Yeshar acted quite pleased to hear his own voice, even if we both knew he was humoring Henrik. “He was last seen near the mines. Nikolach was one of the Apostates mining that day, and the Ascendancy determined he must have been involved with the Sentinel’s disappearance. Given his history, of course.”
It was convenient that Nikolach had been put into the Reformatory for a vicious assault, whereas I had been there on a nonviolent charge. I had also been mining that day along with a dozen others. As a girl indirectly involved in a passive crime, I’d been diametrically overlooked as a suspect in the Sentinel’s disappearance.
Nikolach had figured it all out afterwards of course, which is why he’d threatened to kill me. But by then it was too late.He’d been pegged as the culprit, and sentenced for additional time for a crime he hadn’t committed. While I’d been able to get my release date moved up enough to make it out in time for the Mistrun, and hide behind the safety of the outpost.
I needed to redirect this conversation fast. “Nikolach does love to tell all kinds of stories,” I said. “He’s got a big mouth.”
Take the bait. Please take the bait.
“Nikolach is a lying prick,” Henrik added. “He fleeced me out of three hundred gold on a bet I won. Straight up refused to pay. I wouldn’t trust a word he says.”
Thank you, Devourer.
Whether Henrik was trying to lend me credibility, or if he had actually won a bet against Nikolach and had his winnings stolen was inconsequential. It did sound like something Nikolach would do, though. It didn’t matter if it was true or not, only that Yeshar believed it.
Orin had finished picking up each shred of scraps with exaggerated slowness, and was moving away from our group.
“Nikolach is just mad that he was dumb enough to get caught,” I said. “He’s trying to distract you from the deals he’s been making using what he knows about you.”
“That’s the thing.” Yeshar refocused on me, permanent scowl in place. He pulled an ornate dagger out from his belt, tapping his thumb along the face. “I don’t really care about the missing Sentinel one way or another, that’s between you and him. You tell me he’s been talking, he tells meyou’vebeen talking.” His eyes were shrewd as he watched me, blade glinting. “Either way, I’m out a year’s worth of product, and he’s now the only supplier on Mesmoria with anything left to sell. I’ll get to the truth of it. Eventually. And when I do,” he gave me a close lipped smile. “I’ll get my pound of flesh.”
I kept my face carefully placid, even as my heartbeat thundered. The cliff edge in my mind was a crease between my toes now, so close that if I tipped forward I’d tumble down.
I didn’t know any sordid details about his dust operations, only the location of one of his storehouses from an overheard conversation. I hoped for my own sake that he hadn’t been storing much of his product in it when I’d bartered away that information, but a year’s worth of dust sounded like his entire supply.
“I hope you do.” I wrapped my hand around the handle of my mirror and stood.
“You should keep better track of your valuables, Lisia,” Yeshar said before I could hobble away to put more distance between us. My limping gait drained any dramatic effect my egress might’ve had. “It’s a messy business I’m in, and I do hate messiness. And someone has gone and made it messier. Now, it's hard to tell what's part of the general filth and what's... personal. Wouldn't want anything precious to get lost in the cleanup."
I held up the mirror, pretending I hadn’t caught the quiet threat. “Thanks for finding it for me. I’ll keep it more secure next time.”
I shut the barracks door behind me, breathing harder than if I’d run a mile on this weakened ankle. Clutching the mirror, I staggered to my bedroom and slammed the door. I shoved my mirror into a drawer in the nightstand. If only I could tuck my anxiety away as easily.
None of the rooms at the outpost were protected by locks, it would take no effort for Yeshar to get in here. Again. Unlike the Reformatory, there were no Sentinels here to keep the peace, either. He had easily seventy pounds on me. If it came down to a struggle between the two of us, he’d win with comical ease. And he could decide to come collect his pound of flesh at any time.
I had nothing but my wits to defend myself with.
And I had a bad feeling that between the two of us, Yeshar had more.
Chapter 16
A Heat Water can’t Dissipate
Resting and recovering like a good girl was my primary focus for the next week. I spent my time in the courtyard, soaking in the summer sun until dinner had come and gone and the quiet night descended.
It had been another long day of studying Sarina’s notes as I crept in to take advantage of the bathing springs while it was empty.
The natural spring pool transformed into liquid starlight in the dark. Lush ripe papaya and mango trees cupped the edges of the water, alongside pineapple shrubs. Unlike the rest of the outpost, this area was wrapped by a natural cliff instead of stone bricks. The runes were ever present, carved directly into the rock. A small waterfall fed in from beyond the uppermost cliff edge, tripping its way down three smaller outcrops into the largest pool. Fat lanternflies chimed as they appeared with the birth of night, trailing radiant pollen behind them.
I was minding my own business, preparing to enjoy a dip to soothe my ankle, when Zevrial decided to intrude upon mypeace. He entered the springs, took one look at me, and strode over toward me. And it was a stride, a predatory, masculine stride that I resisted allowing myself to notice.
Moonlight glossed his dark hair with blue, smoothing out some of his usual hardness. Night suited him.
As his looming presence neared, he frowned down at the notes I’d left by the edge of the pool.
“You'll need more help than that,” he advised in a low rumble, “Or you might as well leave now.”
I crossed my arms, as much to secure my towel in place as to put another barrier between us. Clenching my teeth I tried to calm my rapidly spiking temper. A mantra started running through my head.
