Chapter 36

After Helena leaves, Trystan remarks that Evie’s family makes his look pleasant by comparison. Evie asks about Malcolm and Arthur, and Trystan reveals both sent letters during recent turmoil: Malcolm hoped Trystan was not executed, while Arthur sent a letter Trystan has refused to open.

Evie offers to sit with Trystan if he ever decides to read Arthur’s letter, giving support without pressing him. Trystan pulls away awkwardly, and Evie changes the subject to escape. Evie asks Trystan to remove his shirt so Evie can use it as part of a rope to retrieve the keys from the table.

When Trystan removes his shirt, Evie notices a gold-flecked tattoo on his arm that resembles Evie’s employment ring. Evie reveals that she knows Trystan used the gold-ink bargain to magically link them so Trystan would know when Evie was in danger. Trystan is shocked that Evie is not angry, and Evie explains that Evie sees the act as protection rather than betrayal, though Evie admits Trystan is not the only one with secrets.

Because Trystan’s shirt is not long enough, Evie removes her dress and ties the garments together with Evie’s shoe as a weight. Trystan is flustered and jealous over Evie mentioning men in her village seeing Evie in undergarments, but Evie focuses on the improvised tool. Evie’s first throw misses badly and knocks over a vase, so Trystan takes over.

Trystan also misses, and his weighted throw hits a window instead of the keys, cracking the glass and letting water seep in. Trystan insists the leak is manageable and tries again, but Trystan strikes the window a second time. The damaged glass finally shatters, and water floods into the locked cellar, leaving Evie and Trystan trapped with no way out.