“Find somewhere else to be,” she growls. They scurry away, and Norah begins to pace along the room, her boots clicking on the bone floors. Several tendrils of gray hair have escaped from her bun and flutter around her face as she walks. Finally she stops and fixes the full weight of her gaze on me.

“When you first arrived, was I unclear about my expectations?”

“No.” My voice sounds as small as I feel.

“And yet you pull a stunt like this? I’m trying to protect you, Saskia.” She presses a wrinkled hand to her brow, and it reminds me so much of Gran that a wave of remorse goes through me.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Do you have a death wish?”

The question makes everything inside me go silent and still. I can’t find the words to answer.

“I don’t want to frighten you, Saskia, but your life is in danger”—she pulls in a deep breath—“and I can’t protect you if I don’t know where you are.”

“We weren’t far,” Talon says. “We just went into the city.”

She purses her lips and gives him a look that could slice through stone. And then her eyes travel over the rest of the group, lingering a bit longer on Tessa and Bram, who both squirm under her gaze. Neither of them utters a word.

“I’m so disappointed in you all,” she says before turning back to me. “Saskia, I’m afraid I have no choice but to assign Rasmus to your security detail full-time. For the remainder of your time here, he goes everywhere you go. No exceptions.”

Panic fists around my heart. How will I ever make it to Latham’s shop again if I have a bodyguard following my every move? I can’t just leave Gran’s bones there for Latham to exploit.

“Please,” I say, “that’s really not necessary.”

Norah holds up a hand. “I don’t want to hear it. You can stay here and tolerate Rasmus, or you can quit your apprenticeship and leave without him. It’s your choice.”

But it’s no choice at all. I’ve finally made progress in finding Latham. I can’t leave now.

“Well?” Norah asks.

“I’ll stay,” I tell her. “Of course I’ll stay.”

“Finally a wise decision from you today. See that it’s not the last one.”

Just then Rasmus comes down the staircase and joins us in the grand foyer as if Norah has somehow managed to summon him with nothing but the power of her anger.

She gives him a curt nod. “I’ll let you take it from here.” She turns and walks away, but she only goes a few steps before she pauses and swivels around.