Chapter 23 · Rust and Relic - Chapter 23: What Her Father Sold

"Move," Liv said.

Korr didn't move. He leaned against the doorframe like he had all night, one hand on his sword hilt, the other loose at his side. The torchlight made his teeth look yellow.

"Greta," I said, "tell him we already left."

"Why would I do that?" Greta turned a page in her ledger, calm as winter. "I sold your location. He paid. That's the transaction."

Liv's hand went to her belt. I grabbed her wrist before she could pull the knife.

"Don't," I said.

She twisted out of my grip. "She killed them."

"She sold information. Vald killed them."

"Same thing."

"It's not."

Korr laughed. Low and wet. "The girl understands. The engineer doesn't."

I kept my eyes on Liv. Her pupils were blown wide, her breathing too fast. The bandage on her ribs had bled through again, a dark stain spreading under her tunic.

"Liv," I said. "Look at me."

She didn't look. She looked at Greta.

Greta closed the ledger. "Your father came to me the night before the attack. He had three silver rings and a wolf pelt. He wanted me to hide you. Get you out before dawn."

"You didn't," Liv said.

"No."

"Why?"