“What has you burning the candle at both ends?” he asked thoughtfully.
“By day I fulfill my duties to the crown, enough to keep a low-profile here… I train with Zira, lunch with Fiera… and most evenings I have nightcaps with Deneya.” That wasn’t all she’d been doing at night.
“You don’t have to do this, you know.” Vi knew what he was about to say before he said it. It was a discussion that was creeping up more by the day. “You have the sword, Fiera has trusted you to hide it—you can leave.”
“If I leave too quickly, people will notice and might suspect I have the sword.”
“It’s been months since the wedding.”
“And all it takes is one suspicious act.” Vi gave him a tired smile. “Weren’t you the one telling me to be cautious?” She stepped behind a folding screen set before her closet, changing into a nightgown as she spoke.
Taavin averted his eyes. “I am, but at a certain point, inaction is just as risky.”
“Make up your mind.” Vi emerged from behind the screen with another yawn.
“At some point, you’ll have to take the sword and go.”
“I know. But I’ll do it when the time is right. And that time isn’t tonight.”
“Yes, I’ll let you sleep.” Taavin walked over, cupping her cheek thoughtfully. His eyes scanned her face. “Do try to get some rest tonight. You look exhausted.”
“I will.” The lie cut her gums on the way out. The smile that followed it hurt more.
“Sleep well.” Taavin leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, vanishing before he could lean away.
Vi stared at where he’d just been, steeping in the guilt. It wasn’t the right time to take the sword away. And it wasn’t the right time to get some sleep.
She went back behind the screen, changing into dark clothes and grabbing a blood red hood that matched Adeem’s description of the robes worn by the men and women who attended Twintle’s meetings. This way, she could blend in without need of an illusion. Vi wanted both hands free in case she needed to use her Lightspinning when she entered into the lion’s den.
Twintle had returned from his travels a week ago and Vi had been perching herself on a rooftop several down from his warehouse each night since. She suspected he’d call a meeting sooner rather than later and she wanted to be ready the second he did.
Her feet knew the way to the docks by heart. She’d practiced the route to and from the warehouse each night. She knew that when the time came, she would want to be able to run through the back alleys and keep off the main roads without second-guessing herself.
Tonight, she sank into the shadows of an alleyway as two men caught her eye—Twintle and Luke. They spoke to each other in hushed and hurried tones on their way to the dock, though Vi couldn’t make out any individual words. Vi waited until they were down the road before hurrying through a back alley to lean against the corner of a building to watch them proceed. The men were none the wiser to the woman following in their wake.
She took the back way around Twintle’s warehouse. There was only one entrance and exit, so Vi waited, crouched low, listening to the murmuring voices within and the footsteps approaching without.
Every man and woman uttered a soft phrase, “Rulliad,” before being permitted entry.
Rulliadmeant loyalty in the language of old Mhashan. Really… one would think they would be more creative than that when it came to their passwords. Still, it made things easy.
Vi yanked the hood she’d fashioned over her head.
With nothing to protect her but confidence and trust in her magical skills, Vi strode to the entrance. Neither of the guards were the ones Vi met when she had come with Deneya, which made her wonder how often Twintle’s paranoia had him changing his hired swords. She hoped she and Deneya’s inspection hadn’t cost the others their jobs… but didn’t linger on the thought.
She had more important concerns.
“Good evening,” one of the guards said in Southern Common.
“Rulliad,” Vi replied without preamble. He gave a nod and she walked in.
Everyone gathered around the mostly open area with the stacks of crates. There wasn’t much mingling and most people kept to themselves. Not one person had lowered their hood, which made it easy for Vi to remain hidden.
“We’ll begin in another two minutes—we’re waiting on just one more,” Twintle said, stepping forward. He and Luke were the only two people who had lowered their hoods. Likely because everyone knew exactly who was behind the organization of this meeting. But there was safety in anonymity among the rest of the members—they couldn’t out each other if captured.
As soon as one more man entered, Twintle began as promised.
“I know it has been some time since we all last met. But today I come to you with exciting tidings.” Twintle turned to address the crowd in full. “I left our beloved city of Norin and returned to the Waste. There, I communed with the people we fight for. Those who still stand with the Mhashan we have always known.
