“Scientist, inventor, and baker?” I asked as Caylus removed his apron, setting it on the island. He wore a rumpled and patched tunic underneath. It hung loose and off kilter on his broad shoulders, revealing a swath of tanned, muscular chest. I stared until Kiva elbowed me in the ribs.

Caylus didn’t seem to notice. “I work in exchange for the rooms.” He dusted his hands off on his pants, coating them with flour. I waited, but he didn’t say anything more. He wouldn’t look directly at either of us, and he shifted his weight in a constant fidget.

“Right,” I said at last. “I’m assuming you know why I’m here?”

“Catternon,” he said, speaking the old language password from the flyer. It was an ancient name for the yearly festival the Ambriels held in honor of their sea god, Duren.

Kiva slowly canvassed the room. Besides the kitchen, there was a closed door to our right and a set of stairs that led to another closed door. She peered up the stairs, then pushed open the downstairs door to reveal an empty bedroom.

Caylus watched her silently, not interfering. Once Kiva seemed satisfied, I said, “You’re a rebel.”

He shook his head, then stopped as if reconsidering. “Sort of. Not really.” I raised an eyebrow, and he explained, “I know the leader, the one organizing the raids in the Verian Hills. She asked me to get a message to her contact in the castle, but when I saw you…”

“She has a contact in the castle?” Kiva asked. “Who?”

“And how did you know who I was?” I added.

Caylus shifted his weight again. “There aren’t many Rhodairens around here. Not any, I don’t think. And you were with the prince.”

So he had recognized Ericen. Yet he’d still intervened last night, knowing full well who he risked angering. An image of his scarred, shaking hands surfaced. Where had those scars come from?

He glanced at Kiva, then away again. “I think you should talk to her about this, not me. I owed her a favor.”

“Can you set up a meeting?” I asked. “Here, preferably. And soon.”

“Tomorrow evening? At sunset?”

I nodded, my heart rate rising. This was happening. “What about the assistant position? Is that real?”

He bit his lip. “It, um, doesn’t pay…”

Kiva snorted, but I said quickly, “That’s fine. I need a reason to come here, or the queen may be suspicious.”

At first, I thought he didn’t hear me, but then I realized his eyes were focused through the window over my shoulder, where the two Vykryn who’d accompanied us stood across the street.

“Something wrong?” Kiva asked, her tone low. “You look worried.”