Kai led Hina through the door to the left, along a short corridor and then up to another door. "They'll be in here," he said.

So there had been little risk of being overheard, unless they had some other way of listening in. Hina hoped not.

The Ocean in a Copper Bowl hung across from the door. Kai turned the handle and opened it.

The room beyond was an industrial-style kitchen, the kind you might see in a larger tavern or inn—like the big one by the main gate to Grambe, where most of the travellers stayed. Hina had worked a few shifts there, before starting at the bakery. The fittings were modern, all electric appliances, shiny wooden surfaces and dark grey tiles.

Bruce and Nora stood before a running sink, facing away from the door.

Ivan sat at a round table in the middle of the room, reading—a newspaper? Hina had no idea where he would have gotten one. "Ah, there you are," he said. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd gotten lost."

"I'm going to help clean up," Kai said. "We'll talk later?"

"Of course," Hina said. "I'll see you at—at breakfast."

"Yes, yes indeed." Ivan stood, folded the paper and set it down on the table. "It is time for us to have a little talk, isn't it?"

"Did you say you wanted help with baking?" Hina asked. "Even if it's a little late."

"Ah, well. Let's take a walk." He gestured to the door. "Yes. We have much to discuss."

Hina's brows furrowed and she shrugged. "Okay, I guess."

* * *

Ivan led Hina down the corridor to the right, through what appeared to be an ordinary living room, with a fireplace and leather couches, and out another door into a small courtyard. The night sky above them was streaked with green—unlike any sky Hina had ever seen.

The thin man disappeared into another door while Hina was looking up. She hurried to catch up.

They turned left at Crowned Oak and right at Half Moon before Ivan stopped at a door before Lake of insects. He walked inside without hesitation, and Hina followed.

The room was lined with bookshelves and a large desk sat in the center. Behind it a window looked out onto dark trees. No lights in the sky, just stars.

On the desk was a large bowl, filled with water. Hina stared into it as Ivan sat down behind the desk. The longer she looked the more the image in the water resolved into something recognisable—almost a reflection, but the view was from above, looking down on the room.

Looking down on her.

Ivan snapped his fingers, and the image disappeared. "Please, sit," he said.

Hina sank into a richly upholstered chair across from the desk. "What was that?"

"Please, focus. We don't have much time."

"What? What was—"

"Whatever you're planning, put it out of your mind." The scattered old man was gone for the moment, replaced by a confident, commanding figure. He sat straight-backed in his chair in his perfectly pressed grey suit. "You can't oppose her. Not yet, not now. She's vicious when crossed," he said, his voice taking on a note of admiration. "Truly magnificent when slighted. A wonder to behold. But such would destroy you. And in any case, you needn't worry. You are under the protection of the House. I made sure of that. And I can ensure that protection remains as long as it is needed."

"But—"

"Your brother, however," he continued, ignoring Hina's protest, "has no such protection. I must confess that I didn't expect him to join us. Didn't learn of him until it was too late. One can't account for everything. And the House... Well, the House wants what it always wants, wet the roots, feed the leaves. It takes what it can get. I'm sure you understand the problem. You've done remarkably well to this point, all things considered. And with only the barest of nudges here and there. But now, well." He tapped his long nose with a finger. "Be careful. Be very careful."

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Hina's heart pounded in her chest. "We aren't—"

"Of course you aren't planning anything. That would be foolish." He gave her a half-smile. "And you aren't foolish, are you?"

Hina looked up, met his steely gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about." She almost believed it herself in the moment. There was just so much—all she could do was react.

"Hmph. Allow me to be perfectly clear. Don't act against her. Don't act against the House. You'll regret it. I promise you that. The House always gets its due. Blood to the heart. It always—it always comes out ahead." He barked out a laugh. And then another, which extended into a mad cackle. He put a hand over his mouth. "Ah. My apologies. I'm not yet quite myself," he spoke slowly through his fingers. "Haven't—" He stopped talking abruptly and stared into the distance over Hina's shoulder.

There was nothing behind Hina, following his gaze led to a bare wall. The hair on Hina's arms stood on end. The twisted lines of the sigil popped into Hina's mind unbidden. It reached out within her mind, wanting. Almost comforting—a promise of power, of safety. She pushed it away, bearing down with her will until it disappeared with a pop.

