Bend Her novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Iron Ward

Lord Gisborne stepped down from the carriage with his hands already held out to me.

"My dear girl," he said. "Look at you. You have color in your face."

I let him kiss my forehead, as he had done every birthday of my life.

It was the first familiar thing I had touched in a month, and I hated how much it warmed me.

"You look well, my lord," I said.

"I am well. I hear you are a prodigy."

He smiled at Ansel, who stood at the top of the gate steps with his arms folded.

"Our mage writes that you are a slow student."

"I am," I said, and it was true.

Gisborne patted my cheek.

"Then it is a good thing we have brought help."

The man in grey stepped forward.

He was thin and pale and carried a leather case under his arm.

He gave no name, and Gisborne called him only "the crown's inspector."

We took him through the keep.

I walked beside Gisborne with my hand on his arm and showed him the courtyard, the great hall and the bowl.

Ansel walked three paces behind us with his jaw tight.

In the hall, Gisborne stopped and looked up at the hundred candles.

"The scorch marks on the ceiling," he said gently. "From the first day?"

"Yes, my lord."

"And the mage did not stop it."

"He was..."

I stopped.

I had been about to say that Ansel had been on one knee.

I had no idea why I wanted to protect him from it.

"The mage was teaching me," I said.

"Of course." Gisborne smiled. "Mister Rooke, a word in the corner, if you please."

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