His hands flew upward. “Whoa! I mean no harm. You’re Delah’s friend?” Evander. I released my own breath. Her dagger lowered.
With Liora relaxing, my own shadows thinned, returning to coil around my hands. Liora led him back toward the table that Bowen now reoccupied, and I followed behind. She peered into the crowd, her nose slightly scrunched in concentration. Her shoulders fractionally dropped when her eyes met mine. Her gaze traced from my hands to the air above me.
Her grin was almost wicked when she tracked my missing rings to the space above our heads. They floated aloft, aimed at her companion, ready to become whatever blade or defense she needed. She bit back her smile.
Introductions were made when I assumed my seat next to Bowen. The sight of my tonic next to his hand on the table brought a small relief to the tension in my chest.
Sound distorted as a faint hum slowly replaced the noise of the tavern. Pressure made it feel like my ears needed to pop. “We may speak freely. I have a silencing shield around us.”
“I had hoped you’d received my messages,” Liora quickly began.
“I did. I’ve been waiting for you. Delah had told me about you when we worked together. Her knowledge was invaluable to mysuccess in making elixirs for her realm. Your king paid me well for my services.”
“He’s no longer my king,” Liora forcefully interjected.
Something like pride sparked in my chest, and I had the overwhelming urge to embrace her.
“What is your power that the king should seek you?” she asked.
He grinned and pulled out several vials, identical to the one Bowen brought to the table. They rolled around in front of him. “I manipulate sound waves. It’s how I noticed your magic funneling my conversation—it distorted the waves around me.” He winked at Liora. “I can manipulate sound like in the use of this barrier. But my specialization is in tonics. Since there are no Primes to develop magic, I have sought out nymphs. They’ve lived far longer, and have kept meticulous records on magic and its uses. They taught me how to transmute sounds into liquids. When the vials are broken, the stored sound is released. To great effect.”
He picked up a vial. “This one would emit a sonic boom, deafening anyone in its radius, efficient in stunning an adversary.” He gestured to another. “This one harnesses the shattering of broken glass. Everyone ducks when it’s used.” He chuckled.
He placed the first vial down and raised the final one as if it were a treasure. Rotating the vial in his hands, the light sparkled through the clear liquid. “This one holds a siren’s song. Its effects are… significant.” He set it back down and leaned back, crossing his arms across his chest.
Liora’s face remained a blank mask as she attuned to everything the sound wielder shared. The hood of her cloak had slipped down, partially revealing her hair. Instinctively, I pulled it forward for her. “Does Haluma have access to these?”
“No. My work for King Nolan focused on tonics that produced widespread silence.”
I immediately tucked that information away. What was he hiding?
“Can you provide us with vials like this for a battle?” she asked, motioning toward the first two tonics.
Evander nodded. “I can do anything for a price. How much do you need?”
She didn’t even glance in my direction. “As much as you have, along with your discretion, and a vow that you will not sell these to Haluma.”
Seeing her take charge was like staring at a work of violent, sexy art.
Evander leaned forward. “Is Delah still there?”
“She’s in Maripol. But I’m going to get her out.”
Around us, people moved and laughed and yelled. But in our little bubble, silence hovered. My heart beat in my ears, awaiting his response.
Evander inclined his head. “I work for no realm. But if you get Delah to safety, then I will provide you with weapons. I fucking hate the dreki.”
The mood shifted to one of relief. These vials could significantly aid our storming of Nolan’s castle. They could distract, alarm, create confusion and chaos. Plans and hope built in my chest. We lifted our mugs in a toast. The sound shield dissolved around us and the noise of the tavern flowed again.
“Bowen will iron out the details and get you payment,” I told him.
Evander stood and stretched, his knuckles skimming the crossbeams at the ceiling. He returned to the bar with his empty mug.
Bowen faced me. “How are you so energized right now? Why aren’t you begging me for the tonic?”
I glanced at Liora, then back to Bowen. “Rue was able to dilute the poison in my blood with her magic. I still need the tonic, but for the time being, that seemed to stave off the curse’s effects.”
Bowen studied Liora, slowly chewing. “Impressive work, Ruin. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that again once your bargain is fulfilled, or dear old Dom won’t stand a chance.”
