”

“But—”

“You were told to see to my every need?” I asked.

“Of course, miss.” The girl’s petite nose crinkled in confusion.

Winter had pretty alabaster skin and appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old.

“Relax, Winter. I’m not going to throw a tantrum or run to Tohon if you don’t see to my every need. I appreciate your help and hope we can work together.”

Winter stared at me as if I was a hissing Death Lily. Scared and curious at the same time.

I took my knapsack from her. “I would love a hot bath.”

“Yes, miss.” She hurried over to the tub. Plugging the drain, she reached for a lever and yanked it. Nothing happened. Then the distinctive rush of water sounded from a round hole in the wall just above the lip of the tub.

Now it was my turn to be confused.

Winter noticed. “Water pipes, miss. King Zavier had them installed throughout the castle. They carry hot water from big heated tanks and, when you’re done, just pull the plug. More pipes will allow the water to drain outside the castle. They’re fabulous.”

And expensive, I’d bet. Sure enough, steaming water gushed from the hole and poured into the tub. When the water level neared the top, Winter pushed the lever back up. “Your bath, miss.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled and laid out towels and a robe for me. Then waited.

“I can handle it from here,” I said, escorting her to the main door of my rooms. “I won’t need you again until the morning.”

“But your bed—”

“I can turn down the sheets. I’ll be fine. Good night, Winter.” I closed the door and discovered it had a lock. I drew in a breath. A lock, a hot bath and a soft bed. A few unexpected perks that I planned to take full advantage of. Locking the door, I hurried to the washroom as I pulled off my smelly travel clothes. My necklace remained where it had been since Kerrick hooked it around my neck. The pendant rested at the base of my throat.

I soaked off about fifty days of road grime. Between the cold weather, the fast pace and being in the company of men, I hadn’t been able to get as clean as I wished. I drained and refilled the tub a second time.

Finally clean, I dried and wrapped the white cotton robe around me. I couldn’t bear to put on my other equally rank set of clothes or the skirt and shirt Kerrick had bought me—a reminder of…him. Instead, I kept the robe on. Not like I would have to escape or fight in the middle of the night.

I unpacked my knapsack, piling my meager possessions on the table, which included my weapons, bedroll, blanket, the herb pouch the monkeys had given me, the gloves from Belen, a few papers recovered from the Guild, the two sacks of liquid from the Death Lily and my apprenticeship journal. All that I owned in one pathetic pile. At least they had been easy to carry.

Picking up the journal, I curled on the couch and read through the pages. I noted a few interesting tidbits, and found an entry about Allie, my roommate at Tara’s. She had talked in her sleep and had frequent nightmares. One night, I had to shake her awake as she screamed for her mother. Allie had been apologetic and told me she had been caught by a Death Lily when she was young. Her mother nursed her through the hard recovery.

I sat up straight. Except Allie hadn’t been attacked. The Death Lilys sensed potential in people and snatched them. Potential for what, I didn’t know. I scanned my notes, looking for a page that mentioned Tara’s lecture about Death Lily toxin. My notes were incomplete, but I’d marked that when Tara described the symptoms she’d sounded like she knew about them from experience. There was a question mark next to my speculation. I never had the chance to ask her if she had been grabbed.

“Read anything of interest, my dear?” Tohon asked.

I jumped to my feet, dropping my journal. Tohon leaned against the bedroom’s threshold.

“What… How did you get in here?” I asked as my heart thumped back down to its proper place.

“Secret passage between our rooms.” Tohon’s gaze scanned my robe. “I see you made yourself comfortable.”

I tightened the sash. “I won’t be ever again if you can pop in here without warning.”

“I did knock, but no one answered. Not to worry, my dear. I’ll show you the panel and how to secure it on your side. My side locks, as well.” A slow hungry smile matched the desire in his gaze. “However, if you’re ever lonely, please don’t hesitate to visit me at any time.”

“Don’t wait up. Ever.”

“Nasty.” He tsked. “You’ve been with Kerrick too long. No matter, you will soon find I’m much better company.” Tohon settled on the couch and patted the cushion next to him.

I remained on my feet.

He leaned back. “Tomorrow, Cellina will collect you and show you around the compound. I’d like you to start working in the infirmary. There are a number of cases that need your immediate attention.”

I gestured to my clothes on the floor. “They’re dirty and I’ll need clothes that can be stained with blood.”

“Didn’t Winter show you what’s in the armoire?”

“I’m sure she wanted to, but I desired privacy.”

He stood, strode to my bedroom and pulled the doors open. Clothes filled the armoire.

“There are clothes for every occasion in here. And they’re all in your size. Medical tunics, everyday clothes and a few gowns.”

“How did you know I’d come?”

He gave me a don’t-be-daft look.

I pulled out a yellow skirt. “How did you know my size?”

“From your coffin.”

Shocked, I gaped at him. “What—?”

“When my soldiers arrived in Jaxton after you had escaped with Nasty Kerrick, the authorities were not happy. They had built a coffin to your size—they had written your measurements on the boards, but had no body and therefore no bounty. My men paid for the coffin. They also donated quite a bit of gold to the town for all the trouble.”