Eversworn: Daughters of Askara, Book 3 (29 page)

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Dillon drummed his fingers on his upper arm. “We can’t afford to be caught with his body. So we’ll leave him. I doubt his Mommy Dearest buys this was some random raider attack, but with his men dead, it’s plausible and the best excuse we’ve got.”

“Agreed.” She began pulling rings from his fingers. “Are you going to help or just watch?”

“You finish up here.” Weariness pressed on him. “I’ll get started with the guards.”

“Fair enough.” She returned to her work. “Make sure you take their weapons.”

“I plan to.” Uriah and his forge were good for more than one thing after all. Lifting the bag of salt on his way past, Dillon scanned the area with a frown and came up empty. “Lindsay…”

Lindsay drew her sword. “What is it?”

“Did you move the grimoire?” He turned a slow circle, but the book was gone.

“No.” She stood and came to his side. “Isabeau doesn’t have it, either. Her hands were full.”

“Finish up with Roland.” Leaving her, Dillon stalked to the cart. “We need to go. Now.”

Isabeau didn’t glance up on his arrival. He knocked on wood to get her attention.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” Her smile lit her up from the inside.

Suppressing the urge to bite his cheek, Dillon had to ask, “Did you take the grimoire?”

“No.” Her smile faltered. She leaned around him. “I left it right over…”

“It’s gone.” He ran a hand through his hair. “We must have missed someone.”

“I don’t see how…” Her eyes widened. “Roland. I knew he was up to something.”

“He was always up to something.” Had he ever not been scheming? “What do you mean?”

“That tricky bastard must have used a proxy, and a weak one at that.” Her brow creased. “No wonder his glamour failed him in the end. I didn’t—but of course it does make sense now.”

That didn’t sound good. “Why would he need a proxy?” He glanced over his shoulder at where Lindsay was hunched over the sprawled body. “Wait—that was Roland you killed, right?”

“Yes. It was.” Her gaze followed his. “He broke his word, and his power should have been depleted for a time because of it. Yet he used basic glamour to hide himself and his guards when that should have been an impossible feat for him.” She frowned. “Roland must have brought one of his priests and siphoned the magic he used from him. I doubt he risked a skilled practitioner. He likely chose an inductee in case he drained too much. After all, he had Brielle for insurance.”

“He could do that?” Dillon ought to be taking notes. “Of course he could. I guess there isn’t much difference between borrowing magic from a person rather than a book. Same rules apply?”

She nodded. “He knew me well enough to guess I would see his show of power and assume he had full use of his magic. That he’d learned how to break his word while maintaining his power. Cocky bastard was right. I never doubted his abilities. He made a fool of me to the end.”

“He made a fool of us all. Right now, it doesn’t matter. By the time Roland’s body is found, we need to be on the other side of that boundary line.” He touched her hand. “Stay put. Lindsay and I will handle cleanup.” He passed her his knife. “Keep an eye out. Whoever stole the book may still be hanging around, so be careful. Sit tight and yell if you see something we don’t.”

“We should go.” She glanced past him. “Even if the priest was too drained to save Roland, it doesn’t mean he’s no longer a danger to us. The queen will want our heads for her son’s death.”

“And I’m guessing with the grimoire he’s got the power to do something about it?”

Color bled from her face. “He has the entirety of Roland’s essence bound in those pages.”

Damn it. If Roland’s acolyte had been powerless to stop the death spell, then the priest would be desperate to spare himself from the queen’s wrath and would know his options were limited. Once Roland had drained him dry of magic, there was nothing left for him to do but turn tail and run…or borrow from the energy-flushed grimoire…which was now missing. Just great.

Spikes pierced Dillon’s nape, stinging as he turned. Someone could be out there. Watching. Straining his senses, he picked up weak pulses of energy skittering across the sands like a frantic heartbeat. A desperate priest armed with the grimoire was the last person they should confront.

“Dillon?”

He grimaced. “Other priests can do that invisible trick too, I take it.”

