“My sister, Analla. When will Solyen be back?” I ask.
“I’m not sure.”
“Gods, no. He said he’d be here when I returned. He knew we had to leave right away.”
“Yeah, well, you know how he gets when he needs a drink.” Conred shrugs as if it’s no big deal.
“Which tavern?” I demand, and the intensity in my tone causes Conred to frown.
“Zaira, are you okay?”
“Which tavern,Conred?”
His throat bobs as he swallows. “I’m not sure. Is everything all right?”
“No, everything is not all right. We need to get out of here as soon as possible or…”
Wait.
What if, in turn, Thane was right behind us? Perhaps we can spare a minute or two just to see.
I search the docks for his familiar form, a spark of gold—anything that may prove he’s nearby. But there’s nothing. My heart squeezes so tight I think I might collapse.
I wanted him to help me, but I don’t want him to die.
I don’t care how angry I am. I’ll be devastated if he’s dead.
“There you are, little girl!” Solyen’s voice booms.Thank Orvena. “We were just fixing to leave you! You said two hours max! Started to itch for a drink!” He has a mug in his hand, and as he nears us, some of the ale sloshes over the rim. “Conred, there’re two barrels of ale at the bottom of the gangway. Roll ’em on board, will ya?”
I shift from foot to foot. As badly as I want to hold out for Thane, I can’t risk it. And he most likely won’t want me to. “Solyen, we need to go now,” I plead, expecting Seferin’s men to storm the dock at any minute.
“Yeah, yeah. I hear ya. Who is this?” His eyes are fixed on Analla.
“My sister, Analla.”
Solyen looks between us, like he wants to ask something but doesn’t have the patience to hear the answer. “Right.” He lumbers past me, sipping his ale. “Where to now?”
“Junsho, please.”
“That’ll be more coin, understand?”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s just leave quickly, please.” I grip the rough railing of the ship to keep from fidgeting. As much as we need to get away before Seferin finds us, a part of me is holding out hope that the only man with the ability to tie me in knots is still alive and will come sauntering up that gangway.
There’s still nothing in the distance. I sigh as Solyen starts yelling orders at his crew.
“Should he be steering a ship if he’s drunk?” asks Analla.
“Trust me, he’s always drunk,” I say. “I’d be more concerned if he were sober and trying to steer.” I turn and lean against the railing, spotting Conred halfway up the gangway with the second barrel.
After a stretch of silence, Analla says, “Oh, no.” She tugs at the sleeve of my top as her eyes grow wide. “I—I think they found us, Z.”
My breath catches as I spin to see a dark silhouette jogging up the gangway. For a split second, I think she’s right—that it’s an assassin from The Shadow Guild.
But then his hands swirl with gold, eyes flaring, as he propels Conred and the barrel up the gangway and onto the ship with a gust of magic. Conred topples over the barrel of ale, tumbling onto the deck of the ship and cursing loudly at Thane.
I’m surprised I remain steady enough not to collapse with relief.
Holy Crystal.He made it. Thane is back. He survived.