Ivan visibly gathered himself and then dropped his hand and continued speaking, as if the lapse had never happened. "None of this, none of it is how it should be. Not I, not the House. In my time, the halls were filled with hundreds of us, servants and supplicants both, all under the watchful eye of the House. We were strong, and powerful, and we held true to the compact—none of these underhanded dealings. But she ended all of that. And look at us now. A tattered remnant of what we once were." He sighed. "But you, you are just what we need. And the House is with us. I'm sure of it. Just you wait, bide your time and it will all work out for the best, you'll see."

Sweat beaded on Hina's forehead. She nodded slowly, not trusting herself to speak. It was too late, after all. They'd already made their choice.

There was a knock at the door.

"Ah. That will be the help. I'll have to leave you to it now. But remember what I said. Take your time and think things through." He stood and walked to the door, opened it and stood back with a hand on the handle. "Good evening, Nora. I trust you have everything in hand?"

Nora's brow wrinkled. "Yes, sir. I think so. I'm just here to escort Hina back to her room."

Hina looked between the two of them. A tension hung in the air, but she couldn't place it.

"Come on then," Nora said. "It's a bit of a walk, I'm afraid."

* * *

Hina stepped into her room and closed the door behind her. Her bag was leaning against the bed where she left it. Judging by the night sky, she had at least a few hours to wait. It would be better not to sleep.

She sat down on the floor by the bed, legs crossed beneath herself.

The House was strange, and not at all like she'd expected. Scary, yes. But less threatening? Or was that was only because it was trying to recruit her?

It almost felt like she belonged here. Like they were trying to make her feel welcome. Hina almost felt bad about lying to them all.

Almost.

And then she remembered the hunting and the killing and her skin crawled. Bruce was a monster, and Gerda wasn't any better. Probably.

Ivan had an edge to him, too. He was—sharper than she'd thought at first. More dangerous.

The House supported them against Gerda, he'd said? Hina didn't know what to make of that.

But he certainly wanted her for something. Had been watching all along. Hina shivered.

Even if no-one was threatening them now, she didn't want to be a part of this any longer than she had to. She definitely didn't want Kai here, fighting on behalf of people like Gerda, spending time with people like Bruce. He didn't deserve that.

Kai certainly didn't deserve to take Hina's place here.

If it was the only way to keep Kai safe, she supposed she could do it. But only if she had to. If there was no other option.

Access to more workings, more knowledge, more power. She could see the appeal.

And what was all that about souls? Gerda had implied that the House wanted strong souls in its servants.

The book—Ritual Sacrifice—had said that a stronger soul meant more power. And they'd taken Kai across worlds right away to build the strength of his soul. Was that it? Was that why the House wanted her? Was that why it wanted Kai?

Or was it really an investment in better servants for the future? If souls developed over time and with experience, she supposed she could see the value in finding younger people with strong souls.

But the other possibility was too terrifying to ignore.

They had to get out of here. Both of them.

Down the corridor to the right, left at Ghostly Reflections, right at The Frog Ascending and straight until they reached the door. Nora had shown no sign of hesitation on the walk back. It can't be that hard to find the way out.

Hina would find out soon enough.

She looked out the window into the trees. The moons were no longer full—Ofelia and Throne were both waning, while Archer was waxing with only a tiny sliver visible in the sky. Was the heart of the Grove out there somewhere?

Was that grove the House, or was it the building? Or the combination of the two?

Every room Hina had be into so far had a window, and every window looked out onto the same trees. It had to mean something.

But Hina didn't know what it meant.

Wet the roots, feed the leaves. Hina shivered.

There was nothing to do but wait. Hina ran through her exercises, one after another. But she didn't push too hard. She was going to need her strength in a few hours. If something went wrong.

When she was done, she leaned back with her head against the bed and closed her eyes. She didn't want to sleep. She would just rest for a while. Until Kai came.

The dark pressed in on her, and she felt herself slipping away.

Hina woke with a start. She'd had a dream of—something terrible. The panic shifted—Kai wasn't here yet. The sky over the trees was still dark. It was late. The moons were low in the sky, past midnight for sure.

It was late and Kai wasn't here.

He hadn't made it.

Hina had to go and find him.