Later, when the sun dipped and the halls grew long with shadow, I crossed the lower corridor to bring Kael a note from Garron about repairs in the west field.
His door was closed, and I could hear low voices inside. I slipped the scrap under the door and turned to go. As I did, I saw Camille again. She glided out of a side passage near the washrooms with a small bundle wrapped in linen. Her eyes flicked to me and then away. She moved like she had done nothing at all.
I felt the hair on my arms rise. Aria stirred. Danger, she whispered. Quiet but sure.
I followed at a distance. I stayed on the far side of the hall and used the deeper shadows. Camille did not look back. She took the stairs to the second level where the guest rooms were kept, then cut across to a door I had only seen open
