Fox’s Tongue and Kirin’s Bone

Chapter 9: On a Roll

Who is the Lady? Aaron asked, squeaking his chair.

Lieutenant Varghese refused to wince at the sound, but the frown around his mouth set its lines more firmly.

You said the Lady would sort me out, when you caught me. Who is she?

Shes out of the castle at present. Youll meet her soon enough.

Aaron didnt like the sound of that. He shifted and the chair squeaked again. Why am I talking to you, if its her I need to answer to?

Lochlann let out a slow breath. If I gave the impression that I was here to answer your questions, I apologize. Now. I believe we were discussing your degree of humanity.

That was a very fancy way of putting it. It also wasnt a question. Aaron stayed silent, waiting until it was.

What are you?

Actually, keeping quiet seemed a decent option, question or no. Kirins bone made men tell the truth. It didnt make them speak.

The lieutenant waited for his answer. Time and the little noises of the room stretched out between them. Muffled footsteps, felt more than heard through the stone; Aarons heartbeat, which was far more steady than hed have given it credit for; the lieutenants measured breaths.

Aaron squeaked his chair.

Are you doing that on purpose? the lieutenant snapped.

A question worthy of kirins bone, if ever there was one. Aaron prudently refrained from replying. It was the mans own fault for choosing the better chair for himself. Hadnt thought ahead on that one, had he?

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Lieutenant Varghese, sir, what do I need to say to get out of here? Aaron asked. Alive, he qualified.

And before this Lady returned, preferably. His Death might kill him if he didnt stick to the plan, but his Death wasnt here right now. The redcoat was, and Aaron didnt put his odds of surviving any higher if he stayed locked in the Wasting Kings dungeon. He had to get out. Hed take it from there, one day at a time, same as hed done the rest of his life.

The good lieutenant leaned forward in his chair, setting his elbows on the table. Do you know of any threats to the royal family?

Aaron blinked. He hoped his surprise was answer enough, but Varghese was clearly waiting on more. The mans hands were clasped in front of him. Like a prayer to Mans God and likely to be just as effective.

Should he simply not answer? With the lieutenants knuckles whitening, that was probably a very poor idea.

Something else happened, didnt it? Aaron asked. Besides the murder.

Vargheses eyes narrowed. And what would you know of it?

Nothing, Lieutenant. Aaron answered, keeping his own gaze away from the white bone that sat between them. Not until you brought it up.

The only thing Aaron knew of was supposed to happen weeks from now. The crown prince had looked plenty lively the last Aaron had seen him.

The redcoat continued to stare at him, as if seeking some lie that the kirin had missed.

What did happen? Aaron asked. Whatever it was, I swear I had no hand in it.

Lochlann forced himself to relax. He stood and straightened his coat. Thank you. That will be all.

Aaron stood too, bumping against both chair and table in his haste. Wait. Can I go? I didnt do it, whatever it was.

I believe you. The man gave a last tug to each sleeve, setting the cuffs right. Theres still the issue of your humanity, however. The Lady will be back soon enough. I imagine youll survive until then.

Thats Stupidly unfair. Which wasnt something hed ever known anyone in power to care about. Wait!

Lochlann pulled open the door. Officer Chereau, you may see him back to his cell now. Thank you.

The lieutenant left, and the guardswoman came in with a grin. Not even a half hour. Well done, little fey. He must hate you proper.

Thanks, Aaron said, hollowly.

The guardswoman gave him a friendly punch in the arm and a shove towards the door. Who needs him, anyway? Every little bit he hates you is a bit more I like you. And Shillelagh and I, were the ones youve really got to get in good with, now arent we? Were the ones keeping you fed, not the good lieutenant.

She really did like that nickname. Shed called Lochlann little else since shed heard Aaron use it.

He tolerated another shove to his back, but he couldnt stop the words from slipping out of his mouth. You arent the ones that decide to set me free, though, are you?

The next shove wasnt nearly so friendly. Arent you the witty one, little fey. Know just what to say to a woman, dont you?

Little more was said, and then he was back in his cell with the door clanging shut behind him. Aaron returned to his nest of blankets, wrapping them close over his shoulders. One of the guards had taken his breakfast tray away, but breakfast itself was holed up in his pockets waiting for him. It was better not to eat food at the start of the dayall it did was wake his stomach up so it expected more out of him. He ate a little cheese and half a roll, but tucked the rest away. They served two meals a day in the castle dungeons. At least, thats what hed gotten yesterday. He wasnt so sure hed be getting his second today, and he needed to make sure he had something for the evening.

Fortunately, it was Shillelagh that brought his supper, not Chereau. The big man set the tray down outside his bars and left with no need for additional commentary. No chance for Aaron to say something stupid and get another guard hating him.

Vegetable stew and another roll. He drank the stew and felt warmer for awhile. The roll he left on the tray, outside the bars of his cell.

On second thought: he centered it a little more neatly, then scooted back against the far wall to sleep.

He woke, hours later, to the whisper of slippers on stone. The hooded figure from his dreamthe girl hed been only half-sure he hadnt dreamedstood over his tray, small and slender, her shoulders caught between disbelief and indignity.

You left me an offering? the fey asked. You left me an offering of one roll?

He was doing a poor job of making friends today.