68. Noblest of cowardly acts

Alone in the infirmary, Ada sat at the table across from Armestrong, a shared dinner plate between them. Armestrong was admiring Min's latest herbal creations, cradling each jar in her hands as though they contained golden ichor. After their visit to Spindlewen, they had returned to the infirmary to find it empty. A number of stools had been overturned, and remembering the injured man, Min had hurried off to try and help Hester. Lark had been gone for several hours.

"Do you really mean to go to the Barracks tomorrow night?" asked Armestrong suddenly, now staring at the chicken bones on their plate.

"Of course."

"Well, I can understand why you would be preferring not to go," said Armestrong. "You've only known Solen for a short time, and you've seen the horrors the Hounds are capable of committing. In fact, you've barely seen the half of it."

Ada shivered. She had been feeling the cold of the Stone Circle more every hour since dealing away her cloak. It was almost a comfort to know she wouldn't have to stay underground for yet another gloomy evening.

Armestrong went on, "It's just that, while I'm grateful for your kindness, nobody would think any less of you for not putting yourself in harm's way like this. Lark, too. He's not a fighter, and I don't think he's ever wanted to be one."

"My grandmother once told me that your whole life can change depending on who you place your trust in, " Ada said, only able to stare down at her boots as her voice became quieter. "I trusted Solen, and I want her to trust me, too. I want you all to trust me, if you can. I know I'm different, and I don't belong here, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to be a friend to you all."

"After all you've done for us. All you've done for Min." Armestrong reached across the table and took Ada's hands in her own. "You belong with us. No matter where you came from, or where you intend to go. You're here now. With us. And we're with you."

Ada's throat went tight, and Armestrong pretended not to notice her shining eyes as she leant back and dusted down her apron. Even in the hollow rooms of the Stone Circle, Armestrong seemed to fill the space just as confidently as she had in the Bonneville. Her patchwork apron brought brightness back between the shadows.

"What made you do it?" Ada asked. "Take in all the bandits, I mean. And help Min."

Armestrong sighed. "I never meant to bring them all together. Sometimes I even wonder if it was the wisest thing to do. It wasn't any noble deed or some such. I'd bought the Bonneville for myself years before, and never dreamt of turning away anyone from my doors, regardless of race, class, magic, any of that. I never thought it was right, what the Lady was doing, but I wasn't brave like the bandits, or this Stone Circle.

"It made me feel I was doing something to help the city when I was helping them. They spent so much time in the pub that those who'd been kicked out of their own homes took the rooms upstairs. So many of them came from upper-class families who'd sooner disown their kids than have them supporting magic and Casters. Despicable. Anyways, I never minded. It brought more life into my own, you know?

"It's just that... I'm ashamed that I couldn't've done more for so many of them. They were just kids... you've seen Lark." Armestrong shook her head. "Some hardly had a few years on Min."

Ada remembered the upper floors of the Bonneville. All those closed doors leading to vacant rooms, just as her own had been. All those untold stories. She squeezed Armestrong's hand. "Helping those who need it is the noblest thing anyone can do."

"Well then, I suppose you can also count yourself in that lot."

The two women smiled at one another, and although Ada still felt faint at the idea of infiltrating the Hounds' Barracks, Armestrong's hand was warm and strong. At that moment, there came the scuffling of feet from outside of the infirmary, and then a little boy popped around the doorframe. At least, Ada assumed it was a little boy, for all she could see was a mop of sandy hair amidst a pile of fabric.

"Costumes for you, missus," the boy said, satin ribbons fluttering through the air as he tottered into the room.

Armestrong jumped up and gathered the clothing into her arms, revealing a young fae with flushed cheeks and wide eyes. He shyly peered around at Ada, rubbing his wrists, before Armestrong thanked him and bustled the boy from the room.

"Spindlewen must've sent him," she said, laying down the clothing on the table. "Can't say I'm sorry not to see her again. Now, where's Lark gone off to?"

With a promise from Ada to stay in the infirmary, Armestrong strode out to find Lark. The room was suddenly very quiet, and Ada couldn't help moving a little louder than necessary as she cleared up the table. Soon, all that was left were Min's jars and Spindlewen's costumes. Ada went to the latter, quickly realising which were meant for Lark and which for herself.

Lark had been crafted a cape as blue as a summer's sky, a golden fox embroidered on its left breast that glittered like the solstice sun. The fox had two black pearls for eyes, which matched the dark velvet waistcoat he was to wear over a white linen shirt. It was beautifully designed, despite the short time it had taken Spindlewen, although Ada's eyes were more drawn to her own clothing. The full ball gown draped artfully across the table, a silk underskirt trailing to the floor, whilst another, sheer as gossamer, gathered together at one side of the waist. It was entirely a deep navy colour, reminiscent of Rosamund's cloak, but instead of being made to hang and conceal, the dress seemed to flourish and flaunt. Sleeves of the same gossamer thinness bloomed from a snug bodice, which Ada was nervous to see Spindlewen had boned like a corset.

"That's one hell of a dress," said Lark.

Ada turned to see him leaning against the doorframe. He offered her a smile, although his brow was furrowed. He wasn't looking at the dress any longer, but at the costume still on the table, and the golden fox stitched upon it.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to breathe wearing this," Ada said, smoothing the dress down beside Lark's cape. "Although, perhaps I won't be able to anyway, no matter what I'm wearing."

"I think I'd be more worried if you weren't terrified." Lark eased himself onto a stool. "It's not going to be easy tomorrow, Ada."

"I know. Armestrong probably thinks I'm mad for suggesting all of this." Ada waved at their costumes, then said tentatively, "But I would even do it alone. If I had to."

Lark frowned. "Did Armestrong tell you to try and dissuade me? I'm not a child. Despite how everyone may treat me sometimes."

"No," Ada said, surprised to see the colour risen in his cheeks. "No, she didn't. And I didn't mean it like that. I just know it's not going to be pleasant for either of us, and I don't want you to feel like you've been dragged into some silly plan of mine without an escape."

Lark ran a hand down his face. "You didn't force me into anything. Sorry, I didn't mean to get angry it's just... I'm not strong like everyone else. I'm not"—his voice cracked—"I should've stayed behind and helped Solen when the Hounds came that day, but all I could do was hide in a cellar like a damned coward."

Ada crouched down next to Lark and reached up to take his hands, as Armestrong had done for her. Beneath his bitten fingernails, his eyes were shot with red.

"You're not a coward," Ada told him firmly. "Who was the one who got the compass to open? And who got me out of that attic when Raeph first smuggled me into the Bonneville? A coward could never stand up to him the way you do."

This time, Lark's smile was true. "He's not as awful as he likes to think."

"I'm sure he'd be thrilled if you told him so tomorrow." Ada grinned. "That is, if Yue knows how we can get inside the Barracks after she leads us there."

Lark shifted, then abruptly stood and began to pace the room. "I've been meaning to tell you," he said, stopping to face her. "I may have a way for us to get directly into the banquet. Although it's a little, well... you'll have to trust me, if you can."

Ada nodded, and replied immediately, "I trust you, Lark."

He straightened at Ada's words, and although Lark didn't reveal anything else, Ada found she truly did have faith in whatever was to be his plan. Lark would get them to Solen, no matter the cost or consequence. Before the Harvest Moon could fade, the bandits would be back together.