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Wy
Lady Progae crouched and carefully opened the canvas bag. A small brown-black cat crawled out. It plopped its hind end down, twitching its stub of a tail, and looked up at Wy
She stood up and stripped off her velvet gown to expose a plain muslin dress beneath. She removed this and began pulling her own gown back on.
"What are you doing?" Wy
Lady Progae took the tankard from the tray and handed it to Wy
Too thirsty to question, Wy
"My name is Hedi Progae," she said to Wy
The cat hunched down on the stone floor, and a rippling swell passed through its shoulders.
Wy
An undulating ripple cascaded down the cat's body, and its torso swelled in lurches.
Wy
The cat's feet grew, then its legs. Black-brown fur receded to expose bare flesh. Its body continued to expand at a rapid pace, and fur on its head elongated to shiny hair. Its front paws became hands.
Out of the grotesquely writhing form appeared the face of a girl with dark eyes and a smooth dusky complexion. She stood up, slender and naked, and Wy
Hedi Progae retrieved a short cotton shift from the bag.
"I am sorry I could not bring anything more," she whispered to the girl. "I was afraid my skirts already looked too bulky."
"Oh, this is fine," replied the girl, and looked at Wy
Wy
"This is Korey," Hedi said. "Some of her family are… have certain abilities. We are here to help you."
Fatigue and pain kept Wy
"We must hurry," Hedi said. "If we can get to the lower levels, Korey says there is a way to escape the keep and reach the forest across the lake- outside the city."
This was happening too fast. Wy
"A way to escape?" Wy
Hedi's face flattened in quiet anger. "This child's father took a great risk to show her a door he called 'a portal' and promised she could es-cape through it, if need be. That is all I know, but we have to go down and find it."
"If she knows a way to escape," Wy
"Because I might need assistance," Hedi answered bluntly. "And I do not care to leave anyone in Darmouth's hands, if possible. You would not last long in any further 'conversation' with the lord of this keep."
Perhaps Wy
"How do we reach the lower levels?" she asked.
" Then you are with us?'
"Yes."
"Good. I he corridors ru
I he thought of facing more of Darmouth's soldiers made Wy
"Put this on,' she said. "At present, Darmouth and Omasta are distracted. No one else will take notice of a servant in my company."
Wy
Hedi appraised Wy
Something about Hedi reminded Wy
Thin fur sprouted from the girl's soft skin. Hands and feet became tiny paws. Her body shriveled and shrank until the shift dropped around her to the floor. The small brown-black cat squirmed out of the shift's neck. Hedi shoved the girl's clothing back inside her bag, then picked up Korey to tuck her in as well. She handed the bag to Wy
"Ready?" she asked, and stepped back beside the door.
Wy
Hedi kicked the tray with its bowl, and Wy
A key rattled. The door swung open. The young guard looked in, one hand on the hilt of his sheathed shortsword.
"Lady?" he said.
Wy
The guards eyes widened at the sight of her changed attire. He took one quick step through the door.
Hedi swung. The candlestick's wide base caught the young man squarely in the back of his head. He crumpled to all fours, but started to rise. Hedi swung again, and the soldier went down, eyes rolling closed.
Wy
"What are you doing?" Hedi asked.
"He is still breathing," Wy
"He is a servant to Darmouth. Save your concern for yourself."
Hedi crouched, setting the candlestick down, and took the guard's key ring from his belt hook. She pulled his shortsword as well, tentatively lifted the weapon, shook her head slightly, and set it back down. In its place, she drew the dagger on the man's belt.
Wy
Hedi glanced up at her once with a frown and then rose. Wy
Welstiel rode ahead of Chane as they approached the gatehouse before the keep's bridge. They could have walked, but he had decided to pay the stable bill and retrieve their horses. This delayed them for some time, as the stable master had retired and had to be sent for. Looking down on the gatehouse soldiers from horseback would give him a more noble and imposing air. Welstiel had also taken time to dress carefully, appearing ex-actly as he had on his first visit, with a black cap covering the white parches at his temples. Chane wore a cloak with the hood up and remained silent as he rode behind,
Four soldiers were stationed before the bridge gatehouse. Welstiel halted his horse and waited for one to approach him. A middle-aged man with a heavily scarred face came up-the same one who had escorted Welstiel inside on his first visit.
"Your business?' he asked gruffly.
"I met with Lord Darmouth a few evenings past," Welstiel said. "I have come with further news of the hunter he hired. Inform your lord, as he will want to see me.
Welstiel had the appearance and ma