Page 87 of Stealing the Star Stone
Senmut shuffled back.“The mate to Amenkar’s shol is across the lake at an abandoned temple.It watches over the great waters.”
“Why can’t we go back and getourstone?”Nova asked.“Shouldn’t take us long.”
“Would he give it to us?”Eli asked her.“Like you said, we can’t trust him.And if Senmut says this one’s mate is a little farther away, I’m willing to chance it.”
She threw her hands into the air, then faced Senmut as if something had dawned on her.“Do we need a soul tie to save us or was he lying about that, too?”
The guardian narrowed her eyes, peering into Eli’s.“Some believe it protects you, but in truth, none are needed.”A toothless grin formed.“You carry many.”She glanced at Nova then cupped her cheek.“And yours is lost.Seth was such a kind man.”
A bolt of pain hit Eli hard, reminiscent of the day he’d learned of his parents’ deaths.The same intense sorrow flickered across Nova’s face.Her cheeks trembled as she struggled to control her emotions, even as her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Visions of a man’s body being brought out on a hover-stretch accompanied the sheer agony of grief.Behind his blackened body was a mining rig with the familiar ‘Warden’ signage.That explained her determination to destroy every scuttle or scout she came across.
“Come, you must hurry,” Senmut said.“Your time is shorter.”
Nova squeaked then wiggled, pulling the T-shirt down.Sure enough, the tattoo had spread, now crawling across her chest.The symbol for six had formed.
“But it’s not day six yet.”She gritted her teeth.“When I next see that man, I’m going to…punch him.”
Eli coughed to cover a chuckle.“I’ll hold him down.”
“You must leave here, return to your guide, then hurry on foot to the west of this island.There is a tunnel that travels under the lake and into the temple.It should be navigable, except for a few…vukuub.They are fearful of noise, so holler like a yuxmet and you should be able to slip past them.”She met their gazes.“Do not be bitten by any of them.The quet cannot heal you from such venom.”
Eli bolted for their bag and shoved the stone in.
Senmut caught Nova’s hand and placed an egg-sized stone onto her palm.“You cannot enter without bearing a gift.But you must vow to leave this shol in the temple.”
“I promise,” Nova said and pocketed the stone.On impulse, she hugged the older woman.“Thank you for your guidance.”
Within minutes, they’d crawled through the passage, zig-zagged over the booby-trapped floor, then shimmied along the bridge.Nova hadn’t hesitated, no doubt fueled by anger.
When she reached Zal, she wagged her finger in his face.“Why the hell did you give us the wrong stone?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The moon, Lethara
A Lethaar Temple, near to Vael’Tir.
A mad dash to freedom and despair.
Day Six.
Thepoormanhadn’tknown.Nova realized that when Zal just blinked at her.
“I apologize.”He held up his hands, palms outward.“How is it the wrong shol?My chief gave it to me…” His eyes widened.“I see.”
“Now we have to head to another temple.”She slumped, the weight of this made heavier by the time restraint.Although, given weeks, she doubted she’d dawdle.“I can’t say how long we’ll be or how we’ll find a way back to you.I suggest you head home, Zal.”
“The temple that watches the great waters?”he asked, gathering the yuxmets’ reins.“I will circle the lake and meet you there.Wait for me for my journey will be longer than yours.”
She gazed at the yuxmets, desperate to ask if they had boats.But since she hadn’t seen one docked or dragged onto shore, the answer had to be no.“My thanks, Zal.”
Eli hovered west of her.She hurried to join him, and together, they jogged to where the tunnel was supposed to begin.If she judged by the architecture of the temple and the city, she expected it to be pillar-lined.
“We can do this,” Eli said.
“I know we can,” she said, rolling her shoulders.“Just tired, hungry, and could kill for a cup of tea.”
