Arianna stopped Cvareh by pointing to his hands. The bandages had ripped off when he’d used his talons in the fight. At best he could pass for gray, but there was no denying the shape of his nails, even retracted.
The Dragon spat a word in the heavy tones of Royuk. “So what do we do now?” He sighed heavily and slid along the wall to the floor.
“We wait for nightfall and stow away in one of the cargo ships.”
“Cargo ship for where?” Florence still remembered Arianna’s promise that she wouldn’t like her plan. For emphasis, the woman’s stare was openly apologetic. It only made Florence more worried.
“Why aship? Wouldn’t an airship be faster?” Cvareh asked.
“It would.” Arianna ignored Florence’s question completely. “But that’s also what they expect—us to take the most direct route.”
“They’re going to be canvassing everywhere we go, every major city, every major transportation line,” Cvareh said. “Even if they weren’t, there’s the matter of their ability to track my magic.”
“And I’m still very curious as to the exactwhysurrounding their motives in tracking you down.” Arianna gave Cvareh a penetrating stare. The Dragon set his chin and met it. He was the only person Florence had ever seen challenge Arianna. Then again, Florence didn’t exactly see Arianna with very many people.
“I’ve told you all you need to know.”
“Yes, yes, that you’re working to overthrow the Dragon King.” Arianna snorted, showing how much she believed that particular bit of information.
Florence wasn’t as convinced of Cvareh’s lie. The Dragon was certainly going to great risk to get to the Alchemists. It was the guild that stood the furthest from being under Dragon control, hiding behind their insistence on secrecy for their experiments. It had been the home of Loom’s original resistance.
But even the Council of Five—those foolish few who had attempted to fan spark to flame and free Loom from under the Dragon King in those early days—had perished to the might of the Dragons. The Fenthri stood no chance, outclassed as they were in strength and magic. Florence had grown up hearing the tales of the Council of Five, but as a child’s cautionary tale against being too bold. The Council was not spoken of lightly, and never with praise.
“But I don’t disagree with you, Dragon.” Arianna sighed, continuing, “The Riders will be canvassing every major hub, and an airship is very noticeable if it is not traveling between those hubs. Not to mention your scent is notable.”
“So then how will we move?”
“We’ll take the Underground.” Arianna turned to Florence, and it was suddenly clear.
“No,” Florence breathed. “I won’t go back there again.”
“Flor—”
“You promised me!”
“Then stay here.” The words were said gently, but they hurt more than Arianna intended.
Florence fidgeted on the stool, shifting her feet, trying to catch her breath and her balance at the same time.Tunnels, endless tunnels that turned the underbelly of Ter.4 into a rat maze. It was known as “the Ravens’ playground” by bold new initiates, and “the Ravens’ folly” by the far more sensible masters.
When she had escaped those tunnels, she vowed to never enter them again. She had gone in one of ten and come out one of three. The unending blackness had taken its toll on them. They had paid their dues for her freedom many times over.
“I can’t lead you through them.” Florence shook her head violently. “I wasn’t leading last time and I don’t remember.”
“I know, Flor, I know.” Arianna’s hands smoothed over Florence’s shoulders. The motion did little to soothe her racing heart or calm her nerves. “But we must use them. They’re the only straight shot from Ter.4.2 to Ter.4.3 that assures no chance of anyone sensing Cvareh’s magic or picking up his scent. From there we can cross to Ter.0.”
She wants to cross the wasteland. Florence shook her head. It was clear this was a Rivet making a traveling plan, because no Raven in their right mind would suggest such a dangerous and backwards journey to Keel.
“That still doesn’t solve your problem of navigation.” Florence was grasping at straws, anything to make Ari reconsider.
“I’ll have help.” Arianna’s eyes told Florence she had yet to reach the worst of it. Those wretched, expressive Dragon’s eyes suddenly looked so foreign. This woman, this woman who had pulled Florence from the shadow of death, would now plunge them willingly back under that shade.
“Who?” Florence asked, though she already knew the answer.
“Your friends.”
Florence’s mouth dropped open. Arianna was reckless—that much Florence had always known. But never once had she thought the woman was stupid enough to break out two inmates from the floating prison of Ter.4.2.
12.LEONA
