His eyes flicked to her belt. “That dagger I gave you was given to me by someone who studied wizardry here. He owns a clothing shop in Ravere now, but he spent most of his youth in Dorsey.”
“A wizard who runs a clothing shop. Interesting . . .” she said. “So, he’s a friend? Like Elshar?”
“Not so much a friend, more like a strategic partner.”
She arched a brow. “Partner for what?”
Vade gave her one of his trademark smirks. “Business.”
Killing, he meant. Somehow, learning more about his murderous lifestyle no longer made her uncomfortable. She wasn’t sure if that made her more understanding, or a fool.
“Where is the aviary?” she asked.
He pointed north. “You can see the tip of it right over there.”
Continent-wide correspondence came from the single tower she had to squint to see. The messages were sent from Dorsey via swifts, so she checked the skies for any of the incredibly fast brown birds, finding a few on their way east.
They came to a large, temple-like structure covered in vines where Vade said the druids studied. It was here they would find the man they were looking for. Beautiful, but there was a hollowness in her as she took it all in.
They were minutes away from their resolution, but that meant her adventure was about to come to an end. Then it would be back to Minro where she’d try to figure out her next course of action. The thought of begging Beron for her job back soured her spirits, but there were more important things to focus on as they climbed the steep stairs, then approached the guards at the entrance.
“We’re here to see the druid Devlin,” Vade said to one of the female batalins gripping a slender glaive taller than she was, which had to have been almost eight feet. The gray horns on her head added almost another foot. Orelia had to crane her neck to meet the muscular woman’s eyes that were two shades lighter than the uniform straining against her hulking muscles.
“The Head Druid is not accepting visitors at this time,” she said, giving a curious glance at Bute’s jar.
“Why not?” Vade asked.
“Because he is ill,” the other batalin replied. She gripped her glaive tighter.
Vade’s fingers twitched at his sides, and Orelia’s heart began to race. He’d be a fool to pick a fight with batalins. The hooks at the base of the women’s glaives would tear out their organs in seconds if he did.
The city folk were faint figures on the streets below, but it was only the four of them high up on the temple steps, and she knew what was about to happen.
“Could we just see him for a minute? We’ll be quick, I promise,” Orelia said, trying to control the situation before Vade unleashed himself.
“No,” the women said in unison.
Vade worked his jaw. “Look, we’ve traveled all the way from Minro to meet with the druid. This is a timely issue, so you will let us pass.”
The blue-skinned woman stepped up to Vade, looking down her broad nose at him. “Do not threaten me. No means no. The bells will ring any day now for the Head Druid, so turn around, and take your friend with you.”
Vade widened his stance, a sliver of shadow emerging around his elbow.
“Please,” Orelia blurted out. “I promise we’ll be in and out. We won’t cause any problems.”
The other woman looked Vade over with calculating, lavender eyes. “I doubt that.”
Orelia could feel the air getting heavier. The guards seemed to notice too and quickly pointed their weapons at Vade.
“Then you give me no choice,” he said calmly.
Before she could stop him, he wrapped shadows around their faces. The women thrashed, dropping their glaives that clanged against the stones.
“Stop!” Orelia pleaded, tugging on his arm.
Vade let the black tendrils spill out from his fingers until eventually, the women slumped to the ground. He stepped over them and entered the main doors. “Come on.”
Orelia rushed over to one of the women and pressed two fingers to her neck just under her jaw.
