Delia felt her cheeks growing hot with embarrassment. “I’ll go get that lunch at the kitchen,” she said meekly, and followed her sister back to the manor.

But Isla took her by the elbow and steered her into an empty little room, almost an ornamental nook, just off the corridor on the way to the kitchen, and closed the door. “We don’t have much time, so listen and don’t ask questions,” she said. “This room is warded completely, but it’s small enough that it’s not likely anyone spying on us has noticed. Always assume you are being scryed. If you need to tell me something, do it here, or in the cellars. We don’t ward our apartment, because we assume that’s the first place a mage would try to eavesdrop. There are a couple more safe places, and I’ll show them to you later. Now, I want you to tell Lesley and Endicrag, and covertly pass them these notes.” She gave a couple pieces of folded parchment to Delia, who tucked them into a pocket. “It doesn’t matter which you give to whom; they are identical. They’ll probably take you somewhere safe to read them, then tell you what they want me to know. You may be bringing back someone from Lord Endicrag’s manor.”

She opened the door again and gave Delia a push to send her out of it. They hadn’t been in there but a few moments. Was this how Isla and Kordas lived all the time?

Probably. And I never noticed it. I guess I just assumed when they were a little late, they’d been loitering over something.

They went on to the kitchen, where Delia gulped down a hasty lunch, and Isla conferred with the Head Cook. Isla left before Delia had finished, and Delia hurried back to the stable.

One of the stablehands had Sundrop saddled and ready for her, and passed her a map. She vaguely knew where Squire Lesley’s home was, but the map confirmed that it wouldn’t be hard to find.

She wanted to gallop Sundrop there, but was afraid that would look as if she had been sent on an errand more urgent than its outward appearance. But then she thought again, and decided to put Sundrop into a canter for at least a little bit. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm, and what young lady with any spirit at all, given a Valdemar Gold to ride, wouldn’t urge her mount into a run?

So she did; Sundrop was perfectly willing to oblige, and she allowed herself a moment of pure pleasure in the speed and the wind in her hair. Her pony had never been able to run like this!