I angle my face away from the guards who watch us with renewed curiosity. My cheeks burn with shame, and my chest heaves with each breath. Saengo calls my name, but I’m shaking so hard I can barely focus on anything except putting one foot in front of the other. I don’t even remember walking through the castle, but suddenly I’m in front of my door, and all I want is a scalding bath to scrub away the feel of those dead branches and the shadowblessed’s remains.

I push inside, slamming the door shut behind me. Phaut’s hand shoots out, catching it.

“May I come in?” she asks.

A refusal catches in my throat. It was kind of her to go out there with me when she could have said no. I’m pretty sure her orders to remain at my side at all times exclude my stupid impulses to go into the Dead Wood. I gesture for her to enter. Nodding in thanks, she slips inside a moment before Saengo appears at the threshold as well, breathless from running. Saengo’s guard hovers behind her in the hallway.

“What happened?” Saengo shuts the door with more care than I had.

Phaut stands awkwardly in the middle of the sitting room. “It didn’t go very well.”

I fling my swords onto the sofa. “Must you gloat about it?”

“It’s not gloating if I’m stating a fact. Still,” Phaut says, voice softening, “it took great courage for you to even step foot into the Dead Wood. And you remained there for longer than I had expected.”

I slump onto the sofa and begin yanking my boots off. “I don’t need your flattery.”

Phaut’s brows dip and the lines around her mouth go taut. With a curt bow, she turns to leave.

I wince, feeling like an ass even without the weight of Saengo’s glare. “Wait.”

Phaut pauses with her fingers on the doorknob. I rub my hands over my face and then down my braid before tugging angrily at the ends. I glare at my trembling arms, unnerved by how rattled I am. It will be a long while before I’m able to silence the memory of that shadowblessed hauling his mutilated body out of the tree.

“I’m sorry for snapping at you. I just …” I squeeze my eyes shut. “Something … someone was … it was fresh. It came out. It was … terrible.” I know my words make little sense, but Phaut seems to understand because her eyes go wide.

“There was someone new in the trees?” she asks, surprised.

“I think so,” I say carefully.

Saengo stiffens and then goes very still.

Phaut looks uncomfortable as she rubs her thumb over the pommel of her sword. “I suppose that explains why no one’s been able to find Kamryne today. Poor fool.”

I look away, rubbing my arm. “A member of the staff?”