Ulrick wants to switch back to his body, bring him here. I am working for Gressa. She has given me a staff position.”
I muffled an hysterical cackle. Devlen a government employee while I remained a fugitive? At this point, I couldn’t imagine how my life could get any more distorted and unreal. “Why would you stay here? Why not run away before she can arrest you?”
His gaze searched the street and he tilted his head back as if scenting the wind. “Something is…odd. I am worried you might be in more danger. If I stay here, I am in a better position to help you.”
“You’ll risk getting captured for a vague feeling?”
He shrugged. “I need something to do while you search for Ulrick.”
“You’re that confident he won’t want to switch back?”
“Yes. And when you finally realize the truth, make sure you stop by Fulgor to apologize to me.”
“Apologize to you!” I almost screamed the words.
“I already apologized to you. Travel safe, Opal. I am missing you already.” Devlen spun on his heel and strode away from the stable. When he reached the end of the street, he glanced back, flashed me a smile and disappeared around a corner.
I hurried toward the stable as my thoughts whirled. Devlen was an evil Daviian Warper, who’d tortured, kidnapped and tricked me. Even though he could no longer access the power source, he remained dangerous. His limited knowledge of the Kirakawa ritual could be taught to another. Or he could try to reclaim his powers. I didn’t know enough about my own new abilities to determine if anyone’s blood would return his magic or if it had to be mine.
Ever since I drained him of power, he had been…different. No longer driven by his addiction to blood magic, he acted content. Acted being the key word. With his ability to sweet-talk his way out of any situation, and with his ease in living in Ulrick’s skin, I would be a fool to trust him. Too bad being a fool was my best skill.
When I reached the stable, Janco had already saddled the horses. Quartz nickered and pushed her muzzle into my chest. I scratched her behind the ears.
Janco tied a couple of feed bags onto Moonlight’s saddle. “How ja escape? I was all set to launch a rescue. A damsel-in-distress story is worth at least a couple of free ales at the pub.”
“Sorry to disappoint you.” Devlen could tell that tale, though I didn’t think he would. If Gressa discovered he had helped me, he would be in serious trouble. An anonymous message to Gressa would complicate his new life. I grinned.
“Do you have juicy details?” Janco asked. “Do tell!”
“Later. Aren’t you worried about riding out of here? They’re searching for you.”
Janco mounted Moonlight with one graceful movement. Impish delight lit his eyes. “They have me cornered on the north side of town. They believe I’m heading toward Ixia. We have another hour or so before the game is up.”
“How did you manage that?”
“Oh, a little silver here, a little misdirection there. All fun.”
After checking my saddlebags, I swung up on Quartz. Her ears perked up and the left one swiveled back to hear me.
“Where to?” Janco asked.
“East toward Ognap.”
We directed the horses, walking through the deserted streets. Even without horseshoes, the thud of their hooves on the stones sounded loud.
Janco leaned forward and stroked Moonlight’s black neck. “Quieter if you can,” he whispered. Both horses slowed. “Thanks.”
Surprised, I shot him a questioning look.
“Sandseed horses are very intelligent, and he’s one beautiful, bright boy.”
“And he allowed you to saddle him!” I said in an excited whisper. “How?”
He shrugged. “I introduced myself, and told him what was going on. Guess meeting the greatest swordsman in Ixia awed him into submission.”
“A swordsman who can’t handle a horsewhip. He probably felt sorry for you.”
He tsked. “Low blow.” Then smiled. “I’ve taught you well.”
We spent the rest of the night in silence. The tight row houses of Fulgor soon transformed into clusters of buildings. I steered Quartz onto the main east-west road. When we reached farmland and marble quarries interspersed with forest, we stopped to rest.
As we set up a makeshift camp in the woods and hidden from the path, I explained my escape.
“Devlen? Why?” Janco asked.
“He said he didn’t want to hurt me again.”
“Ha! He’s been playing the reformed man since we blasted him up on the ice. Don’t believe him, Opal. I’ve seen criminals use it to be released, but most of them are back to their old tricks in no time.”
“What about you? You’re reformed.”
“Not me. I just switched sides. I’m doing the same stuff—lock picking, sneaking around, tricking and spying. Except now I’m doing it for Valek and the Commander. And it has more…meaning. When I was a kid, it was just a challenge. I didn’t steal, but I couldn’t resist a locked door. And I wanted to get caught—just to see if I could escape the holding cells. Drove everyone nuts.” He smiled at the memory. “I even broke into the jail, past five guards with none the wiser.” But then his humor evaporated and he rubbed the scar spanning from his right temple to his ear. “Ended badly. That’s how I have firsthand knowledge that you don’t ever believe the reformed-man act.”
He bustled about our small camp lost in his own thoughts. I yawned and shivered in the predawn air. The horses munched on their grain. I wondered if I could train Quartz to sound an alarm like Leif had trained Rusalka, who was also a Sandseed horse.
“Should we take turns guarding?” I asked.
“No.” Janco checked on Moonlight, running his hand along the sleek coat. “Moonlight will let us know if someone comes too close. Right, boy?”
The horse nickered as if in agreement.
“That’s seems too easy,” I said.
“Not everything in life has to be hard. Horses are prey animals. If they notice anything strange, they’ll alert the herd.”
“And we’re the herd.”
“Yep. Their sense of smell and hearing are far superior to ours. So you can sleep in peace. No worries.”
But what about the old worries?
“Who names a town Ognap?” Janco asked.
“It was probably named for a famous Cloud Mist Clan member.” I tried not to sigh.
After
