Heat

forming a protective wall. They looked like a

se gaze was the most ferocious. He clutched a rock in his h

invisible thread of gold, buried so deep beneath layers of grime and hunger that most people would never notice it. It was fraye

richest merchant on this continent, a man who rose

ng for you

narrowed. "I

e level. "You've learned something,

ned. "...A little reading.

That's

carriage. He must have been utterly baffled. A disgraced girl, freshly cast out, trying to

"She's mad!" one of them shouted.

He was still staring at

etly. "Her lungs are failing. She

k in his hand lowered sligh

ood to keep her alive. I know you've been sleeping in doorways so she can have the onl

muscle twitched in his c

eturn, I'll arrange for someone to teach you to read properly. To write. To do arithmetic be

tting the wo

as a servant-as my partner. I have plans that need

ething else flickered-not hunger for food, but fo

trust," I said. "And because I

alue I had left: a small silver brooch, worn and tarnished,

not worth much, but it'll buy you a hot meal." I held his gaze.

the brooch. He looked down at i

'll bring you something e

ers relax-just barely, just once. A crac

to beli

ums. I could feel Finn's eyes on my back, and Elliott's too-two

rough his carriage window, I saw his brow furrow, his lips press into a thin l

ve, probably deciding that watching this "ma

s confusion. It woul

or work. I walked toward the city's larg

or anything that pulsed with more light than it should. Most we

py old man. Amidst a pile of junk, I sa

en brighter, like a coal breathing back to life. Sour

rf

ng casual interest. "S

glanced at the stone, and sa

h tightened. Ten gold coins. I had nothing.

s mother. Food and shelter for myself until I could build something

plan I wasn't entir

will come back for it in three days," I

missive hand, clearly n

stall, my pulse steady b

ney. A lot

r the fountain. It was elegant, gold-embossed, announcing a high-stakes literary

me I'd stand in front of others since I'd opened my eyes again. If I succeed

he post, folded it, and

That was