Snow fell hard as the days drew colder, piling up on the back step, coating the rooftops, and causing multiple outbursts from her grandfather who loudly exclaimed how expensive it was to keep the kitchen fire alight.

  More of Marla’s knitted scarves and shawls came out of the trunks in the attic. Even Robles had taken to wearing a knobbly, sleeveless woolen vest on top of his shirt. “Style, be hanged,” he declared. “It’s freezing out there.”

  Torrell’s partial disappearances also meant Kaddie had to pick up the slack when he wasn’t there, running errands and helping Elspeth with chores.

  “It’ll get colder still before we’re done,” the other woman said on one particular morning, perched on a wobbly ladder while Kaddie hung desperately onto its base to stop it from slipping. Elspeth was wrapping some of the outside water pipes in felt and oil cloth.

  Occasionally, Kaddie had to let go of the ladder and hand over pieces of string. These were precarious moments, and she was glad when the job was done and they were back in the warmth of the kitchen.

  Work took precedence in the afternoon, particularly her research on the Shale acquisitions. Today she had asked permission to use the laboratory on the second floor, and although it had been granted, it had also precipitated constant visits from a clearly anxious grandfather.

  “You need to be careful with that,” Robles said, leaning over the table and blocking out the light.

  Kaddie put down the narrow blade she was using to refine and mix a powder of shatterbane and strife fire. The strife fire in particular was proving difficult to render into smaller particles.

  “And don’t give me that look,” he continued. “I swear that eye patch has given you a particularly sour attitude that we really don’t need.”

  She slid her notes across the table and carried on cutting. Robles took them and began to read, and for a while all that could be heard was the fire crackling in the hearth and the sound of her blade, chop, chop, chopping.

  “A ratio of ten to one?” he said eventually. “Won’t they have fallen asleep before the shatterbane can take effect? And you’re using the bark after it’s been boiled.”

  Kaddie briefly looked up. “I’m being extra careful. Both the Shale and Mesa use shatterbane for the terrors, but grandmother said they cut it with tila blossom which—”

  “—is ultimately bad for the stomach. Yes, yes, I wasn’t born yesterday.” He examined her papers once more. Soon after, a smile appeared. “Very well, carry on.”

  When he’d gone she let out an impatient sigh. No doubt there would be more visits before dinner was ready, as he sought to ensure she wasn’t manufacturing poison bombs and explosives in his beloved laboratory.

  She acknowledged she had done a bad thing, but as her grandmother had repeatedly said over the years, bad times necessitated bad things.

  Thankfully there were no more interruptions. Dinner was a hearty vegetable broth and dumplings, and part way through it, Torrell arrived at the back door, kicking his snowy boots against the step and startling Bodworth who was curled up at the side of the hearth.

  “Did you know there’s a layer of warmth?” he said, after dumping a huge leather satchel on the floor and removing his coat, “in the second city, just above the deeper tunnels, which are very chilly, by the way.”

  “It’s noticeable because of the colder weather.” Marla was ladling thick broth into his bowl. “It’s stifling hot in the warmer seasons, though.”

  Kaddie listened and observed as the small talk continued. It was weird how the others were treating Torrell differently now he was working partially for the Theeds. More conversation, less yelling. Torrell’s mannerisms, and his posture had changed, too.

  He seemed to have grown taller, and he winked at her on occasion which she found particularly irksome. Even weirder, was how she felt when he took a seat alongside her and began to eat, as if he was exactly where he belonged.

  “So?” Elspeth demanded. “What’s the latest?” They had to wait until he’d stopped chewing. Even her grandfather seemed intent on hearing what he had to say.

  “We’ve found a huge, underground lake beyond the gateway. I mean, huge.”

  “Well, all that rainwater has to go somewhere,” Marla said.

  “This is different. At least, I think it is. It seems to have been built as a reservoir but it’s not connected to the existing system.”

  “Not a natural occurrence, either?” Robles asked. “Marla, pass me the bread, will you?”

  Torrell shook his head. “Mr. Tenadas says it’s more like the Shale and Crescent reservoirs.”

  “Mr. Tenadas?” Kaddie frowned.

  “Yes, he follows me like a shadow.”

  Robles waved a hand as she put down her spoon. “Kaddie, stop fussing. So, how big is it? And how deep?”

  “We don’t know. Not yet. But the best thing, the lip of it carries a ring of carved stones. It’s going to take forever to decipher, but I’ve already begun.”

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “What do they say?” Elspeth hadn’t touched her broth since Torrell had begun.

  “Too soon to be sure, but like the gateway it carries the same symbols and I haven’t seen them elsewhere in the city. Fish rising from the deep, and water.”

  Marla picked up her bowl. “It’s probably the lair of a sea monster.” She approached the hearth and ladled out another helping of broth. There were grins around the table, all except for Robles who abruptly appeared deep in thought. When he saw Kaddie had noticed, immediately he replaced his expression with a smile.

  “I’m surprised it exists,” Elspeth said. “All that weight riding above it. It’s a wonder it hasn’t collapsed by now.”

  Conversation dwindled, and after dinner was done and the table was cleared, the two men disappeared into Robles’ study and it was a while before Torrell finally emerged.

  Kaddie was transcribing her haphazard notes into a more legible format when he joined her at the table and removed the contents of his bag.

  “What if it is a sea monster?” she said, not looking up.

  “We’re nowhere near the sea. And if there was anything down there I’m sure it’s dead by now. The water is dark and still… it’s quite spooky, actually.” He cleared his throat. “So, Robles tells me you’re working on something.”

  She nodded. “Nothing so grand as what you’re doing.”

  “But you’re healing people.” He began to rummage through a stack of papers he’d pulled out of the bag. “As for grand, Robles told me there’d be a firewood delivery tomorrow, so guess who has to rise extra early?”

