I fought every instinct to tear out of the place, doing my best to remain calm. “Thank you for the information.” I fished some coins out of my pack and dropped them on the table.
Before anyone could respond, I was outside, running through the brisk night to reach Sapphire at her post down the road.
“Warrior, wait!”
I spun to meet the faerie on my heels.
“Wait?” I snapped. “Why are you following me?”
“As I said, I was looking for you.” He strode down the stairs, hood falling back. And I finally had a view of those pointed ears poking through his hair.
“And why is that?” I walked backward, unable to stand still for too long.
“I can’t—” His voice stopped, whether because he was bound from telling a warrior of his mission or because what he’d been about to say was a lie, I didn’t know. In the night, Lancaster’s canines reflected the moonlight when he growled in frustration. “I wish to help you.”
“Why?”
“Don’t ask questions if you aren’t prepared for the answers.”
“Are you going to assist me, then, or threaten the life of someone else I care about?”
Those canines glinted again, frustration piercing his controlled immortal demeanor. “That was a misunderstanding. I swore not to hurt her.”
He couldn’t lie, so it had to be true.
“Excellent. Now if you don’t mind, I have somewhere to be.” I stepped into the dark street.
“You won’t get in there without me.”
I froze and turned back to the shadow watching me. I swept my eyes over his broad form, stopping on the blades strapped to his side.
I curled my hand around my own.
“Watch me.”
Lancaster did,to my ire.
With that infuriating fae speed, he kept pace with Sapphire as we tracked the camp Mora and Lessel mentioned. Frost crept over baretree limbs as we traveled deeper into Mindshaper Territory, but we were far enough north that we did not have to face snow or sleet.
Mora had been right. A slinking presence crawled to us while we were still a quarter mile out, like shadowed hands slithering around my muscles. Coaxed us through the trees, a misty voice on the wind, right to a clearing.
Four pointed tents were raised, dark as night with fabric that looked thick as leather, wide shielded pathways connecting them all. It didn’t appear to be a camp that was easily collapsible, made for quick retreats or last-minute marches.
No, this was a base.
There were too many signs of permanent inhabitation for it to be anything else: stores of weapons and food being carted in, fires burning in the frigid Mindshaper air. Travelers concerned with being caught did not dare light fires.
The largest tent was in the center, the three smaller ones forming a guard around it. Based on the number of people traipsing in and out of the dim opening, it seemed the most secured.
The most likely place to keep a hostage.
Tolek was in there. He had to be.
“Something here isn’t right.” Lancaster’s voice was barely a whisper as he crouched beside me. Though I’d suspected as much myself, the tone undulating through his words chilled even me—terror.
“What is it?”
The fae only shook his head. “I can’t name it. Never felt anything like it. But there’s a barrier here I can’t pass.” He extended a hand. At the edge of the shadowed tree line, his palm flattened.
