Page 102 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“This way.” She took them to the landing. Because it wasn’t that big, only she, the Water Prince, Jayden and a couple guards fit. She went to the third step and opened Rendor’s hiding place. Retrieving a small pouch, she opened it and removed the other Eye. Shyla showed it to the prince. “Banqui,” she called, “come up here.”
The prince’s gaze didn’t move from the jewel. “Let him up.”
Banqui had to use the wall to keep upright, but he managed to join them.
“Go with…my friend,” she told Banqui. “I’ll be along in a moment.”
Jayden paused. He curled his fingers, rubbing his thumb along the pads before making a fist. Was he getting ready to reach for a hidden weapon? She tensed. Would he strike now? He cursed under his breath, but helped the archeologist navigate the steps up to level ninety-six. Shyla relaxed.
The prince held out his hand. Shyla placed the Eye on his palm. He inspected it as he had the other. Shyla hoped that once the Heliacal Priestess learned the Water Prince had The Eyes, she would no longer be a target. Then again, she was still sun-cursed.
“How do I access the magic?” he asked.
“All I know is that a true leader will be able to do so.” The truth.
He studied her. She braced in case he decided that she’d lied or that he’d lost enough in this exchange and she shouldn’t be allowed to live.
“I can’t say it’s been a pleasure, but I can admit I have underestimated you.” He tugged on the collar of his tunic, pulling it away from his neck as he rolled his shoulders. “Remember you and your friends are no longer welcome in Zirdai. My guards will have orders to kill you and the others on sight starting at the end of the sun’s jump.”
“Noted.”
He turned and descended the steps, taking his guards with him. The immense pressure on her shoulders since she woke in the Water Prince’s office twenty-four sun jumps ago lifted. Shyla leaned on the wall to keep upright. It’d worked. It had actually worked. She’d freed her friend and the others. No one died and they had plenty of angles to disappear.
Satisfaction surged through her. Perhaps a bit more confidence as well, but why did the thought of catching up to Jayden make her uneasy?
The threat of the Heliacal Priestess returning with her deacons spurred Shyla to hurry up the steps, quickly passing level ninety-six. But it seemed the others had disappeared. Already? Having no choice, she continued her ascent. Bazia waited for her on level ninety-four. The woman had removed the turban and veil.
“Look at that,” Bazia said. “The Water Prince didn’t kill you. Too bad, I’d bet two osees he’d stab you after you pulled that stunt on him.”
“That stunt worked.”
But Bazia just shook her head. “Are you going to have enough energy to climb to level seventy-five?”
And with that one question all of Shyla’s injuries woke, clamoring for attention with aches, stings, and throbs, draining her motivation. Why seventy-five? The answer trudged through her memories. “Isn’t that the commune that the guards raided?”
“Yes, which is why they probably won’t come back. And if they do, we’d just usethat chanting thingyso they can’t see us. We figured if we survived this little adventure, we’d need a temporary location to recuperate.”
Ignoring the barb, Shyla noted that the Invisible Sword already had a plan in place. Were they anticipating the successful rescue of a bunch of people, or had they planned all along for Jayden and the others to be there instead of the acolytes when she exchanged The Eyes for Banqui?
“I can make it,” Shyla said.
Her determination to keep up with Bazia lasted a few levels, but soon she lagged behind. At least Bazia didn’t make another snarky comment.
After another few levels, she asked, “What about having to leave the city by darkness?”
Bazia snorted. “Once everyone’s healthy, the vagrants will just disappear back into the various communes and we’ll return to our current headquarters.” She pressed her lips together in a frown. Probably locking down a nasty comment.
The rest of the trip to the commune blurred into one long march of misery. When they neared the hideout, Shyla noted a few watchers lurking in the shadows. At least they’d have a warning if the guards or the deacons invaded.
Inside the commune, a number of people buzzed about the freed vagrants, providing food and water, tending to their cuts and helping them remove their tattered, stained clothing in order to wash the filth off. All evidence of the raid had been cleaned up.
Zhek fluttered from patient to patient. Shyla searched the large area until she spotted Banqui. He remained with Jayden. They sat at a table. Banqui shoved food into his mouth while Jayden drummed his fingers on the surface as if waiting. His frown at odds with the general jovial mood in the cavern.
Energy shot through her exhaustion and Shyla strode over to the pair, waving Zhek off as he approached. Jayden spotted her and a flash of anger creased his face before he smoothed his expression. Let him pretend, but she would no longer tolerate being in the dark.
Not bothering with pleasantries, she said, “You planned to assassinate the Water Prince.”
“Yes. Until you ruined it,” Jayden shot back.
