"I have my cloak," she said, pulling it tighter.
"It's too dark."
She lifted her lantern in answer.
"It's too dangerous."
That one wasn't even worthy of reply.
"Quit your caterwauling, Levi!" yelled a voice behind her.
The newcomer was almost invisible under cover of night, dressed in a dark tunic, breeches, and boots, his skin no lighter. The only color came from his bare forearms, the ink-black tattoos spotted with green, like emerald-studded sleeves.
"No, Gavril," she said. "I am not trying to sneak into the forest after my sister."
"You'd better not, Keeper. I meant what I said."
Daigo growled as anger warmed Moria's wind-chilled face. "You told me once. That's enough."
Two days before the Seeking, Gavril had caught her on the other side of the first tower investigating a possible blind spot that would let her slip past the canyon wall. Gavril hadn't simply warned her against going into the forest. He'd reminded her about the last party of the damned to enter the forest. How a young man carried her sacred blade. A non-warrior. An exile.
Gavril had been guarding the exiles that night, and he'd seen her give her dagger to the boy. Then he'd held on to that knowledge . . . to use against her.
She'd asked him to let her go into the forest. No, not asked. Shame heated her cheeks as she remembered. She'd begged him. Moria would only follow the party--she wouldn't interfere. She would let Ashyn know she was there, so Ashyn could relax and do her job. That was all.
He'd refused. If she went, he'd tell the governor about the dagger, and her father would be punished. That's how it worked--they couldn't punish the Keeper, so her father took it in her stead. For such a crime, he might even be exiled.
How could Gavril make such a threat when his own father had been sent into the forest?
"You'd best hope your sister finds that boy's corpse," he said. "And that she has the sense to hide your blade."
She looked at him, stone-faced. "You can leave now, Kitsune. You've done your duty, checking on me."
"I'm here to make sure you stay within the walls and don't go flitting after butterflies."
She fought the urge to shoot her fist at him. She'd used that excuse once, when he caught her up to trouble. I was only chasing butterflies. Now he kept bringing it up, and she wasn't sure if he knew she'd been lying or if that was truly how he saw her--a child chasing butterflies.
"The flare isn't coming," she said. "I'm going to speak to the commander."
Ten
Moria hadn't been the only one watching the sky. When they reached the barracks, her father was coming out, the commander at his side. They were assembling a search party.
By the time the party was ready, there was little doubt that something had gone wrong with the Seeking. The moon was halfway from zenith to the treetops now.
"I'll need a blade. I couldn't find mine this morning," Moria lied as she adjusted her boots. "If there isn't an extra dagger, I'll take a sword."
The commander shook his head. "The Keeper is not permitted a sword until she passes her eighteenth--"
"Then a dagger will do." She walked to Gavril. "I'll borrow yours. The spirits demand it."
He looked at her, as if surprised that she'd dare single him out when he knew she'd not misplaced her blade that morning. What she truly meant, though, was: If you're going to tell them what happened to mine, then do it.
"I can't give you my dagger, Keeper, because I'm going into the forest." Gavril turned to one of the sleep-woken guards. "I'll take your place."
"Then I'll take your blade," Moria said to the same guard.
The sleepy guard handed it over. Moria looked at her father and held her breath until he gave a slow nod. She hugged him and whispered, "I'll bring her back." Then she hurried after the others.