Page 52 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“Sand rats. The younger kids catch them and we let them drink from a barrel. If they’re still alive after a sun jump, we mark the barrel safe. We feed the animals and some of the kids keep them for pets.” Jayden huffed. “One rat actually died of old age. We called him Lucky.”
The water they served in the dining cavern might be gritty and cloudy, but she’d never had to worry if it was poisoned—and she wouldn’t complain about its quality. Not now. Why would these people rather live like this than pay their taxes?
“Is there a special place for…” A tightness in her throat cut off the rest of the sentence.
“Yes. We have our own burial caves and Zhek will prepare the body. In fact, I’d better go help,” Jayden said.
She touched his arm, stopping him. “Thank you for coming after me again.”
He flashed her a quick smirk. “Now you owe me one.” Then he jogged off.
* * *
By the time she reached the spot Jayden had caught up to her, she couldn’t focus. Dyani’s dead eyes, the deacon’s knife, and the memories of falling through the air kept circling her mind like a sand devil digging its burrow.
She found a dark isolated nook and centered her breathing. Drawing on the meditation techniques of the Yarin, she banished the chaotic emotions and images, instead concentrating on her goal. Unable to save future victims like Dyani or to change the deacon’s methods of forcing confessions, Shyla focused on what shecoulddo. Save Banqui.
Therefore she would concentrate all her efforts on getting that vial filled with the black water. It was her only chance and, damn it, she’d get to that river if it killed her.
However, she still took precautions and avoided the few guards she caught sight of. And, for a change, she caught a break when she stopped at the dining cavern on level sixty-nine to fill her new water skin—the deacon was fast asleep. At one point, she encountered another chapel. She backpedaled before the deacons guarding the entrance spotted her, then went the long way around.
She caught sight of the time and relaxed. It was angle three-ten—well into the darkness. Not many people were awake. She increased her pace, determined to take advantage of the empty tunnels.
When she reached level seventy-three, she slowed. This was where Jayden’s directions faltered. She had to find that conduit so she sniffed the air, scenting for rotten cheese. No luck, but after a couple angles she did discover one thing.
She was being followed.
CHAPTER
9
The fact that she was being followed wasn’t as alarming as the long list of possible suspects. And to think, just ten sun jumps ago she had been minding her own business, relatively content.
She considered her options. They followed far enough behind so they could use her light for navigation, but remain unseen to her light-adapted eyes. Shyla could allow them to continue following her, letting them make the first move. Or lose them. Or stage an ambush. Or she could make them believe they’d lost her so she’d get a chance to see who tailed her. All except the first one would take time she didn’t have. But that one was too risky. She sighed.
Abandoning her search for the rotten cheese scent, she cut down a few tunnels until she found a short loop. Throughout Zirdai there were dozens of tunnels that branched out in what appeared to be a different direction, but ended up just looping back to that main corridor.
This time one would work to her advantage. She passed it and wandered around as if looking for another route. Using up precious time, she eventually returned to that loop.
Turning left, she strode two meters then set the druk on the ground. Shyla pulled off her boots and ran, trailing one hand on the wall while the other clutched her boots. She circled around until she reached the original tunnel, except further up. Stopping, she let her eyes adjust to the darkness for a few heartbeats, then peered around the corner.
Two figures crept up the tunnel toward the indigo-tinged glow emanating from the intersection. No robes or swords. The tight knot in her stomach eased. When they neared the light’s edge, they stopped. She wondered how long they’d wait before investigating.
A couple angles passed before they started gesticulating at each other in a silent communication. Debating who should peek around the corner, she guessed. The shorter and skinnier of the two crouched low and inched forward. As soon as he reached the light, Shyla suppressed a groan. Mojag.
“She’s gone,” Mojag whispered to…
Jayden stepped into the light. “Seven hells.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“You think she heard us?” Mojag asked.
“No, I think she fell into the black river. Of course she heard us.”
“I didn’t sneeze!”
But Jayden just shook his head. “She’ll never find that conduit on her own.”
“Why do you care?” Mojag asked.
