“Does Ulvarth have his magic?” Eira asked pointedly. She’d helped him and caught him up on what was happening. There was no more time to waste.
“I’ve heard rumors that he doesn’t. But of course, no one wants to give them much credence or say so too loudly.”
A wicked smile split her lips. It was so satisfying to know that she had regained her powers—and so much more—while he continued to languish. Without the armor to protect him, he’d be completely at her mercy.
A frown crossed Taavin’s lips. “He does have a strange set of armor, however. One I’ve never seen him without. It’s runic in nature but how it works is unknown to me.”
“I’m aware and I have a way to thwart it.” Eira stood and offered a hand to him.
He arched his brows and clasped his palm with hers. “You have been busy.”
Eira shifted, focusing on Cullen. “We need to find Yonlin and get out of here as fast as possible.” She still remembered that the Pillars had said Ulvarth would be leading the charge down to the wharf. She had to get there before he slipped through her fingers. What Taavin did from here on was his choice. Though she suspected he’d follow.
“Lead on,” Cullen said.
“I’ll show you a faster way out than the one you know.” Taavin moved for the door. Despite the horrors he must have endured at the hands of the Pillars, he moved easily. Eira could only imagine the aches and pains of every bruise and wound across his body. The Voice of Yargen was stronger than she’d given him credit for.
Taavin led them out from behind an upper bookcase in the Archives. It placed them on the top rung, by the still-blazing Flame of Yargen. They all paused at the railing, looking down at the chaos below. The doors had been opened once more for Pillars to run in and out.
There was no sign of Olivin.
“Taavin, do you know where the Pillars would keep prisoners?” Eira asked.
“Beneath the halls of the Swords of Light,” he answered.
Eira looked to Cullen, who already had a frown forming. He knew her far too well.
“Go and get Yonlin,” she asked him. Eira readied herself for an objection, but the man surprised her when his only objection came in the form of an understandable concern.
“Do you think he’s still alive?”
“Let’s hope so. He’s the best with the pistol.” She knew Cullen wasn’t only asking about Yonlin. “I won’t step foot off Meru until I know what happened to my crew.Allof them.” Given everything she knew about Wynry, Eira bet that she’d take Olivin alive. She captured Yonlin when she could’ve killed him. A foolish hope, perhaps. But all they had was hope and wild plans.
“Stay safe,” Cullen said by way of agreement.
“I will.” She wasn’t as confident as she sounded. But part of being a captain was not letting those she led see her fear. “Free them and then get to the front lines. I need Yonlin and that pistol.”
He took her hand and pulled. His other palm rose to her cheek, cupping it. Cullen kissed her again, as deeply as he had in the passage.
“I will get to you soon,” he vowed.
“I’d expect nothing less.” She locked eyes with him. “When you and Yonlin are in position, give me our sign.” Cullen nodded and Eira shifted her attention to Taavin. “I know I can’t ask a detour of you.”
“Not when my future wife is down in the wharf fighting.”
“We’ll go together. But can you tell Cullen what he needs to know—where they might hold prisoners here?”
After Taavin gave him clear instructions, Cullen slipped back behind the bookcase, electing to take the slower but more secret passages down.
A dull ache bloomed in her chest with worry for him. Eira shook her head, trying to cast it off. He didn’t need her worry. He needed her to stay mentally sharp and be ready for anything.
Eira looked to Taavin, surprised he had continued to linger. She’d been expecting him to run off. But his presence suggested a continued unlikely, and probably temporary, alliance.
“Let’s go end this.”
“Once and for all,” he added.
They shared a hard stare, one that was full of determination. Then, Taavin moved, and Eira followed his lead.
