“I know. But I suspect they have a reason,” Caiden says. “Did you sister say anything else to you after I left?”
“She didn’t make any predictions if that’s what you’re asking,” Brevan says.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” he says.
“What about the other prediction?” Caiden asks. “The one?—”
“I don’t want to talk about that one,” Brevan snaps.
“Fine. But I’m telling you, these men were spelled. Just like your sister said would happen. I told you, like I told my father last year, the signs were real. Her prediction is unfolding the way she said it would,” Caiden insists.
“Maybe,” Brevan says.
“You know what will happen if I’m right,” he presses.
“None of her predictions are certain. Any single thing can change the future,” Brevan reminds him.
“I know how it works. I did the research alongside you for years. You still blame me for the missing alchemist tools, but you know as well as I do that if I knew where my father hid them, I’d have given them to you.”
I suck in a breath, then bite down on my lip to silence myself. Is that what we found? Was it not someone’s treasure? Were the objects actually tools? Alchemists used to experiment with relics to try to turn common minerals into precious ones. Lead to gold or maybe…a very specific stone into a relic that could bind a seer?
“And I told you, once this is over, I’m done. I’m going out after them on my own. I got word there’s an alchemist in the northern Provences,” Brevan says.
“We’ll be at war by then.” Caiden’s tone is serious.
“We’ll see,” Brevan returns.
“I’m going to check on my wife. In case you were wondering, all of those men had orders to kill her, specifically.”
“I’ll come with you. You still have a second lamp in your tent?” Brevan says quickly.
“Yeah, we can grab it on the way,” Caiden says. “How did you break it anyway?”
“I was a little shaky after the brush with the poison. I don’t recommend touching that stuff,” he says. There’s another rustle of fabric and I think they’ve stepped outside the tent.
“I’m surprised you did,” Caiden’s voice is quieter. “How did you know to look…”
As soon as I can’t hear them anymore, I toss the furs aside and feel around for my nightgown. Once I find it, I pull it on, then hurry to the tent opening, pulling the flap apart slightly. “Fuck.” There’s several guards nearby. I can’t go out the front.
Carefully, arms outstretched, I make my way to what I hope is the rear of the tent. I’m lucky the fabric lifts enough to let me shimmy under it. I don’t look down to determine the state of my nightgown, which I’m sure is filthy.
I head toward my tent, then quickly double back as soon as I see the guards pacing in front of it. I did not think this through.
Darting from tent to tent, I make it to the rear of mine. Thankfully, it’s unguarded. At least for now. I’m surprised but grateful I’m able to crawl under the fabric. It’s terrible security, honestly.
Anya is still asleep, but I know Caiden is on his way to check on me. I climb over her, then slide under the furs.
“How was it?” she whispers.
I nearly jump out of my skin. “I thought you were asleep.”
“I was trained as a spy since childhood and you think I would sleep through the person next to me leaving the tent?”
“I was hoping you were extra tired,” I tell her.
“You were right next to me. Nobody’s that tired,” she replies. “So? How was it? Brevan, I’m assuming.”
