Theaþaswerefroze at his question. With a panicked expression, he glanced about their group. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Xaydin let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “I don’t kill children.”
Gisela scowled. “What do you mean?”
He jerked his chin toward theaþaswere. “He’s a kid. Fifteen, maybe sixteen years old. Far too young to be the one we’re seeking.”
With a gape, she turned toward theaþaswere. “Is he right? Are you that young?”
“I’m old enough to have contracts!”
“But you don’t.” Masakage snapped his fingers and all the words disappeared from his flesh. “They’re all fake.”
“No!” theaþaswerecried. “Put them back! They’re mine!”
She exchanged a shocked stare with Masakage. “How is this possible?”
He shrugged.
Xaydin wasn’t so kind. “It’s baby school magic. They occasionally masquerade as each other to protect themselves or others. Who told you to duplicate the contract between King Dash and Queen Meara?”
The youngaþaswerestared at him sullenly.
Using his powers, Xaydin lifted him up from the ground. “Do I really have to slam you down until you bleed? I’m really not into child abuse, but if the occasion calls for it, I can rise up when needed.”
Theaþasweresquirmed and growled in frustration as he realized that he was at Xaydin’s mercy. With one last glare, he whimpered, then stopped fighting. “Fine. Saress did it. I’m old enough and Icanmake my own!” Spoken in the tone of a surly teen.
Xaydin smirked. “And have you?”
The boy actually pouted. “They keep telling me I’m too young, but I know I could do it. If only someone would give me a chance. Saress gave me copies to shut me up. But I’m old enough. I know I am!”
Sighing, Xaydin shook his head. “Take your time growing up before you start courting someone like me who will most likely end your life because someone contracted with another to get their back scratched.”
That only made him angry again. “I know how to fight.”
Xaydin gave him a droll stare. “Ambushing someone isn’t fighting.”
Growling, the youth charged at the invisible wall that held him.
“Rage doesn’t win battles, my youngaþaswere.” He turned toward Masakage. “Release him.”
Masakage hesitated. “He knows where Saress is.”
That got Xaydin’s attention. “You sure?”
Masakage nodded.
Theaþaswerebacked away from the invisible wall, but he couldn’t go far before he hit the one behind him that kept him in place. Realizing he couldn’t escape, he paused and became brave before their eyes. “I’ll take you to him…on one condition.”
By the look on Xaydin’s face, she could tell he was tired of bargaining. “And that is?”
“Each of you has to make a contract with me.”
“Hell no.” Xaydin’s tone was flat, but his eyes blazed with anger.
Gisela wasn’t so fast to dismiss his earnest request. “What makes a contract? How precise does it have to be?”
The boy shrugged. “It could be anything. A promise that you won’t insult each other to…” He shrugged. “Anything really.”
