“I might miss our old adventures, but I realized that I can’t recapture that by joining a new crew, especially not one bent on trouble.” Cali curled her tail around the hellkin’s leg. “My forever crew is right here in Wayside.”
Vaskel cleared the lump in his throat. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I would have knocked you out and dragged you back to the village, but I prefer this way.”
“Me, too.” The pantheri shook out her whiskers.“I’m ready to get out of here. Unless there’s a reason we’re all hanging out in the dungeon.”
“There is the matter of the hellkin and the mage.” Erindil said.
Cali bristled when she spotted Malek outside his cell, the hairs on arms puffing up. “What in the?—?”
Vaskel put a hand on one fluffy arm. “He’s actually the one who knocked out Marina.”
“And siphoned her powers from her,” Malek added.
“What?” Cali turned to face the mage fully. “Are you trying to redeem yourself after trying to kill your crew?”
Malek flinched but met Vaskel’s eyes. “I’ve been told that everyone deserves a second chance.”
While Cali grumbled, Vaskel held Malek’s gaze, searching hard for signs of deception but finding none.
“If I might,” Tarrel said. “The mage still carries dark magic within him. Dark magic is hard to resist repeatedly unless it can be removed.”
Erindil whipped his head toward his nephew. “Do you think…?”
“I do.” Tarrel eyed Malek, then gave a curt bob of his head. “I will take him myself.”
Vaskel bit back a sigh at the mysterious elves and their even more enigmatic conversation. “Do you mind telling us?”
“Of course, dear boy.” Erindil rubbed his hands together. “Tarrel is offering to take Malek to Lananore where the elves can treat him and cleanse his soul of the dark magic.”
Malek bowed his head. “I would be grateful.”
“What about Marina?” Thrain asked, “We can’t exactly leave her and her hellkin crew to keep causing trouble.”
Vaskel slid up his sleeve, swallowing a shaky breath when he confirmed that there was nothing there but smooth, crimson flesh. The soul bind was gone. Even if Marina were free, she would have no more power over him. He’d also gotten his second chance.
Erindil’s face brightened, and he bounced on the balls of his feet. “I have an idea.”
Forty-Eight
Vaskel helpedKorl heave Marina’s still-unconscious body into the back of the wooden cart beside the two young hellkins Vaskel had knocked out earlier and stepped back.
“Where are we taking them again?” Val asked as they gathered around Vorto and Klaff’s cart in the dark. The blacksmith workshop remained quiet, as did the rest of Wayside.
“The nearest port town is Eldu,” Erindil said. “You should find a ship looking for sailors. Some of them won’t ask questions.”
“Best if you pick a ship with a long, dangerous voyage ahead of them,” Thrain added. “With any luck, those two won’t wake until there’s nothing but open water and sea monsters.”
Korl hefted himself onto the buckboard, and Val followed, but not before Sass, Iris, and Lira came running from the tavern. Crumpet rode Lira’s shoulder with his fluffy tail curled around her neck for balance.
“Wait,” Lira called out, slowing to a stop when she reached the wagon. “Where are you going?”
“Your charming fiancé and his burly friend are taking our prisoners to Eldu,” Erindil said.
Lira peered into the back of the cart, her eyes widening at the sight of the hellkins.
Sass huffed up behind, complaining loudly about her shorter legs. When she spotted Thrain, she threw her arms around him. “You’re alive, and you didn’t fall under that she-beast’s spell again.”
Thrain patted her gruffly. “Course I didn’t. I saved Vaskel, didn’t I? Helped break the bind.”
