“This is not for you to take. I’ll let you go back, on the condition that you construct yourself a hyena-proof amulet.”

I gaped at him for a second. “What? But you never taught me how.”

“And, technically, I’m still not going to.” He held it out to me again with a slight grin. “But you’re smart enough to study this and figure it out.”

“That could take days.”

“Days to construct a better shield or seconds to die without it.” He waved it at me obnoxiously. “You have three seconds before I revoke my gracious offer.”

I took the amulet immediately, although I wanted to hit him over the head with it rather than study it. I’m pretty sure God would look the other way, seeing as it was Jember.

“Where am I supposed to stay, if not the castle?”

“Here, if you can keep your head down and mouth shut.”

I smirked. “That was almost kindhearted of you, Jember.”

“Or you can annoy me some more and sleep on the street again.” He pushed himself up to stand, stretching. “Actually, I need to run some errands. Give that back. You can study my old amulet, for now.”

I handed him the amulet with both hands on the heavy chain. “I have to tell my friend I won’t be back to the castle for a while, so she doesn’t worry. She’s right outside.” Jember froze, so I added, “Don’t worry, you don’t have to say hello.”

“Didn’t intend to.” He grabbed a turmeric-colored shirt, with enough holes that it almost looked artistically done, and sniffed it before pulling it on over his amulet.

I took the key from the dresser and unlocked the chain, shoving the doors open. Saba was leaning against the wall across from the church, as casually as if she lived here instead of in a grand house.

Jember stumbled to a stop on the steps, and I checked to make sure his peg leg hadn’t gotten caught in a crack or something. And then he swore—a gross, vulgar word.

I glared down at him. “You can’t say that word right behind a church.”

He said it again.

“Jember, stop.” I looked at Saba to apologize, but … she was looking at the ground, her brows lowered … her eyes glassy.

“Saba?”

I’d never heard Jember’s voice tremble, and my head shot up to look at him, just to make sure it had come from him. “You know each other?”

“Don’t tell me—? God. You can’t tell me.” He said that gross word again, then slammed the cellar doors shut.

“What’s gotten into you, old man?” I demanded through the doors.

“Get her away from here,” he said, his voice muted from the other side. “Right now.”