I blanch. She’s right, that’s not good. I’ve met Lord Morsell at several parties. He’s got a long, wiry beard and ropes of braided hair that are beaded with the finest shells. I remember that much. I also remember that his sons were quite a bit older than me and thus not considered good marriage candidates, so we didn’t visit them often. But holders travel in tight circles, and we all know one another.

Still, a younger son’s daughter isn’t that important in the scheme of things, hence why they allowed her to join the church. It’s why I didn’t recognize her. “Has she recognized me?”

“I don’t think so. But you’re going to have to be doubly careful around her, and we need to make sure that she remains ignorant.”

“Tell her that I’m named after Aspeth Honori if she inquires. Tell her I’m from the area and my father met Lord Honori once and named me after his daughter to curry favor. Tell her anything.” I shrug. “It’s not as if she can do much now. She needs me on the team. We’ve five now, and five’s the sacred number.”

“You’re not worried?” Gwenna looks shocked.

“I’m too tired to be worried. Do you think we’re going to have to carry rocks tomorrow, too?”

“We should dye your hair. Or cut it. How do you feel about being blond?” She paces, thinking hard. “The spectacles are obviously out of the question. And it’s a good thing you’re wearing the same uniforms we are. She’d suspect something for sure if she saw your tailored clothes…. Are you even listening? Aspeth?”

I force my eyes open. “I’m listening! I swear. Mereden. Younger son’s daughter. Me with new hair. Rocks tomorrow.”

Gwenna throws her hands up in the air. “I can’t believe you’re so casual about this. Why do I even bother talking to you?”

I grab the nearest pillow and tuck it under my head, too fatigued to get up. There’s probably dinner somewhere downstairs but I don’t want to move from this spot. “Because you have to complain to someone and no one else will listen.”

“I should have stayed home,” she mutters.

“But I’m so glad you didn’t,” I say sweetly. “Can we hug?”

“Oh, piss off.” She huffs in irritation, and I chuckle. I’m so glad Gwenna’s here to keep me company. This adventure wouldn’t be the same without her.

A knock at the door startles us both. We exchange a look, and then Gwenna heads to the door, shooting me a cautious glance. She leans against the door, calling out, “Who’s there?”

“It’s me, Lark,” answers the voice on the other side.

Gwenna shrugs and looks at me. I pull a robe over my chemise, and she opens the door.

Immediately, Lark tumbles inside, followed by Mereden and Kipp. Both Lark and Mereden are in their nightgowns and Kipp is wearing his house, as usual. My spirits sink at the sight of them. All I want to do is sleep, and I’m worried something new and dreadful just occurred.

“What’s going on?” I ask, scooping up my cat so she doesn’t run out the door. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Lark reassures us, and grabs one of the throw pillows on a nearby chair and takes a seat on the rug. Mereden joins her, primly adjusting her skirts. Kipp moves across from them, shrugging the large shell of his house off his back and then sitting atop it. Lark grins at us. “We’ve decided to have team-bonding time. Get to know one another.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely,” I say.

“Forget it,” Gwenna says at the same time. Then she realizes what I’ve just said, sighs, and closes the door.

Lark pats the rug on the floor. “Come sit with us.”

I immediately do so, settling Squeaker in my lap and stroking her ears. Squeaker loves a good pet, and settles in, ignoring the tufts of hair flying as I scratch at her thick ruff. “This makes me so happy,” I confess to them. “Other than Gwenna, I’ve never had friends before.”

“Weirdo,” Lark says.

I chuckle, because it probably is a bit strange. But as someone who grew up alone, surrounded by no one but tutors or chaperones, I love the thought of becoming close friends with everyone in the room.

Lark leans on the pillow and eyes me. “So tell us about you, Aspeth.”

“Oh. Um.” I scratch at Squeaker’s ears. “There’s not much to tell. I’m just another person who wished to join the guild.”

“Mm-hmm,” says Lark, and clearly she doesn’t believe me. She exchanges a look with Mereden, who raises her brows and gives us a prim expression. Kipp just licks his eye.

Gwenna nudges me, leaning forward. “She’s being modest. For as long as I’ve known Aspeth, she’s had her nose in a book about the guild. She’s told everyone who would listen about Old Prell and the guild history and what kinds of adventures guild members get up to. She’s studied it ever since she was old enough to read. She’s here because it’s her dream. Because she wants to make something of herself.”

Her vehement response changes the way everyone looks at me. Mereden’s lips quirk in a tiny smile. Lark just “Humphs” but relaxes. Kipp gives a quick nod as if full of understanding.

“Why, thank you, Gwenna,” I say softly. “But yes. It has always been a dream of mine. I grew up reading stories of Guild Master Magpie and her exploits. I want to be just like her.”

“Gods, no you don’t,” Lark says with a chuckle.

“So does your family have a lot of books?” Mereden asks politely before I can inquire what Lark means. Immediately, I know it’s the wrong thing to say. Books are a rich person’s possession, much like spectacles. I might as well confess that we’re wealthy or powerful if I admit that I have a great many books—or that I used to before my father sold off my library. “We had a fair amount at one time,” I say, hesitating. “But they were too expensive to keep. I borrowed whenever I could from the nearest monastery, or from my tutors.”

“Oooh, tutors. Fancy.” Lark makes a flourish with her hand. “We’ve got ourselves a rich woman. What about you, Gwenna? You a big reader?”

“No,” Gwenna says in a flat voice. “My ma worked for Aspeth’s father. That’s how we know each other. I’m here because I don’t want to work in a kitchen all my life.”

I tense, worried they’re going to ask where we’re from.

Instead, Lark rolls onto her back, nodding. “I understand that very well. My family never had two pennies to rub together, and as for myself, you can only juggle blades for so long before you have to seek out other careers. My aunt said she’d train me if I ever wanted to join, and so that’s why I’m here. Figure it’s time to learn a new skill before I lose a finger or six.”

Wincing, I keep petting Squeaker’s ears and scratch her chin. “Fingers are important.”

“And what about you, Mereden?” Gwenna asks. “A convent novice doesn’t strike me as the type to join the guild, no offense.”

Mereden’s smile is tremulous. “I was sent to the convent because I didn’t want to marry. After being there for a while, I realized I didn’t want to devote my life to the gods. This seemed as good an option as any.”

“Sounds like we’re all desperate,” Lark says. “Except for Aspeth. She’s just a nerd.”

“What about Kipp?” I ask, looking at the slitherskin. “What’s your story?”

He blinks at me, then licks his eyeball with his long tongue.

Is…that a response? Helpless, I look over at the others.

“Slitherskins don’t talk aloud,” Lark says helpfully. “They gesture if it’s important, but otherwise they only talk to their own.”

“I see,” I say, though I’m not sure I see at all.

“I worked with a slitherskin in the troupe. Nice guy. Good with coin. Better at keeping secrets.” She winks at Kipp. “He’ll talk to us if he feels like it, but it’ll be with hands and not lips.”

I’m not even certain Kipp has lips.

The slitherskin rolls his eyes at Lark and then looks at our group. He lifts his hands, and then starts to gesture. It takes a little time for me to understand what he’s trying to say without words, but I think we get the gist. He and his family are wanderers. Everything he owns is in his house, which he pats affectionately. His parents have left—or died—and he’s alone in the world now. He wants to join the guild because it’s exciting to him. He wants to be a hero, judging from the straight-backed, arrogant pose he sets.