Book 4: House Brekalo

Finn

Xandra and I creep through the musty halls of Lord Denidor’s manor. Thick curtains hang shut over every window, making the place feel like a tomb, even though I can see lines of bright summer sunlight around them. Her hand trembles slightly on my arm.

“Are you all right with Hana knowing the truth?” I ask.

She laughs self-consciously. “That is not precisely how I would have handled the conversation, given the choice, but it certainly could have gone worse.”

“She seems to be on our side.” I open a door and glance inside. Another sitting room. Smart money would bet secrets will be in offices, maybe libraries, so I shut it again. “For now.”

“I trust her.” For all her shaking, those words sound rock-solid.

“Why?”

Xandra brushes her free hand over her stomach as I peek in on what turns out to be a closet. “She’s my friend.”

“I remember being your friend,” I say with a smile. “It included a lot more drinking games and a