Page 100 of The Eyes of Tamburah
Gurice and the others stepped aside. The guard banged on the door and yelled a nonsense word. The ruckus died down and he unlocked and opened it. A mass of guards had piled into the hallway. He relayed the instructions and remained in the threshold, leaving the door open. The other three inside the room remained behind the prince. Guess she couldn’t blame the prince for being cautious.
“Next, you’ll bring Banqui here and I will give you The Eyes in exchange for him and for all the vagrants you’ve captured on level sixteen.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal,” he said.
“Consider it a bonus for all my troubles.”
“Who stole The Eyes?” he asked.
“Treasure hunters. They had a spy working on Banqui’s crew.”
He considered. “All right. Banqui and the vagrants for The Eyes.”
“And you’ll allow all of us to leave here unharmed.”
The Water Prince’s expression hardened. “Onlyif you, Banqui, the vagrants, and your friends leavemycity by the end of the sun jump. If any of you are found after that, you’re mine.”
That had been the plan, yet a strange emptiness filled her at the idea of no longer being an official part of the city. “Agreed.”
He held out his hand. “The Eyes.”
She placed the box into his palm.
His green eyes shone with greed as he opened the lid. Then they darkened. He stared at her in fury. “There’s only one.”
CHAPTER
16
With the exception of Shyla, the entire room and the guards clustered outside all gasped in shock. Jayden glanced at her in concern.
“What’s the meaning of this?” the Water Prince demanded. “There’s no deal unless I havebothof them. Otherwise, you’realldead.”
“I’m not stupid,” Shyla said. “You’ll get the other Eye once Banqui and the vagrants are here with us and we’re all safe outside your domain.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“Of course not. I’ve seen what you do to your enemies and right now I’m not your favorite person.”
“The Heliacal Priestess ranks above you right now.”
“Now that’s just mean,” she said.
He stalked toward her, coming within striking distance. “And why should I trust you, Sun-kissed?”
A bit unnerved, she wondered why Jayden didn’t try to intercept him. Did he think she’d blown the plan? “Because you know I wouldn’t sacrifice all those people. And you can bring along a bunch of guards just in case.”
“I could just search you and your companions for the other Eye.”
She spread her arms wide. “Go ahead.”
Jayden flinched. Son of a sand demon, did he have something hidden to kill the Water Prince with, or did he think she was stupid enough to have the second Eye with her?
The prince moved closer. Sweat slicked his neck and the light gleamed on the edges of the sharp blades of his weapons. Around his face, his black hair clung to his damp skin. He’d acted so calm when they’d first entered and then he had expected to be assassinated. Now he’d no need to be overly worried. So why the sweat?
He met her gaze. Unhappy with the situation, but too power hungry to risk not getting the other Eye, the prince ordered his guards to fetch Banqui and the others.
“Bring them to the blue grotto. We’ll meet you there,” he ordered. Then he sheathed his weapons. The prince removed the Eye and inspected it near a trol lantern. If he figured out it was fake, they’d wish they were dead. It sparkled in the light, casting flecks of color around the room.
