“Renel…” Ziven mutters, as if I was being unreasonable. The problem is that he doesn’t know her.
I add, “And no physical aggression against us.”
Mirella rolls her eyes. “I’ll use no magic while near you and will not attack you physically or conspire against you. I’ll help you rescue Tarlia, and then you’ll take me to my brother.”
“Stepbrother,” I correct her.
“Yes. You’ll take me to Marlak.” She still has her arm stretched, palm up.
I place my hand on top of hers. “I’ll take you to Marlak when I return to his house, after we rescue Tarlia. I will use no physicalforce against you unless needed for self defense. It’s a binding deal.”
She presses her lips together. “The deal binds us.”
Myown promise is not life binding, but either she doesn’t notice it or lets it slide. I still don’t know what nefarious plan her twisted mind is devising, but right now, I have no choice but to play along.
Hopefully she’ll indeed help us rescue Tarlia.
ZIVEN
Iwatch quietly as Renel makes a deal with Mirella. She looks healthier and less crazy than last time I saw her on that dreadful, cursed island, when she spent most of her days as a giant monster bird. Renel is obviously quite suspicious of her, and, to be honest, so am I, but it makes sense that she hates Zorwal, and makes a lot of sense that her plan was to betray him.
Then again, she could be plotting some revenge against Renel. Still, if it’s true that she can’t lie, and if her deal is indeed binding, I don’t see how she can trick us. Does she evenwantto trick us? I see a hurt girl who might be lost, but being lost might be the problem.
There’s no way to know what she wants. Not yet, at least. The only thing I do know is that Marlak will be delighted to see her again. I recall his desperation to save her, his worry. We got her out of that nightmare island, but the question is how much of the nightmare still lives within her.
“What’s your plan, then?” Renel sounds grumpy and suspicious. “For Tarlia.”
Mirella points at him. “I fear Zorwal could track you, soheshould be the one to go in.”
Renel crosses his arms. “All right. How?”
Mirella glances at me. “Tarlia’s in the upper cells, and?—”
“Cells?” Renel’s voice cracks like a whip.
“Yes. I can take him to a lower level guard deposit, where he can take a uniform?—”
She doesn’t even address me. In fact, she refers to me as if I was a horse or something.
This is too much. “Are you going to ask me? Talk to me? I’m here.”
She blinks, but turns to me. “Sure. So you can dress as a guard. The ears… Your hair will hide them. I’d rather do no glamour. Then I’ll give you the key to her cell, you’ll get her out, get in a secret passage, and leave as soon as you can.”
“Sounds doable.”
She gives me a short nod. “Very much.”
“Ishould go,” Renel says. “I know the passages.”
“It’s a trap for you,” she tells Renel as she shakes her head. “He’s expectingyou. You shouldn’t go to the castle.”
Renel’s chest rises and falls in a strangled breath as he watches me.
I try to reassure him. “I’ll get Tarlia out of the castle, don’t worry.”
He glares at me as if any of this was my fault. I understand that he doesn’t trust Mirella, but I’m the one sticking my neck out there.
“Wait here,” Mirella tells Renel.