  “Welcome back.”

  “You’re missing me when I’m not here. Go on, admit it.”

  Despite all efforts to stop it, a smile grew on her face as she returned to her notes. “You wish, Torrell Voldan.”

  ##

  Days after the first winter storm, when most of the snow had melted, Kaddie was helping Elspeth and Marla decant an infusion of lilac closa leaf into small bottles when Robles burst into the kitchen from the direction of the dispensary. “Lock and bar all the doors,” he announced. “Do not let her in.”

  Torrell was in the storeroom and dashed into the kitchen, just in time to see Robles running upstairs to his study.

  “What can this be about?” Marla’s hands were on her hips.

  Kaddie gasped and took a step back as an older woman entered the kitchen. A narrow, attractive face, faded hair pulled back into a number of braids; she wore a long woolen coat, its lower border embroidered with crows in flight.

  “Kadelene!” Marla and Elspeth stepped forward. Immediately, the three women were consumed in a robust embrace.

  Torrell was staring at them in astonishment. “Is this—?” he began.

  “Yes.” Kaddie’s breath fell short.

  A moment later, the huddle broke apart as enthusiastically as it had come together, and the older woman approached. “Take off that eye patch.”

  Kaddie backed up another step. “I’m fine.” She attempted to look her grandmother in the eye, but as usual, it proved difficult.

  “I’ll be the judge of that. Take it off.”

  Inwardly, she cursed her shaking hands as she pulled and fumbled at the strings at the back of her head. When it was finally removed, Kadelene Lowndes grabbed her granddaughter’s chin and began pushing her head this way and that.

  “How could he let this happen? How?”

  “I’m fine,” Kaddie repeated through gritted teeth.

  “Of course you are. Crone’s backside, you look terrible.” She then settled her steely expression on Torrell. “Are you the fool boy she went after? I hope you’re worth it.”

  Before he could answer, the woman turned on her heel and marched for the stairs. Elspeth and Marla shared a glance. “Matthen Robles, I’m coming for you!” The declaration echoed up the stairwell.

  Torrell stepped forward. “He told us not to let her in.”

  Elspeth blocked his path. “Let it be. If she was about to murder him, she wouldn’t be acting like this.”

  “I’ll put the kettle on,” Marla said.

  Kaddie found a stool at the nearest table where she sat down alongside her perfectly serviceable eye patch. She fought hard not to throw it across the room. Instead, she did as her mother had taught her during her grandmother’s endless outbursts. Breathe. Just take a moment and breathe.

  A loud argument began upstairs. It reached an alarming crescendo, and died down immediately afterward. Sounds in the kitchen were non-existent except for the hissing of the kettle until finally, footsteps were heard, and Kaddie’s grandmother re-entered the kitchen with a smile on her face.

  “Well, that took care of that.” She took a seat at the table. “And don’t look at me like that,” she said as Kaddie frowned. “Better coming from me than your mother. She was extremely distraught when we found out what had happened. Bad enough that one of the boys has decided to run off. To sea, of all places.”

  “Which one?”

  “I can’t remember.” Kadelene waved her hand dismissively. “Maybe it was the eldest, or the middle one. You know I can’t tell your brothers apart. My point is, she’s beside herself, and I didn’t want her coming here and dragging you back home.”

  “She can’t do that. I’m not a child anymore.” Kaddie glanced around the table and saw the look on the other women’s faces. Torrell, very wisely, was studiously examining his teacup.

  Marla poured hot water into the battered teapot. “So, is that why you’re here?”

  “That, and we’ve been rescuing Sunni Lassing and taking her to a place of safety.”

  “Who’s we?” Kaddie asked.

  “Can’t tell you that. But we’ll reunite her with her daughter when we know the coast is clear.”

  Elspeth and Marla glanced at one another.

  “I’m also here to warn you. Thanks to this young man sharing his knowledge all over the capital, the door is open and the chickens are flying.”

  “I did what I thought was right,” Torrell said.

  “Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be righteous. Did you know your Enthas correspondent has gone into hiding? Who is reading your letters now, I wonder?”

  “How do you know all this?” He placed his hands deliberately on the table and stood.

  “Sit down, young man.” Kadelene then pointed a finger at Kaddie. “Just know, if things get too hot around here, you’re going straight back to Shadow Valley.”

  Soft footfalls arrived from the stairs. Robles appeared, looking slightly disheveled. “Kadelene, don’t you think you’ve antagonized my people enough for one day?”

  “I’m trying to warn them. Something you should be doing.”

  “Regarding what?” Torrell said. “Nothing is making any sense.”

  “You tell them,” her grandmother said.

  “Tell us what?” Elspeth and Marla shared a glance.

  “Oh, by all means,” Robles mouth bore a sarcastic twist as he poured himself a cup of tea, “do continue. Don’t let me stop you.”

  Kadelene took a deep breath. “Five seasons ago, Enthas was hit by a heavy storm. People have been digging alongside the city harbor for years, turning up all manner of things. Bones, artifacts, small pieces of jewelry. Until a major subsidence after the storm killed thirty two people, and revealed a gate.”

  “What kind of gate?” Torrell leaned forward.

  “I don’t know. But there’s a tomb beyond it. Shortly afterward, the families stepped in, and now it’s all sealed off and no one can get close.”

  Bodworth let out a miserable howl, inspiring Robles to pick her up and place her on his shoulder. “And that’s it? A tomb containing what?”

  Kadelene shrugged. “Who knows? Oh, and they found the bones of a giant creature in the tumble of rubble. It’s cleaned up and displayed inside one of the meeting halls.”

  Kaddie saw Marla and Elspeth glancing at one another. Sea monster, Marla mouthed silently.