“I’ll need you to use your Decarios abilities to helps us tonight. The emotional manipulation. I don’t think there will be a need for a physical fight. At least, I hope not.”
I’m frozen for a heartbeat. I swallow and nod. “Sure. I’ll do whatever you need me to. I—I need to be in a close proximity to the target for it to work, though. And I’m not that good at it.”
I cringe internally at having to admit that.
Vera hesitates. She glances over her shoulder, a deep frown settled between her perfectly manicured eyebrows. I know that look. She’s scheming, calculating, conjuring a plan.
I’m out of patience. “What is it that we’re doing here, Vera? How’s this going to show me the truth about Daegel?”
Vera refocuses her attention on me and Jax. “Call it a rescue mission.”
Jax and I exchange a glance.
“What can I do, Vera?” Jax asks.
The sound of a carriage arriving reaches my ears. I turn just as the carriage enters through the old gate and rides down the stone road leading towards the warehouse. It doesn’t come all the way to the entrance, though. Instead, it goes off the main path and towards us.
“Finally,” Vera murmurs.
The moment the carriage stops, she strides towards it and peels the door open. A man with a black hood sits on top, holding the reins in his gloved hands. He doesn’t glance in our direction when we approach.
In the doorway, Ri’s head appears. I’m even more confused than before.
Elegantly, she hops out of the carriage and lands on the gravel as if she’s a young gazelle and not an ancient woman.Spirits of the gods, may I age as gracefully as her.
“You’re late,” Vera scolds Ri.
Even in these circumstances I find it funny. Vera’s a child compared to Ri.
“Better late than never,” Ri says. “I see you brought backup. Part of the Ezkai General training?”
They both turn to me.
Vera says, “They insisted. You know it’s good to have more hands. Especially tonight.”
Ri regards Vera with worry. “Why is that?”
“They left more security behind this time around,” Vera says hesitantly. “It was supposed to happen sooner or later. Caligos don’t want to lose anymore precious cargo.”
Ri’s eyes widen a fraction. She glances towards the warehouse and around the place.
“There are no Caligos patrolling the grounds. Just a few inside with the children,” Vera says.
A pit forms deep in my stomach. Something is very wrong here.
I clear my throat. “Children? What fucking children?”
“I’ll explain everything later,” Vera says quickly. “We don’t have time right now.”
Ri looks at me, then back at Vera.
“Vera,” she says. It’s a warning. Ri jerks her chin at me. “I can’t believe you brought the honorable champion ofVal’taz Ezkairinwith you tonight. It would have been beyond reckless and dangerous if there were no Caligos lurking around, but now…if they see her, and recognize her, our whole operation will be sabotaged because everyone knows your affiliation with her.”
Ri shakes her head and clicks her tongue. Vera squares her shoulders.
Before Vera can defend her choices, Ri continues scolding her. “And you come in here dressed in your casual suit. You’re already on Caligos’s radar. You want even more trouble? You want them to know who the Savage King is?”
I have so many questions I don’t even know where to begin. It’s like I know nothing about Vera, after all.
