“They’re still rucking out the old one, but it’s a big one. Took them weeks to blast it out. Soldiers will come to collect the ore, so best stay out of their way, or else they’ll recruit you.” He laughed.
“Do you know when the soldiers will be here?” she asked.
“Hard to say, but shouldn’t be too long now,” the merchant said.
“And where—”
“I’m sorry, she has a thing for soldiers,” Yassen said, squeezing her arm. “Down the road you said?”
“Yes. The handler’s the one with the barn.”
Yassen thanked the merchant as he nudged Elena forward. His hand pressed into the small of her back, and he did not remove it until they were well out of earshot.
“Did you hear what he said?” she asked quietly.
“I did,” he sighed.
She chewed her lip. “I know you said you don’t know where the deposit is, and that you have no interest in finding it, but—” She stopped, turning to him. “You know these mines better than me, Yassen. I’m not asking you to look for this ore, but—but what if we can stop these soldiers?”
“What are you getting at?” he asked cautiously.
“They’re going to be here soon to pick up the latest draws from the mine. They’ll use it to make more weapons, tanks, Mother’s Gold, even those tanks with the half-metal soldiers. We can’t let them.”
“We can’t stop an entire army, Elena.”
“I know we can’t,” she said, more to herself.But there must be a way.She scrutinized the mountain before her. This was a foreign land, one whose ridges and valleys she did not know as well as her desert. She had no plan, no army. But Elena could not shake off the strange feeling she’d had when Yassen had told her about Samson giving him the map.Samson knows about the cabin and the ore. He led Yassen here.
“You said Samson has a small base farther down the mountains,” she said. “Is there any way we can contact it?”
“I’m not sure.” He stopped when he saw the look on her face. “Elena, what is it?”
“Nothing, it’s just…” She trailed off, thinking. “I have a feeling Samson meant for you to come here. To find this special ore for him.”
“Maybe,” Yassen said slowly, though there was a dark look in his eyes. “But he’s dead now. They’re all dead. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Elena said nothing to that, her throat tight. He did not need to remind her of the people they had left behind. She knew. She knew all too well.
When she remained silent, Yassen sighed. He reached over, stopping her from wringing her hands.
“I’m sorry,” he said, voice soft with guilt. “But we can’t do anything about the ore right now, Elena. Let’s start by getting you somewhere safe.”
She did not have the heart to tell him that she was never going to feel safe in Jantar.
By the time they reached the town, the sun was high in the sky. It beat down on the tiny metal shops and glass storefronts that lined the main street. Most were boarded or closed. There were no urchins, no street dancers. Elena spotted a few townspeople, but they hurried by with only a quick nod or smile.
“Where is everyone, you think?” she asked Yassen.
“Too afraid to come out.” He kept glancing around them, alert. He walked close to her, his shoulder brushing her own protectively, and she was reminded of his oath. The bitterness of his betrayal had not yet left her, not fully, but Elena smiled as he inserted himself in front of her as they passed a townsman. For better or for worse, Yassen Knight had not gone back on his word.
They finally found the promised barn just past the main street and slipped inside.
A tiny, empty desk sat in a makeshift reception area. Stalls lined the wall, and beyond, the barn opened to a pasture where Elena could see a few free brenni roaming.
She walked to one of the stalls, clicking her tongue. A brenni raised its furry head at her approach. It had large brown eyes and short ears that perked up as it came to the stall door. It was smaller than a horse, its long, thick neck covered in the most luxurious mane Elena had ever seen. Smiling, she touched its soft muzzle.
The brenni brayed, searching her hand for a treat, when a woman mucking the next stall over suddenly jumped up.
“Oh,” she said, dropping her rake. “Are you mounting a ride?”
