Page 103 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“It wasn’t part of the plan.”
He stood. “Not the one thatyouwere privy to.”
“Why not?”
“You were too focused on Banqui.” He gestured to the archeologist who had stopped chewing to stare at them. “We couldn’t care less if he lived or died.”
Banqui sputtered in indignation, but Jayden ignored him. “Assassinating the prince was the priority. Gaining power the goal. Then we could have focused on releasing his prisoners.”
“So you lied to me? Banqui isn’t your true leader?”
Jayden snorted in derision. “Hardly. Would you have agreed to the plan if you knew?”
Would she? No, it was too dangerous, too much could have gone wrong.
Jayden saw the answer in her face. “That’s why we lied to you.”
“What was your plan? To kill him when he held The Eyes in his office? With what? Your magic?”
Jayden twisted his wrist and a slender blade slid from his sleeve and into the palm of his hand. “I would have sent this straight into his heart.” He met her gaze.
The desire to cross her arms over her chest pressed on her skin. “And the guards?”
“Have no love for the prince.”
True. “Do you have more knives?”
“I never miss.”
“You missed me,” she shot back.
“You surprised me. I didn’t think you could move.”
“What if one of the guards surprised you? What if a guard decided to claim the power from you?”
He gave her a pitying look. “My magic.”
“You had energy left to take care of them all?” Shyla challenged.
“I had enough to show what I can do. After that… fear can be a powerful tool.”
True again. Seven hells. Had she ruined the Invisible Sword’s only chance to gain power and help the people of Zirdai? All she wanted to do was free Banqui. Was that selfish? They had made her believe he was vital to their organization. And they suggested Rendor lied.
“Did you lie to me about Rendor? Did you know the Water Prince had a new captain?” she asked.
“We knew. Rendor is a dangerous man and he’s after The Eyes as well. You needed to learn not to trust him and stay far away from him.”
“But why did you make me believe he and his guards would help me get to the prince?”
“So you wouldn’t decide the plan was too dangerous before you left us.”
Would she have backed away?
When she didn’t respond, Jayden added, “Think about it. Once you found out that there would be bounty hunters, guards, and deacons after you, you were motivated to convince the monks to help you since you couldn’t contact us to abort the plan. It worked.”
“Not monks, but acolytes, who could have been killed.” The image of them lying on the ground flashed in her mind. Now anger burned in her chest as she made another realization. “You tipped off the Arch Deacons to ambush us so you could take the acolytes’ place.”
Jayden didn’t deny it. Son of a sand demon! Could she trust anything this man said? They glared at each other.
