Gerren did not speak again until the noise of the main room had faded behind the shut door.The chamber was small, close, and warm from the lamp. A single bed stood against the wall beneath the shuttered window. The washbasin still sat untouched where the barwench had left it. Gerren remained by the table for a moment, watching Demis in the lamplight.“I know you are sharp, Demis,” Gerren said at last.Demis sniffed and kept his eyes lowered. His gaze stayed fixed somewhere near the floorboards between them.“I know you have already worked out what my true intention is,” Gerren continued. “And the reason I want you inside the castle.”That made Demis look up.His eyes met Gerren’s for a moment. He did not answer, but there was no confusion in them.Gerren gave a small nod, as if that silence were answer enough.“I trust my instruction has proved useful.”Demis only stared. He shifted his weight once, then went still again.“If you begin working in the inner ring, you will be watched,” Gerren said. “That is unavoidable. But Cerulle will not be able to beat you so easily once you are under other eyes.”Demis’s nose twitched once. His mouth tightened, but he still did not speak.Gerren folded his hands behind his back and took a slow step nearer the table, leaving the boy room to stay where he was.“Remember what I told you,” he said. “I will still need to be able to communicate with you.”This time, Demis spoke.“Yes,” he said. “You said it’s called a dead drop.”Gerren’s mouth shifted faintly.“Yes.”The room went quiet again for a moment. The lamp flame gave a low crackle from the wall peg. Somewhere beyond the shutter, a cart rattled over stone.“Remember what we have agreed upon,” Gerren said.Demis nodded once.“And you still remember what to do?”Demis sniffed again and nodded. Ezra (...)