Her good mood disappeared when she walked down the stairs to find Mendoza signaling frantically. She walked over to him as casually as she could, heart pounding.
"Things have changed." Mendoza said quickly. "I cannot—" he broke off at the sight of Inez descending the stairs. He dashed from the inn, leaving Magdalena agitated.
Thankfully, he still boarded the coach, and even more thankfully, Inez fell into a doze, leaving Magdalena and Mendoza free to speak.
"Things altered in the night." Mendoza began quietly. "I no longer believe we can alter the feather safely. News came…the feather language is much more complicated than I thought. It is not merely the cut of the feather, I have learned, but the message—and the orders it carries—changes depending on who is carrying it and when they arrive. The moon will be full the next few nights. I have been told this changes the message drastically."
"Do you know what it says currently?" She asked.
He shook his head. "Judging by the choice of messenger, something relatively harmless. A confirmation of plans or a request for information."
Magdalena tried to work this out. "So you can do nothing for me?"
He opened his mouth, then seemed to reconsider and closed it again.
"Why did you raise my hopes so, only to dash them?"
His face grew fierce. "You dashed them yourself! Did your thirst for adventure really lead you this far? Or are you simply an idioto, to carry things that have no meaning for you besides excitement? What kind of selfish fool—" He broke off sharply.
Her eyes stung. "You rescind your offer of protection then?" She asked stiffly.
Mendoza sighed. "When I was put on this assignment, I was told to use my own judgement in regards to you. Now I have been told you are not to be trusted in any way. They told me I must not offer you protection, that they cannot afford to speak for your safety." His eyes were downcast. "I am truly sorry, senorita." He did not speak for the rest of the journey.
A/N: This was originally just part of the traveling chapter, and that is why it is so short. Mendoza's words to Magdalena were some of the hardest for me to write and I rewrote them countless times. Now I am finally satisfied with them. (I just hope I stay satisfied.)