Jubilee looked at him sideways. “How?”
“It’s like I said before. Kell can find anyone he wants, as long as he wants to find them,” Saeldian said. “But I disagree.”
Kell sighed. “What do you mean, you disagree?”
“I have to stop drinking that marvelous coffee before I overindulge,” Saeldian said, giving the flask back to Lorzok and holding up their hand. “I appreciate the invitation to share. Anyway, we need to go to Eightbridge. That’s what Osalor said yesterday.”
Who putthemin charge? “And whatever Osalor says is right?”
“Well, he’s lived here all his life,” Saeldian said. “His advice is up-to-date. And you just said you don’t know where your family is.”
“Because I haven’t looked,” Kell said, dismissive and bored. “But I can’t find aplace.It doesn’t work that way. If it did, then we could just head straight to Hearthaven’s Repose and do the job so I could get rid of you.”
Saeldian’s hand drifted closer to their dagger. “Try it.”
“Whoa. I didn’t mean it like that,” Kell said. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just never want to see you again.”
“Honestly? Same here.”
There was no way Kell could stand Saeldian’s company for another day. “Fine. In fact, why don’t you just go back to the gate and go home? I’ll take it from here.”
“I wish I could,” Saeldian said, and the most peculiar expression crossed their face. Their illusory disguise wavered as they looked at…nothing.
Jubilee leaned in. “Are you all right? Sheld?”
“I’m going to—finish the job.” Saeldian took a deep breath. “I’m going to see it through to the end.” Their voice strengthened as they vowed it, glaring at Kell. “Why do you always have to poke at me?”
Lorzok reached for his pack, and so did Jubilee.
Kell picked up his own pack and pulled the shoulder straps tight. “Because I won’t forget what happened when I trusted you.”
Saeldian looked like a high bank of dark clouds sculling in on the wind. “You’re acting like you’re the boss of this job. You’re out of the heist game, remember?”
He didn’t have to take disrespect like that from the likes of Saeldian Charmhand! “We’re in the Feywild now,remember?”
The air was cold then, and so quiet it pressed against Kell’s ears. The horned lark went silent. Chattering he didn’t notice until it was gone. The trees around them shifted only a little, but their shadows were darker.
“Hey, watch the temper,” Jubilee said. “Calm down.”
“Yes, do calm down,” Lorzok said. “Remember where you are. Let’s decide what to do.”
“It’s easy. There’s only one reasonable thing to do,” Kell said. “We catch up to my family, and they can help us.”
“It’s only reasonable if you can point in their direction,” Saeldian said, acid still strong in their voice.
Everything got darker. This was dangerous. But it wasn’t just him. Saeldian was egging him on, poking in just the right spot to make him harden his stomach muscles and square his stance. He couldn’t let them get to him. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
“Hey,” Jubilee said. “Did you hear that?”
Lorzok peered in the direction Jubilee turned.
Saeldian ignored her. “You want to do it your way, huh? Fine. Find them. Lead the way.”
Like they were daring him to do it.
“I can’t just spin in a circle and head in their direction.”
“You said your plan is the reasonable one, but you can’t fool me. You didn’t even try.” Saeldian adjusted every strap on their pack and bounced to judge the fit. “Why not?”
