Assistant to the Villain, #2
Apprentice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 47
Overview
Evie and Trystan are interrupted by Malcolm Maverine, who has been hiding in Evie’s old cottage after his tavern was burned because of his connection to The Villain. Malcolm’s loss forces Trystan to confront another consequence of his reputation, while Malcolm’s reassurance briefly eases the brothers’ strained bond.
The search for Evie’s mother’s painting succeeds, revealing an image of young Nura with an unidentified red-haired girl holding a golden key. With the manor’s wards failing and danger closing in, Evie decides that only her father can explain the painting, pushing her toward a painful confrontation.
Summary
Evie and Trystan’s passionate moment is interrupted by a weapon-wielding intruder. Trystan charges after the figure despite ordering Evie to stay behind, and Evie follows with a candle into her father’s study, where Trystan tackles and nearly strangles the man.
The intruder is revealed to be Malcolm Maverine, Trystan’s brother. Malcolm explains that he has been hiding in Evie’s abandoned cottage because his tavern, the Redbloom Tavern, was destroyed after people learned he was related to The Villain. Retired Valiant Guards burned it down, leaving Malcolm with nothing but a little terrible liquor.
Trystan is visibly wounded by Malcolm’s loss and offers to pay for rebuilding the tavern anywhere Malcolm wants. Malcolm refuses, saying the public would only scorn it again, but he reassures Trystan that he does not need to apologize for being his brother. The exchange softens the mood, and Evie, tipsy and emotional, cries over the brotherly affection.
Malcolm explains that he came to the cottage only to hide until he decided what to do next. Evie welcomes Malcolm to stay either there or at the manor, and Trystan mentions Tatianna when Malcolm reacts to hearing that Clare is also living at Massacre Manor.
Evie then asks Malcolm about the painting connected to the broken frame shard. Malcolm retrieves it from a cupboard: a landscape of two young girls surrounded by strange plants and vines. One girl resembles Lyssa and is clearly Evie’s mother as a child; the other is a freckled, red-haired girl holding a gilded gold key. The only visible mark is two faded Fs.
Trystan does not recognize the location, but suggests asking in town. Because the manor’s wards are failing and the guvres create urgent danger, Evie refuses to waste time. She realizes the one person most likely to know the painting’s location and the red-haired girl’s identity is her father.
Who Appears
- Evie SageFollows Trystan, comforts Malcolm, identifies Nura’s painting, and decides to question her father.
- Trystan MaverineNearly attacks Malcolm, feels guilt over his reputation, and offers to rebuild the tavern.
- Malcolm MaverineTrystan’s brother; hides in Evie’s cottage after the Redbloom Tavern is burned down.
- NuraEvie’s mother; appears as a child in the recovered painting.
- Evie’s fatherAbsent but becomes Evie’s necessary source for identifying the painting’s secrets.
- Unidentified red-haired girlChild in Nura’s painting, shown holding a gilded gold key.