“Are you ready?” I ask, reluctant to break her brief moment of marvel.
She lets out a breath. “How long will it take to get to the… target’s house?”
Pursing my lips, I say, “Not long. It seems it is one of the women she herself has sworn to protect.”
I point in the direction of a house with black windows just beyond the hill.
“Can we trust Mrath if she kills those who pay her for protection?” Ra’Salore asks at last.
I look at him and see his eyes dark. Deep lines bracket his mouth.
“You have been displeased with every path I have taken since I left Enduvida. I understand why you would be frustrated, but I do not wish to have a companion who questions my every move. You may go back home now, as you wished to earlier, and I will do this alone. Hell, go wherever you want.”
He says nothing, just stares intently at me.
“I—I will stay with you.”
I drag a hand over my brow. “Why? Why do you do this to everyone?”
Ra'Salore looks at Niht who is silent. Then he takes a deep breath.
“I want to see the human women when we rescue Estela.”
Ulla rolls her eyes.
“You want a mate, but you asked me to give up my own,” I say slowly. Loneliness can do awful things to one’s mind.
“I do not have to explain my desire to you again,” Ra'Salore bites out. “Much less if you all will mock me.”
I shake my head and wave off his comments. “Very well. If you complain once more, I will banish you from the mountain.I’m not lying.” The words are heavy, but Ra'Salore nods once with a tight jaw.
I show them the map and the note.
“Ra'Salore, you will climb the northern wall and scope out the inside. There is a window there,” Niht says.
Ra'Salore nods. “It won’t be a problem.”
I nod and then look at Ulla. “You will stay outside and alert us if anything goes wrong.”
She looks visibly nervous. “I would prefer to stay with you.”
I frown; she is not cut out for battle. “Whoever comes with me will need to watch everything that happens at my back. There’s a mention of enchantments, so we’ll need to be extra careful.”
Ulla reaches into her pocket and pulls out a crystal. “This detects magic, along with your spyglass. I can use it to help you.”
I open my mouth when Niht speaks.
“I will stay outside. If you hear the bellow of a caughtruh’glumdlor,you will know that something has gone terribly wrong.”
I look at the sky. It is still the middle of the night, but we don’t have long. “Let us go.”
Chapter 12
Aquamarine Beryl
TEO
Iblink into my spyglass as I look up at the house.
