Chapter 10: Hooded

I folded the letter in half, then in half again.

"I'm leaving at dawn," I said.

Nobody argued. I think they could see my face.

"We're leaving at dawn," Cassian said.

"You can't go into Avenmoor. They throw things."

"Then I'll duck."

"I'm coming too," Dulcie said.

"Absolutely not," said her brother.

"Who's going to carry the cuttings? You? With those claws? You'll shred every bud."

She folded her arms.

"I'm coming. I've already decided. Ask me if that's a lie."

He didn't bother.

We left in the dark before sunrise, in the black carriage, with a load of wet sacking and three empty barrels in the back.

The cook packed enough bread for a regiment.

The steward stood at the gate and waved his fiddle bow at us until we were out of sight.

At the border bridge there was a new guard post on the Avenmoor side.

A painted board was nailed to it. It had a drawing of a girl with a knot of dark hair and a mean little mouth.

Underneath: "Clemence Merriwether. Thief. Fifty crowns."

"That's not even a good likeness," Dulcie said.

"Her nose is wrong," said her brother.

"Get down," I said. "Both of you."

The guard came out chewing his breakfast. Then a second, yawning.

"Carriage from the Thornwood," the first one said. "Nobody comes out of there. Who's inside?"

I pulled my hood far down over my face and held my breath.

Cassian opened the carriage door and stepped out onto the road.

He lowered his hood.

The guard dropped his bread.

The second guard turned around without a word and walked very quickly back into his hut and shut the door.

"Good morning," Cassian said politely. "We're going to Avenmoor. Is that all right?"

The first guard nodded. He kept nodding.

"Thank you," said Cassian.

He climbed back in. The carriage rolled on.

Dulcie was laughing so hard she had to lie down on the seat.

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