What is Hidden Read Online Free Page A

methods. Maybe if you’re good, I’ll let you watch next time,” she teased.
    “Aren’t those supposed to be trade secrets?” I asked wryly.
    She giggled. “Oops. You’re probably right. Promise not to tell anyone?”
    “Of course.” I rolled my eyes.
    “Here you go.” She handed me a small satchel, and I peeked inside. Two masks were inside, and I could see the bright crimson stain on the silver silk of one immediately.
    “You weren’t kidding,” I said. “Any tips before I work myself to the bone for you?”
    Laughing, she shook her head. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”
    As we started to leave, I noticed that there was only one stool in the room, near the furnaces. “Do you work in here alone? What about that foreigner?”
    “I usually have the place to myself. Isn’t that nice? Although it can be lonely sometimes, so I’ll occasionally get a few others in here to keep me company and do odd jobs. But, yes, Joch has his own workroom as well. He doesn’t like distractions when he works.”
    “Do you work in there or here when he teaches you?”
    “He used to come in here, but he’s been too busy lately. We’ve both been working on our own projects and will talk over dinner.” She glanced at me sidelong. “You know, you’re awfully curious about this guy. He’s good looking, if you were wondering. Excellent shoulders.”
    “Iniga!” I blushed horribly, glad the heat usually stayed high in my cheeks and didn’t spread to my neck or chest where she could see.
    She sighed dramatically. “It’s a shame I’m already betrothed. There are far too many handsome men in this place, let me tell you. Anytime you find yourself looking for a new beau, let me know, and I’ll point you in the right direction.”
    “You—you’re being ridiculous,” I stammered. “Let’s go. We shouldn’t leave Aiden for so long.”
    “Ah,” she said knowingly. “Yes, we mustn’t keep Aiden waiting.” She winked at me.
    “Don’t look at me like that.”
    “Why not? I certainly wouldn’t fault you if Aiden’s your choice of beau.”
    “I don’t have a beau. End of discussion.”
    She pouted but let it pass as we went out to the hallway. She probably would have continued to hound me about it, but those maids were still hanging around. They weren’t gossiping so much as staring at a young man walking away from us. He walked with his shoulders back, proud, and he had shaggy jet-black hair cut just above his ears.
    “Speak of the devil and he appears,” Iniga remarked as giggles and whispers broke out among the cluster of girls. “That was Joch. You can see how popular he is. If you ever change your mind”—she nudged my shoulder, and I gave her a warning look—“you’ll have a bit of competition.”
    “Let’s just go, Signorina Matchmaker.”
    Thanks to Iniga’s words, I had trouble meeting Aiden’s eyes for the rest of the night without my face growing warm. To further my embarrassment, he’d even stayed for supper with father and me (with minimal ribbing about my cooking) and then bid me farewell, though not without an extra cautionary warning to keep an eye out. After rolling my eyes at him, I told him I would keep Hachi outside for the night so he could keep watch.
    Our dog had only two charges—my father and I—but he was a dear part of my little family. My mother had been of fisherfolk stock and couldn’t bear to be stranded ashore for so long. I was so young when she’d left us for the sea that I couldn’t remember her anymore. Which was fineby me. You can’t miss what you don’t remember. I knew Father missed her, though. He threw his heart into his work and nothing else for a long time after she left. He’d pull himself together for brief periods, making sure I was fed and cared for. We were well enough off that I’d even attended school until I was twelve. Then I convinced him to take me as an apprentice by reminding him that even if she were gone, I was still