Seradh glanced down.
Interesting. He didn’t agree.
The half-blood clapped him on the shoulder. “We have work to do. Let’s go.”
They both turned in my direction. Ducking, I fled through the yard and dove behind a rickety wooden doghouse. The back door swung open, and they exited, slipping through the yard into an alley.
Exhaling, I returned the way I’d come—with less urgency this time. I found the other three where I’d left them, bickering under a shadowy canvas.
Diar lunged at me, hand clenched around her blade. “Did you learn anything?”
“I did.” I glanced at Bláth. “They’re here to steal Siotha. And they’re hopeful that our shiny Paragon will be a corpse soon.”
“I knew it.” Diar stepped back. “I knew the two were connected.”
Ferris’ eyes flew back and forth. “Wait . . . are you saying Solhearts are the reason Killian and Ishii are dead?”
"I think I am, yes.”
“Where did they go?” Diar demanded.
“Down an alley.” I nodded in its direction.
She immediately stormed after them, but Bláth grabbed her arm. “Wait. If they want Siotha, we know where they’ll go.”
Diar’s fingers curled around her blade, then loosened. “You’re right. They’ll go to Ishida’s manor.”
Ferris nodded. “Then that’s where we’ll go.”
“Um, no.” Bláth raised her brows. “You’re going back to Reese and your Paragon. Who, if you recall, ordered you to stay put.”
The kid glanced at me, as though I could bypass a Paragon’s word.
Two Paragons’ words.
“Go back to Reese,” I ordered. “Before he kills you. Bláth and I can watch the manor.”
I expected Diar to protest, but she nodded firmly. “I need to talk to the woman with Cierthine.” She turned to Ferris. “Take me to her.”
Ferris happily took her arm and gave me a smug look. “Reese wouldn’t hurt me. I’ve wormed my way into his good graces.”
“How?” I asked.
Ferris’ smile vanished. “Long story,” he said. “Be careful.”
I’d say he led Diar away, but really, she dragged him down the road.
Bláth touched my arm. “This way. I know a shortcut.”
Nodding, I let her get ahead of me. Reaching into my cloak, I laid a hand on the pommel of my dagger, eyes peeled for a quiet, dark alley.
She led me right into one: a rougher part of town with buildings in various states of repair. The moment she ducked into an empty yard to cross to another street, I lunged.
Bláth hardly made a sound as I tackled her to the ground. Planting myself firmly atop her, I pressed my blade to her throat.
“Who are you, really?” I hissed.
No surprise gleamed in Bláth’s eyes. She smiled. “I had a feeling you were going to do something like this. Rather bold of you—first insulting Solhearts, now attacking one.”
