"She's a friend," I say, trying to push away. His grip tightens. I shoot him a look. "Bain."
His eyes snap to mine and narrow.
"She's a friend,” I repeat. “Set me down."
He does. Slowly.
"They took Naima and Margot." I look at Kage, then Malachi. "Tilda tried to help them. She stopped me from doing something stupid."
Malachi glares at me, then turns to Tilda. "In that case, thank you, Carla Matilda Ocasio, for preventing a slaughter."
I frown. "They took?—"
"I heard you." His voice is steel. "We will get them back."
I narrow my eyes but don't argue. I turn back to Tilda.
"Is that what they were talking about out there? The amphitheater tomorrow evening?" Kage asks.
Tilda nods. "They stormed in from nowhere. Margot was dropping off a dress. Naima came looking for her." Her voice breaks. "She didn't even make it inside before they grabbed her."
I squeeze my eyes shut. The scene plays out behind my lids.
"Why them?" Malachi asks.
"Someone said Bastian told the Council who the children at the estate were." Tilda frowns at me. "But he was one of them. One of you. Why would he do that?"
I stare at her. It's all I can do.
This is what Margot saw. Or part of it. Bas being executed. But did she see the wrong person? Did she misread her own vision? Gods, what else did she see? My stomach coils with questions I can't answer.
"Naima had a container of water." Tilda's eyes widen, as if remembering. "She threw it up, tried to wield it, but the water just... fell. Like she couldn't access her gift. She started screaming about Rook killer weapons.”
My heart stutters. "What about the weapons?"
"I don't know. The guards didn't draw any weapons."
I wrap my arms around myself. Look at Malachi. "Did you find the ship?"
A sharp nod. Nothing else.
I replay the scene in my mind. Their faces. The way they walked between the guards. The manacles?—
"The handcuffs." I drop my hands and round my shoulders back. "Did you see them clearly?"
"I was too busy trying to compel them to stop, but they just..." She trails off. Her eyes go wide. "My compulsion didn't work."
My pulse pounds in my ears.
"The manacles could be made of the same ivory," Kage says.
I nod. “I think the ones they took Jordi away with that time may have been as well.”
"But why wouldn't my compulsion work on the guards?" Tilda's voice drops. "That's never happened before.” She pauses. “And why do they want Jordi?" her voice breaks. “Please tell me he got away."
"He's safe," Mal says. "Naima and Margot will be too. We'll make sure of it."
"Will your people come? Will they fight?"
