Page 97 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“Let me do the talking,” Shyla said. “You’re here to protect me. From here on out, I’m in charge.”
Jayden cocked his head.
“Of the talking and negotiations,” she amended. “You can still do all that…” She twirled her hand in circles. “Chanting thingy…magic. …”
“Oh joy, a true believer,” Bazia said.
“Me and Gurice will take point, Ximen and Bazia, take the rear,” Jayden said. “Walk with confidence.”
Striding in the middle of the group, Shyla wiped the dust from her face and straightened her aching shoulders. Druks still lined the hallway, but inside the trol lanterns would expose all her cuts, bruises, dirty smudges, and her ripped and stained clothing. At least her disheveled state would prove her difficulties in reaching the Water Prince.
The guards watched them approach. All gripped their drawn swords and stood in fighting stances. Jayden and Gurice stepped aside, revealing Shyla.
“I’ve a meeting with the Water Prince,” she said.
“We’ll be happy toescortyou to him,” the big guard in front of the double doors said. “As long as your… friends remain here.”
“They’ll be joining me. And no need toescortme, I know the way.” She shooed him with a hand…or she tried.
He refused to move, so she rushed him, side-stepped his lunge and tackled him into the doors with a loud thump.
“Subtle,” Jayden said as he and the others joined in the fight.
The Invisible Sword hadn’t learned the Ways of the Yarin, but they had their own…unique fighting style that didn’t involve weapons this time, but might have involved magic. Effective, efficient, and intense, it worked and that was all that mattered. Soon all the guards lay unconscious.
“Youwerepulling your punches when we fought,” she accused Jayden.
“So were you.”
“That’s different.”
“Are you two done? We’ve work to do,” Gurice reminded them.
The Water Prince’s grand entrance was unlocked—a surprise. Or was it part of an ambush? Ready for another fight, they burst into the main foyer and encountered… no one.
Shyla smoothed her tunic. “All right. Let’s keep our poise.” She walked through the lobby area and various grottos. Water fountains splashed merrily and Bazia had to grab Ximen’s arm and pull the awestruck man past them. Most of the servants stayed out of their way. And a few guards unexpectedly changed directions after a brush of Jayden’s will.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Ximen asked her.
“No. But when we see an official, we’ll ask for directions.”
“Using our chanting thingy?” Bazia asked.
Shyla ignored her.
When they reached the next grotto, Jayden stopped. “A unit’s heading this way. There are too many of them to redirect.”
“Can you read their minds?” she asked. That would be terrific.
“No. I have to touch a person for that. And it doesn’t always work.”
“What about—”
“Questions can be answered later,” Gurice said in a low rumble. “I hear footsteps. Everyone ready?”
“This deep in the belly of the beast, we’ve no choice,” Ximen said.
“A simple yes would have sufficed,” Gurice grumbled, before a dozen guards marched into view.
