The request circled Dyna’s mind as she took the stairs to the third floor. It was a dire secret to keep. But it wasn’t only Tavin they wanted to keep it from.
But they didn’t need to worry.
She had other plans.
Entering her room, Dyna locked the door behind her. She leaned her bow and quiver against the chair’s backrest by the fire and went to her small round table by the windows. The sunlight spilling past the curtains gilded the water mirror’s iridescent plate. Dyna opened the small wooden container set beside it, revealing white grains of salt. After pouring some water in the mirror, she sprinkled in a pinch of salt and stirred with her finger. Rings spread across the surface as it clouded with color. Eventually, it cleared. She studied the image of a room with a view of the sea and a man sitting at a desk.
“I have no time for conversation right now, Maiden. I’m busy,” Tarn said as he flipped through a thick tome.
Dyna couldn’t see the pages from her position. It must be something important to hold his rapt attention. Perhaps he was researching another detail of his elusive plan.
She leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs. “Oh really? Has your search at last been fruitful?”
Tarn frowned as he straightened. “I don’t know why I told you about that.”
“Merely admit that you enjoy these conversations. They are the best part of your day.”
“I think you’re the one who looks forward to them,” he retorted. “Not much to do on Hermon Ridge while stuck in mountains of snow, I gather.”
That’s where he assumed she was. There was no need to correct him.
“You’re right, there isn’t.” Dyna propped her elbow on the table, leaning on her fist. “And there isn’t much for a wanted felon to do but stay out of sight while trying to search for this mysterious Druid.” Tarn may have had a little too much wine on the night he told her about that, but he had not been drunk enough to tell her more. And she knew better than to tell him she knew exactly how to find Leoake. “If you share with me why you need him, I may be able to help.” Tarn looked up from his reading, and she shrugged. “The snow is melting.”
“And?”
“You have something I want, Tarn, and I have something you want.”
“Pray tell, what is that?”
Dyna arched an eyebrow. “Mount Ida’s location,” she said pointedly. “Release Von and the others, and in exchange, I will tell you where to find it. That’s the deal.”
Tarn returned to flipping pages. “Odd how adamant you were about never telling me where it is. Yet now you’re willing to trade that valuable knowledge for mere slaves.”
“My priorities have changed.”
“So have mine.”
The statement made her frown. Did he not care about Mount Ida anymore?
Tarn canted his head as he observed her. “I think the one you really want is Von. Why is he soimportant to you?”
“I’ll buy out his life-servant contract. I have the gold,” Dyna said, ignoring the question.
Well, her fortune was stuck at the bottom of the cascades, but they would retrieve it soon enough.
“He is not for sale,” Tarn said nonchalantly, flipping another page.
“Not even for the map?”
“You think I would give up my commander for a piece of parchment?”
“I think you would give up anything to accomplish your goal. At the moment, our interests coincide.”
Tarn shut the book. He stood, eyeing her a moment, then moved on to rummage through a stack of scrolls in a chest, letting her words hang in the air.
“Well?” she pressed. “Do we have a deal?”
“No.”