“Yes.”

“In that case—” he waved Lindsay over, “—we’re getting out of here.”

Lindsay tossed him Roland’s signet ring. Proof for Queen Nesvia. “What’s wrong?”

“Isabeau will explain along the way.” He crawled into the driver’s seat. “Let’s move out.”

Scowling all the while, Lindsay settled in beside Isabeau. She cast one last sour glance at the mess they had left and said, “This is going to bite us on the ass. You do realize that, don’t you?”

“Every-damn-thing else does,” he agreed, “so why not this too?”

Pissed as Lindsay was about deviating from their plan, she got real quiet when Isabeau told her there was a good chance Roland’s invisible friend was skulking about armed with her lethal grimoire. By now he’d have their names and descriptions to pass along to Roland’s mother, with an eyewitness account of her son’s passing. All of those things added up to one ticked-off queen.

Dillon had no intentions of being here when she arrived armed to the teeth and ready to take a bite out of their collective asses. Much as he hated to disappoint, his days of playing chew toy to any queen were long over. She’d have to find someone else to gnash and gnaw on in her fury.

Days faded into nights then blazed into mornings. Relief at holding my daughter twisted into panic as she failed to wake. Whatever herb Roland used to lull her to sleep kept her unconscious. I prayed she hadn’t been this way for long. Now her stomach gurgled feeble protests for food I had no way of feeding her, which made me sick with worry over how long it had been since her last meal. Water helped, but I feared he’d hedged his bets by giving her a slow-acting poison or some other lethal alternative.

Brielle is fine
. I exhaled slowly.
You’re letting your fear rule you yet again
.

Roland had meant to keep us both as leverage against Dillon. Or he had intended to keep her while he continued to blackmail me. Either way, Brielle would have been worthless to him dead. I simply had to wake her. Who better for the job than a priestess trained by Roland’s own hands?

“How’s she holding up?” Dillon called over his shoulder.

“The same.” Muscles aching, I shifted to a more comfortable position. “How much farther?”

“It depends.” Our horse slowed as the sled crested a steep dune. “Where are we going?”

Below us, colorful tents accented the cityscape. Spiced air ruffled my hair and familiar noise rose from the bustling merchant stalls that heralded our return to the city. In the distance sat the consulate, and I would have given almost anything to return there. Or so I thought until Brielle’s soft snores made my arms tighten around her. The consulate had been home, but she was my life.

“Not the consulate.” Lindsay’s tone left no room for argument.

I frowned at her.

She returned the favor.

I asked in all seriousness, “You’d rather we returned to the colony?”

“If you want to visit more disaster on the colony, be my guest.” She snorted. “I’m certain the fact Askara’s queen was kidnapped then found in Feriana’s mine has been forgotten. It was, after all, several months ago. That’s practically ancient history, isn’t it? And it’s not as if the queen’s hold on her throne is precarious, due in no small part to her support of the colonists and freedom. I’m sure, all things considered, that if the son of a neighboring queen is murdered and his killers seek refuge in that same freeman colony, no one will fit Harper’s or Nesvia’s necks for nooses.”

“You’ve made your point,” Dillon growled.

“No, she’s right.” I’d merely been curious as to her loyalties. “We can’t return to the colony or the consulate. There are too many lives at stake if Sere’s queen retaliates.” I leaned my head back. “Our best bet is reaching a safe house.” I spoke over Lindsay’s complaint. “There’s one nearby Emma marked as compromised after she and Harper used it. As far as I know, it’s still secure. Delisting it was more of a precaution. It’s outside of Feriana’s city limits. So it’s close.”

“Safe house it is.” Dillon urged the horse forward. “Besides, until we figure out what Roland used on Brielle, I’d feel better knowing we’re close enough for Aldrich to pay a house call.”

I laid my hand on his back. He reached behind him and squeezed my fingers.

“I have an idea of what Roland used and how to counteract it.” He was generous with spells and shared his knowledge with me. In hindsight, I think he’d meant to impress me rather than educate me, but I’d been so eager to earn his approval at the time, I hadn’t noticed the difference.

