The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Author:Emily Lloyd-Jones [LLOYD-JONES, EMILY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2022-08-16T00:00:00+00:00

Ifanna sat at the dining room table and devoured a plate of griddle cakes while Mer introduced her to everyone. Mer kept any mention of her and Ifanna’s past relationship quiet; she merely introduced Ifanna as a former ally, the heir to the thieves’ guild, and the procurer of a key that no one else could lay their hands on. Emrick fumed and glared. Renfrew watched and waited. Gryf took two of the cakes for himself, smiling like he was watching a show and enjoying it greatly. And Fane said nothing at all.

“This cannot stand,” blustered Emrick. His spider-thin fingers waved through the air. “If we were allowed to bring in outside contractors, I could have—”

“Brought an army of scholars?” said Gryf. He sat comfortably beside Emrick, brushing crumbs from his fingers with a clean napkin. The beds of his fingernails were stained dark, Mer saw. As if by ink or dye.

Emrick sputtered, but before he could voice another complaint, Renfrew spoke for the first time.

“Where is the key?” he said.

Ifanna slouched in her chair, with all the insolence of a well-fed cat that had stolen its master’s supper. “Not here. I’d not risk any of you cutting my throat, taking the key for yourself, and getting all the treasure.”

Gryf opened his mouth, considered, then closed it again.

“What?” said Ifanna, eyes on the burly young man.

“I was going to say that we aren’t murderers,” said Gryf, “then I remembered that I could only speak for myself. And likely Emrick, although I cannot be sure he hasn’t bludgeoned anyone with some rare tome in a fit of pique.”

Emrick sniffed. “As though I would. Use a book, I mean. It’d be a waste of good parchment.”

“Glad to see your priorities are well in order, friend,” said Gryf.

“What bargain do you propose?” said Renfrew, ignoring them. His steady gaze never wavered from Ifanna. If she were a contented cat, then he had the sharp eyes of a circling hawk.

“An hour before you need to leave, send Mer to the Crooked Goat,” said Ifanna. “I’ll have the key, and we can venture down into the sewers.”

“What makes you think we won’t simply cut your throat down there?” asked Emrick. “Take the key, leave your body in the sewers?”

All eyes turned to him.

“What?” he said defensively. “I can’t have been the only one thinking it.”

Gryf let out a low laugh. “You’re making me regret I never had more schooling. If all scholars are like you, I missed a grand time.”

“Because,” said Ifanna, “I’ll have arranged a letter to be delivered to the guild. If I’m not back in two weeks’ time, they’ll have your names. I’ll sketch your likenesses. The entire guild will know you killed their lady. And it will be as though you stomped on a wasp’s nest. You will never know peace again.”

Mer was a little impressed, despite herself. By coming here, Ifanna had ensured that she knew everyone’s names and, more importantly, their faces. She could make the lives of everyone in the room uncomfortable, if not outright dangerous.

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