The boy gave a nod. After a few seconds, Deneya emerged as requested. The moment her eyes met Vi’s she strolled over, her pace quickening when she was out of sight of the rest of those gathered.
“I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“You didn’t like anything about me from the first moment—admit it.”
“Sounds about right.” Deneya put her hands into the pockets of her trousers, a motion that reminded Vi painfully of Zira. “What do you need, Champion?”
“How committed are you to this post?”
It was likely the Knights would pin the bodies in the alley and inn on Vi or Deneya as repayment for Vi’s earlier movements against them. When Fiera vanished, there would be suspicion around that, too—especially since Vi and Deneya would vanish alongside her.
At best, Vi hoped Fiera’s letter would absolve them both. Perhaps the royal family would strive to save face by keeping Fiera’s disappearance a secret, claiming she died on the birthing bed as they had in Vi’s time.
But by now, Vi knew better than to hope for the best.
She had to plan for the worst.
“Lumeria instructed that I was to keep an eye on the events of the Dark Isle, specifically surrounding the Crystal Caverns,” Deneya said somewhat cautiously. “Though how I do that, specifically, is up to me.”
“Excellent. The Crystal Caverns are just where we’re going.”
“Excuse me?” Deneya balked.
“I don’t have time to explain in detail.”
“When do you ever?” She sighed heavily.
“But we’re going tonight. How good are you withhalleth ruta?”
“Quite excellent, if I do say so myself.” Deneya puffed her chest slightly.
“Superb. You’ll be the one to heal Fiera, then.”
“Excuse me?”
“I can stop her from feeling pain withhalleth maph, but my flesh mending needs work. You’ll need to go up there as soon as the room quiets following the birth, masquerade as one of her servants or clerics, heal her, then sneak her out. Meanwhile, I’ll be readying us to go. I’ll take the Empress’s warstrider and—”
Deneya grabbed her shoulder, shoving her against the wall. Vi blinked, seeing stars for a moment. The world came back into focus with Deneya’s face right before hers, their noses almost touching. The woman was much stronger than Vi had given her credit for.
“Stop, and explain this to me properly if you want my help.”
“The Knights of Jadar got help from Adela’s pirates. I underestimated them.” Accepting fault was a bitter pill, but the more she did it the easier it became, and the faster Vi moved on from it. “There was a morphi and a Lightspinner. The morphi got off with the blade before I could stop her. The Lightspinner is dead.”
“Bloody pirate queen,” Deneya snarled, though not at Vi.
“If we don’t go after them tonight, we might not get to the Caverns before they do. We can get a head start because the Knights need to detour to get the sword from Adela. If they get to the Caverns before we do, Raspian is free. It’s over.”
Deneya looked at her with her brilliant, purple-ringed eyes. Vi could almost feel her prodding, poking into her brain for the slightest hint of a lie. She must’ve found none, because Deneya released her.
Vi eased away from the wall, rolling her shoulders. “Help me?”
“What did you say I told you once? The other me in that other world of yours… Seek me out, and my sword is yours.”
“Well, is it?”
“Yes.” Deneya nodded. “Lumeria put me here watch over the Caverns. I’ve been here for decades and you, in a few months, have accomplished more than I could toward that end. I’m aligned with you, Vi, before all others.”
“Good. Then pack lightly, but make sure you have all you need. We won’t be coming back. After, get to Fiera. She knows of Lightspinning and about Meru. You won’t surprise her.”
