mistaken.â
âCaptain Simit,â Kaden replied slowly, studying the man.
He made a point of carving a saamaâan of every guard each time he ascended to the prison, comparing them week to week, searching for some change in the angle of the mouth, the tightness around the eyes, anything that might tell of a betrayal before it came. He had come to trust Captain Haram Simitâone of the three chief jailorsâmore than most of them. The man looked more like a scholar than a guardâthin-fingered and stooped, a haze of uncut gray hair gathered in a kerchief beneath his helmâbut there was a steadiness to him, a deliberation in his actions and his gaze that reminded Kaden of the Shin. Kaden considered his face, comparing it to the various saamaâan he had compiled over the previous months. If there was a change, he couldnât find it.
âYou have come to see the young woman?â Simit asked.
He was careful like thatânever the leach, or the whore, or even the prisoner âalways the young woman .
Kaden nodded. He kept his face still, composed. âHave the Aedolians been up here? Have you been notified of the attack below?â
Simit nodded soberly. âShortly after the third bell yesterday.â The jailor hesitated. âPerhaps itâs not my place to ask, First Speaker, but what happened?â
âSomeone attacked three of Amutâs men. They broke into my study, then disappeared.â
Simitâs face darkened. âNot just inside the Red Walls, but in the Spear itselfâ¦â He trailed off, shaking his head grimly. âYou should be careful, First Speaker. Annur is not what it was. You should be very careful.â
Despite the warning, relief seeped into Kaden like a cool rain into cloth. Sheâs still alive, he told himself. Unharmed. Suddenly, standing had become an effort. His legs were slack, whether with that same relief or simple exhaustion, he couldnât say.
Simit frowned. âI hope you didnât feel the need to climb all the way up here just to check. I can assure you, First Speaker, that this prison is secure.â
âI believe it,â Kaden said, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Simit watched him for a moment, then gestured to a chair. âWould you care to rest for a moment? The climb is taxing, even for those of us who make it often.â
âYouâre the second person whoâs told me that in two days.â He shook his head. âIf I start sitting I donât think Iâll get up.â
âWise,â the jailor said, smiling. âIâll let the cage-men know that youâre here to see the young woman.â
âThank you,â Kaden replied.
Simit crossed to a discreet bellpull set into the wall beside the steel door, gave it a dozen tugs, some short, some long, then waited for the cord to twitch in response.
âDifferent code,â Kaden observed.
The guard smiled. âMost people donât notice.â
âHow often do you change it?â
âDaily.â
âAnd what would happen if I tried to go through that door without it?â
Simit frowned. âI could not permit that.â
âAnd what would they do below, at the cages? Letâs say the attackers from my study had come here instead. Letâs say theyâd forced their way past you.â
âWe have measures in place.â
âMeasures?â
The jailor spread his hands helplessly. âIâm not at liberty to say, First Speaker.â
âEven to me?â
âEven to you.â
Kaden nodded. âGood.â
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
The main door opened onto a long, dim hallâsteel ceiling and floors, steel walls punctuated by steel doors on heavy steel hinges. Kadenâs light slippers were nearly silent on the rough metal, but the guard who had come to escort himâUlli, a younger man with a blotchy face and lopsided earsâwore heavy boots that