Spiral Loop

Days

edown. The ordinarily lethargic atmosphere surrounding the fringes

ted an immediate repair of the weed-choked flagstones and the broken fountain. During an earthquake years ago, it had sunken deep into a fissur

herself of that now, as sweat ran down her face and into her eyes, blinding her. She hack

spade beard bristled as he stuck his chin out at Vix. “You shirki

r way. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and stared u

redder. “Just don’t let me catch y

ying to find a reason to give her the sack ever since she had started work in Erin’s Square three

rash heaps for scraps four nights ago, and woke up so weak she could hardly stand. The work was

ursed herself for even letting her mind wa

herself for the hundredth time. ‘Not just left him i

him. Worse, if any of the guards had seen her hauling his corpse, they would have arrested her rig

wondered whether there was anyone waiting for him. A beautiful, highborn wom

now, whoever they were. Vix could not

happen to me

ion back to her work, hacking the old stone apart with a chisel.

re than a few feet in front of her. Break the stone, crush it to pieces, cart it aw

back and shielded her eyes against the bloody glare of the sun knifing over the low rooftops. Erin’s Square was turned to bronze

les and rubble lying everywhere. That was a relief. She could be assured of at least one mo

a single silver piece. Then, trying to ignore his baleful eye on her, she h

wn bread, dripping in butter. Meat skewers steeped in sage and onion. Apple fritters

ner of her mouth. Her soul was purring at

nly pessimistic mind put in. But for once,

oward Greenway. But someone came around the corner just as she

it!” sh

rry than she was. The hood lifted as her voice caught the person’s atte

t hers. Vix felt her j

h a deep cough, he turned his face away, pulled his hood closer

n her head, drowning out her thoughts. It was impos

how, her

ake sense of what she was seeing. Even if Caine had survived his wound, he ought to be on deat

of living every day. There was no time to turn her mind to goblins, or night elves, or wi

were on her mind now a

more troubling. Once again, stumbling forward a