“Make a list. I’ll go.” Lindsay stared at Brielle. “In case she wakes up.”

“Thank you.” I touched her arm.

She smiled, but it was strained.

Rather than ask her questions I was certain I’d soon learn the answers to, I confided the safe house location to Dillon, and we began our careful descent. Despite the sun, I shivered restlessly.

This escape was not the one I had planned. Instead of liberated elation, dread stifled me.

Rather than being a simple thief, I’d earned the title of murderess. Salt had been stolen. Injuries accrued. Lives had been taken. Even my hopes of beginning a new life with Brielle were slim. As much as I wanted to flee, I wouldn’t ask that of Dillon or expect the same of Lindsay. They had lives before theirs were entangled with mine. I owed them for helping me save Brielle.

For all the damage I’d done, I had debts to pay and consequences to face.

I had Emma to face.

Chapter Nineteen

Dry coughs made my lungs seize. Dillon raised his head. His eyes were red-rimmed as they met mine. Waving aside dust motes, I gave him a brittle smile and resumed pacing. I may as well have spun in a circle for what good it did me. Forget safe house, this was a cramped cubbyhole.

My gaze darted from the door, to the sofa where Dillon sat, to the bedroom and the tiny body covered by worn quilts. I paused, holding my breath until I saw the covers rise and heard snores. Exhaling, I tore my sight from her and began my circuit again.
Step, look, step, look, step, look.

“Sit down.” Dillon patted the cushion beside him without opening his eyes.

“I can’t.” Nibbling my fingernail, I sought distraction. “Would you like something to eat?”

“I can wait.” He sighed. “Lindsay can’t be much longer.”

“You’re right. We should wait for her. No reason to deplete our stores when fresh supplies are on the way.” I skirted the table and backed until the bends of my knees hit the spot by him.

I sat. He cracked open one eye and glared at my knees…which bounced with coiled energy.

“Sorry,” I said. “Should I…?”

Wood grated. Metal hinges groaned. A gust of fresh air stirred dust into my eyes.

I was still blinking when Lindsay descended the stairs. Followed by Emma and Harper.

Dread balled tighter in my stomach when Aldrich shuffled behind them, bags in hand.

I leapt to my feet and retreated until my spine cracked against the casing of the bedroom door. Heat singed my palms, and I made fists to crush the foul magic burning up the back of my throat.

“Emma.” I breathed her name.

“You were expecting someone else?” Her eyes narrowed when Dillon stood.

Harper glided between them, and Dillon dropped Roland’s signet ring onto his palm. “Nesvia and Rideal will want to see that.” Behind Harper, Emma paled as he crushed the ring in his hand. “It’s all we had time to salvage before we left.” Turning his back on Harper, Dillon strode to my side. His arm brushed mine as he widened his stance and blocked the doorway to the bedroom.

My heart swelled as I whispered, “Stubborn demon.”

“Your demon,” he corrected, taking my hand.

Nudging Harper aside, Aldrich said, “I’ve come for the child.”

“No.” Heat flared again, and this time I let it burn and swallowed my disgust.

“What he means,” Harper said, narrowing his gaze on Aldrich, “is he’s come to tend her.”

“That’s what I said.” The old priest’s grin bared blackened teeth.

“No, it isn’t.” Harper and I spoke over one another.

Grumbling, the priest patted his bags. “I’ve brought the proper herbs, yes? There’s little that Roland could do to your daughter I can’t undo.” He scowled. “His knowledge is my knowledge.”

“You mean you taught…” Well that explained much.

“Rideal was my pupil. Not his brother.” Aldrich huffed. “Where is the child?”

I gestured toward the bedroom, and Dillon gave the old priest room to scuffle past him.

“Dillon.” Harper stepped fully into the room. “This is a tight spot you’ve gotten us into.”

One hard, remorseful look from Dillon silenced his friend.