“I’ll manage. I’ve had worse. And thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Like ever again.”

“I won’t. Now let’s talk about Guard Crandon’s daughter…”

“She’s only eight.”

“So you’re telling me you don’t plan to question her?”

“I didn’t say that. But after I leave this room, alone I might add, I don’t plan on returning. I’ll be several days ahead of you before you’re fit to travel.”

“If we question her separately, it’ll be more traumatic for the girl. Actually, it’s probably better if I do all the talking.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Because you’re scarier, obviously.”

“Maybe you should take a look in the mirror sometime. I’ve seen monsters in my nightmares prettier than you. Oh wait, you can’t look at anything. Your only eye is swollen godsdamn shut.”

“Cold.”

“Like ice. That’s me.”

“Maybe that’s why you were born with the white streak in your hair.”

“Maybe it is.”

Ludo felt the familiar prickle under his skin. “Can you get my pack from my room? I need something from it.”

“Fine, but then I’m leaving. You’re welcome to come with me, but I doubt you’ll be able to if you can’t even walk down a short hallway. Also, I’ll need your key.”

“It’s in my pocket.”

“Void, no,” she said. “You can reach in there yourself.”

“Too painful.”

“You’re a real bastard, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.”

He felt her hand rummaging about in his pocket, rather roughly in his opinion. “It’s not there. Could it have fallen out while you were getting the shite kicked out of you?”

“Possibly. Check the other pocket.”

To do so, she had to lean all the way over him, so close he could feel her warmth on the unbandaged portions of his skin. More rough rummaging that resulted in the jingle of metal against an iron hoop. “Got it,” she said, elbowing his jaw as she returned fully upright. “Whoops, sorry about that. Be right back.”

The door opened just in time, for while she’d been searching for his key the prickling under his skin had grown steadily more intense, like a thousand ants were trying to find an exit from which to escape. The sensation was concentrated the most on his face and ribs, a veritable swarm, so much so that he hadn’t even felt the impact of her elbow.

Warmth spread from the top of his scalp to the tips of his toes and everywhere in between. He sighed, hating the familiar feeling even as he thanked the gods for it. It was strange how the world’s greatest gift also felt like the worst curse. The door swung open inward, but Bryony didn’t look at him until she’d closed the door softly behind her.

But when she did, she was unable to hide her shock to find him staring at her with his now unswollen eye. “What the—”

Her hand instinctively reached for the doorknob, but he said, “Wait. Please. I can explain.”