“I just wish he hadn’t figured out I was in the city. He said he recognized you that day in the woods.”

A guilty expression comes over Gwenna’s face. “I was hoping he hadn’t remembered me.”

“He said he recognized you because we were always together.”

She nods. “He tried to get me to go to his rooms once and I turned him down. I didn’t think he’d recognize me because, well, it happens to all servant women far too often. Perhaps he’s more sensitive to rejection than most.”

I stare at her, agog. He propositioned my maid? “When was this?”

“Right after your engagement party, I think?” She winces. “Don’t hate me?”

After my engagement party? When he’d declared love to me? When we’d kissed in the gardens and I’d allowed him to fondle my breasts and thigh? That arse. “I’m not mad at you. I’m furious at him.”

“Yes, well, most nobles can’t be trusted to keep it in their pants.” Gwenna shakes her head. “I think they’re too used to getting everything they want. Hawk’s different, though.”

I blink at her. “I married him for the chaperoning, nothing more.”

“It might have started like that, but I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. Tell me there’s nothing there except for convenience. No fascination at all?”

My face grows hotter by the moment. I can’t think of anything to say. How are we looking at each other? Like he’s tongued me between my thighs? Like he’s shoved his hand down my bloomers in an alley and made me come? Like he made me watch other people having sex so I could see what a knot is like? Like—

“Thought so.”

“Shut up.”

“NEXT IN LINE,” the guild clerk calls out, and then we’re up.

Our names and positions are carefully recorded. I’m listed as bulwark and Kipp is listed as our sword. Gwenna’s the gearmaster in charge of supplies, Mereden’s the healer, and that leaves Lark as our navigator. We all look a little alarmed at that.

Magpie just waves a hand. “We’re just trying it on. I won’t let you get lost. Have a little more faith.”

The way she says it is so loose and lazy it doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence, however.

The guild clerk licks his fingers and thumbs through the pages of a logbook, expression one of complete boredom. “I show that Magpie is the guild leader and Hawk is the guild leader’s assistant. Which will be going into the tunnels with the fledgling team?”

“Me,” Magpie says. “Hawk’s away on a rescue mission.”

“Another?” I blurt out before I can help it. “Seriously?”

She turns to look at me and then shrugs. “Someone needed rescuing and the pay was right. We’re shorthanded on Taurians right now due to the Conquest Moon…but I’m sure you know about that.”

The smug way she says it makes me want to scream…or fall into a puddle of shame. “He’s tired.”

“We’re all fucking tired,” Magpie says in a weary voice. “Work still has to be done.”

I am really starting to dislike her.

I’m also strangely hurt that Hawk left on another mission without saying anything to me. I know it’s just a marriage of convenience, but surely he could say something to me as I head off to the tunnels for the first time? Wish me luck? Tell me he’s going to miss me?

Gods. My head is scrambled over him.

The clerk scribbles something else down and we’re assigned a set of slate-blue flags for our Five. “Lucky” is all he says, not looking up from the book he’s furiously scribbling in. “Bringing any artifacts with you?”

“Just a dowsing rod,” Magpie says.

He looks up and smirks. “Really? That party trick?”

“What’s a dowsing rod?” Mereden asks.

“It’s a stick,” Magpie tells us. “But they say if you have Old Prellian ancestry, you have magic in your blood. The dowsing rod will point you toward whatever you’re looking for.”

“So it’s a stick,” the clerk says flatly, expression deadpan. “You’re bringing a stick.”

“A dowsing rod,” Magpie states again. “Don’t discourage my students.”

“I’m going to write down ‘stick,’ ” the clerk replies. “Any other items to declare?”

Kipp walks up to Magpie and taps on her leg. Tap, tap, tap.

She glances down at him and then nods. “Right. We’ve also got a slitherskin house.”

“Gods help me,” the clerk says, but writes it down anyhow. He slaps the flags down onto the table along with a pass. “Please declare any tunnel with your guild flags. Please do not intrude upon another’s flagged tunnel. Should you run into trouble, activate your beacon and a rescue team will be sent down as quickly as possible.” He grabs a small glass ball with a swirling fog inside it and sets it on the table. “Your beacon. Any questions?”

Magpie scoops up the objects. “None. Thank you. We’re heading for Drop Thirteen.”

His eyes widen as he writes, and I realize it’s not a great choice. “Mmm. Luck to you. You’ll need it…but then again, maybe you won’t. You do have a stick after all.” He smirks.

Magpie ignores him, turning to gesture at us. “Follow me, fledglings.”

The guild clerk waves a hand as we shuffle behind Magpie, carrying our packs. “Next team, move up!”

I’m shoved from behind, my backpack jostling. Someone sticks a foot out and Lark nearly falls on her face. The room fills with male laughter and her face turns apple red with fury. She whirls around, but Mereden grabs her by the arm and drags her away before she can pick a fight. “Let’s just go,” she whispers. “We have better things to do.”

With the pass in hand, Magpie leads us out of the hall and down another corridor. My heart thumps as I realize we’re heading in a direction we’ve never gone before. There are guards down the hall, all of them wearing guild uniforms, and I see tapestries and bird symbols of the great guild masters who came before—Blackwing and Stonebeak, the legendary Stork, and of course, Sparkanos the Swan, the guild founder. Magpie’s symbol is there, too, but it’s small, and for a moment I feel such pride and joy that I’m on her team.

This is my dream.

I’m about to do what I’ve always dreamed of. My heart is in my throat, tears pricking my eyes. My heart feels so full. No matter what else happens, I will cherish this day forever.

There’s another guild member at the end of the hall, and we present our pass to him. “Drop Thirteen, eh? Good luck.”

I glance over at Gwenna, brows furrowed. “Is there something wrong with Drop Thirteen, do you think?”

She shrugs, adjusting her pack as she walks. Her gaze goes to Magpie.

But then the double doors at the end of the hall are opening and I hold my breath, ready to get my first glimpse of the secretive entrance to the ruins of Old Prell. It’s something none of the books I’ve read have ever gone into detail on, and I’ve wondered about it. Is it a giant tunnel mouth? Another door with multiple doorways? Layers like a cake? I’m so very curious that I’m practically bouncing in place, waiting for my turn to pass through and see.

Magpie leads us out…

…and into a muddy courtyard full of holes.

For a moment, I’m reminded of the field outside of town—the one where you can dig up your own artifacts. Disappointment crashes over me. There’s a large wall encircling the courtyard, closing off what must be leagues and leagues of the crowded city’s apex, and it looks strangely deserted compared to the clustered buildings outside. I can still hear people talking in the streets nearby, which is jarring. There’s mud everywhere, true, but there are also a lot of rocks, and the pathway we take is cordoned off with rope.

Magpie walks briskly through the strange courtyard as if she knows exactly where she’s going. We follow behind her, single file, and pass another team clustered up near their leader. As we move farther in, I see crumbling walls of old brick amidst the muddy paths and my heart clenches with excitement once more. These truly are the ruins of Old Prell.