Understanding went through me.
Ryak had made a deal with these Karag. Maybe it was a deal that theDothikkarhad given him license to make. In helping tosteal the eggs and transporting them back to Dakkar…they’d be rewarded with mature heartstones.
“And what are you going to tell Alaryk when you suddenly possess a heartstone?” I asked, watching Nevin edge toward me.
“There’s one in Ny’am,” Dresnar murmured. “That’s where I’ve been, after all. Looking for it after the Elthika attack.”
“It belongs in the mountain,” I argued. “For Grymia’s own Elthika.”
“Don’t talk to me about what’s best formyhome, Dakkari,” he said coolly. “I love my people. I love our Elthika. I won’t see Grymia in danger again. And if this is what it takes, to do what others are afraid of doing so that we are safe again, then I’ll do it.”
“You’re stealing Elthika eggs,” I breathed, needing to break through to him. “Giving them to a nation who wants to start a war. If he finds out, it’ll mean your death.”
“Which is why he won’t find out,” Dresnar said, expression grim.
And suddenly it hit me, as rain pelted against my skin, dripping into my eyes.
That’s why I can’t live,I realized.
He knew I was close with Alaryk. He knew I’d been forced to do this, that it wasn’t my own choice. Dresnar wanted to procure a mature heartstone for his people, the other unknown Karag perhaps wanting the same, and theDothikkarwould offer them one as payment for their service, for their crime.
But Dresnar also wanted to return home. Back to his village, back to his people.
He wouldn’t be able to do that unless I was silenced. Because if Alaryk ever came to Dothik to find me—for Samryn or for himself—I would give him the name of his rider who’d betrayed him in a heartbeat.
And it would mean Dresnar’s death.
“They’ve seen you too,” I told him in a rush, gesturing to Ryak and Nevin. “They aren’t exactly trustworthy either.”
“We have our own assurances in place,” Dresnar said, making my shoulders tighten.
Raw panic flooded my veins, adrenaline pumping through my system. Ryak took a step toward me, edging the Elthika egg satchel off his back slowly.
“Stay back,” I told him, though I heard the brittleness in my tone.
“Amaia, we’re all going home,” he told me. “Stop wasting time.”
I wasn’t a fool, even though I’d played one up until this very moment.
Ryak took another step toward me?—
And I turned andran. As fast as my feet would carry me.
“Vok,” I heard Ryak curse from behind me. “I’ll get her. Just be ready to leave.”
And then I heard his body crash through the forest brush behind me.
My heart was pumping madly, thudding in time with my swinging arms as I used them to propel me faster. Sprinting with all my might, with the last of my strength. Because if Ryak caught me, it would mean my death.
Exposed branches and sharp foliage whipped across my face, slicing into my cheek and whacking hard enough against my legs that I knew bruises would bloom there.
The remnants of the makeshift trail we’d made were still evident, but eventually I couldn’t see through the rain and I deviated, traveling into the deeper part of the woods, caked mud clinging to my boots, starting to weigh down my legs.
I had no weapon. Nothing I could use to defend myself. Except my magic, but that would only help Ryak, not hurt him.
If only Alaryk were here,came the sudden thought, aching and desperate.
My magic was rising, trailing over my tired body. I was panicked, and I couldn’t sever it. My eyes were glowing, lightingme up like a beacon for Ryak in the dark woods. And I could do nothing about it.
