Page 12 of Truth's Blade

“A wooden watercolor paint box.” She opened it, and he could see the little holders of color along the top and bottom, with a place to mix colors in the middle.

“That is magical?” He couldn’t see anything special about it.

“Very magical. The only thing I’ve ever seen with more magic is the copper twine around your neck.” She hesitated. “And something else, long ago, when I was little. But that was destroyed.”

“Are you going to throw it in the furnace?” He couldn’t see the sense in keeping it.

She hesitated. “I would like to work out what it can do, first. In case I see something like it again. And it may be useful.”

“It’s fromhim,” he said. “How could it be useful?”

“It may have been in his possession, but that doesn’t mean he made it. The copper twine was very different. It was right that you threw it into the fire. This . . .” She snapped it closed. “This isn’t the same.”

He understood he was reacting on instinct. On his utter hatred for the man, but he couldn’t see why she would take the chance.

She studied him as she put the box back into her bag. “I’ve had to watch too many people in pain, in fear, or danger from spell work. If I can use my knowledge to change things for them, it helps me make peace with all the times my father refused to allow me to intervene when I was a child. I never destroy anything unless I can plainly see its only function is evil.”

“And have you saved anyone?” he asked, aware there was a challenge in his voice.

“Other than you?” She tipped her head so she could look him in the eye and he winced. “I have.”

Fair enough. “How much do you think the trader who tied me to the bridge knows about the man who enspelled me?”

She tilted her head. “I think he knew a lot more than he was saying. But he lied about it. He wouldn’t explain anything to me.”

Fury suddenly leaped inside him, and Theo grimaced. “He’ll say something to me.”

She blinked at him, eyes wide, and he cleared his throat.

“We need to chase him down and find out what he does know.”

“We?” She looked at him with interest.

He hadn’t realized until this moment, but he still needed her. This was a case steeped in spell work, and he would be foolish indeed not to ask for help from someone who could see spell work.

He gave a slow nod. “I need to go across the bridge to the Kassia and Cervantes military barracks for supplies and a new mount, and, if you are available, I would like to hire your services,” he said.

She did not look as if she hated the idea, he saw with relief.

“My services?”

“You can see spell work. I cannot. I am after someone who uses spell work as a weapon.” He lifted his hands. “I believe you will be invaluable.”

She continued to look at him. “How would that work?”

“You are an expert in spell work?” He asked it as a question but he knew he was stating a fact.

She gave a reluctant nod.

“So the Crown would pay you an expert’s wage.” He named the amount.

She went still. “The Crown?”

“I am a lieutenant for the kingdom of Kassia and Cervantes.”

She studied him, for the first time looking at what he wore. As a resident of Illoa she would have seen his uniform before, he hoped. After a long moment she nodded her head. “It will be dangerous. Why are you going after him? Why not just leave?”

“Because I was chasing after him before he enspelled me. I’m not the only person he took,” Theo told her. “He kidnapped four of my students. They are only thirteen years old.”

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