Page 77 of Shadow Master
“It’s not your fault.” Latrou put an arm around Helseth.
“No.” I smiled. “It isn’t. I appreciate your candor. There was something else I wanted to speak to you about.” I looked from Kash to Latrou. “I have an idea. A way to weaken Laramir’s army.”
“Go on,” Latrou said.
“We siphon their energy.” I looked at Kash. “Using a magnify rune and Kash’s ability.”
Kash’s eyes flared in comprehension. “Yes. That would work.”
Latrou frowned. “You may be connected to the weave now, Mr. Raj, but you still have limits. You’ll be acting as a conduit, but you need to pace yourself. Siphon for a few seconds at a time, and with long minutes in between to allow for the power to pass through you and into the weave.”
Kash nodded. “I can do that.”
I turned to him. “You’ll be on my troop. You’ll be protected.”
He grinned his disarming lopsided grin. “I can take care of myself, you know, Justice.”
“I know, but you’re one of our key players in this game, and we need to keep you safe. If the fir bolg figure out what’s going on, they’ll come for you.”
Kash’s expression hardened. “And if they do, I’ll defend myself with the weaver power.”
“I’ll prepare the rune,” Helseth said. “I may be able to weave it into leather with the herbs in a pouch so it can be worn close to the skin.”
There was one more thing I needed to be sure of. “The port out of here … Is it locked down thoroughly? I mean, if we …”
“If we lose?” Latrou asked.
I nodded.
“The port is locked down as thoroughly as we are able,” Latrou said. “However, we have no idea what abilities the fir bolg bring with them. We have no idea if they’ll be able to circumvent our wards.”
I took a deep breath. “Then that’s the best we can do.”
I touched Kash’s arm lightly. “We’ll be meeting at dawn to discuss strategy. You should be there to represent the weaver cadets.”
“I’ll be there,” he said.
“Okay, so I’ll see you tomorrow.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek and grazed his jaw with the tip of my nose. “Keep morale up.”
He gripped my fingers and ran his thumb across the back of my knuckles. “Get some rest. I know you don’t need to sleep as much as the rest of us, but I have a feeling the next few days are going to tax even you.”
He was right. I left the weaver camp and headed for my tent by the forge. I’d fed, and my body was filled with energy, but my mind … My mind needed to shut down.
My spare sleeping bag was outside the tent, but there was no sign of Harmon. Sighing, I shucked off my boots and climbed into the tent.
I was drifting off when Brady’s scent enveloped me. His arm draped over my waist, and his warm breath kissed the nape of my neck.
I should wake up, should speak to him. But sleep was a compelling mistress and tugged me under.
* * *
I woketo a warm body against mine and the rasp of a stubbled cheek across my forehead.
“Mmmm.” I lifted my chin and brushed my lips across Brady’s hard jaw.
His body tensed, and my eyes fluttered open to light streaming in through the entrance of the tent.
Light.
