On the carriage ride back to Sanford with Dwayne, Mei’s thoughts returned to what she’d been doing since last night: figuring out what to do about Huan. While it was clear that his time spent on the run hadn’t been good for him, and that the beast’s paranoia was getting stronger and stronger, what wasn’t clear was whether or not she could do anything about it aside from verifying his nonsensical comments.

  Maybe she needed a distraction.

  “What do you want me to get from Baron Thadden’s office?” she asked.

  Dwayne, who was looking better after a brisk walk and a few secret Ri castings, shook his hand. “Not you. Me.”

  Mei’s brow wrinkled. “Why you?”

  “Because if I go, I’ll know what to look for.” Dwayne sat back in his seat, watching the street roll by. “Also I read faster.”

  Mei rolled her eyes. “Lady Pol also said we should look for anything that connects him to Granite.”

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  “I can do that too.”

  “But-”

  “Just trust me. I need to get into his office.”

  “Why?”

  Dwayne sighed. “I just do. You broke into Sen Jerome’s. Can you get me into the Royal Secretary’s Office?”

  “Yes.” But not alone. Mei knocked on the roof. “Stop please.” She stepped out of the carriage. “Wait here.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To get help.”

  “From who?”

  Someone who wouldn’t be happy to help, but who be very miserable if Dwayne got caught. “You’ll see.”

  After taking a moment to orient herself, Mei took off in the direction of Sanford, reaching its front door in record time.

  She knocked.

  Rodion opened the door then frowned. “Mei? Is Dwayne okay? Lady Pol didn’t hurt him, did she?”

  “No.” Mei lowered her voice. “I need Inge.”

  The steward shook his head. “I told you that last time was the last time.”

  “Dwayne wants to break into Baron Thadden’s office.”

  “What? You’re joking.” Rodion gave an unsteward-like giggle. “H-he wouldn’t do anything that reckless.”

  Considering that Dwayne had, in fact, chased after Kay and the windsong after they’d attacked Sanford, Mei only had to wait for the steward to hear the absurdity in his own words.

  It didn’t take long. Rodion groaned. “I do not need this right now. Wait here.”

  “Okay.”

  “And Mei?”

  “Yes?”

  “And this really is the last time.”

  “Okay.”

  “I mean it!”