Page 95 of The King of Koraha
“Yes. And I’ve bad news for you.”
Then she aimed her magic at Kamila and Fareed.
Freeze.
“Me?”
She jerked the scroll down just as three of the monks grabbed him from behind. They held him immobile as Neda yanked his pendant off his neck.
“Don’t look at the jewel,” Shyla reminded her.
Neda wrapped her hand around it, covering the sunfire. Egan struggled, but even though he was strong, the three monks held him easily.
“The bad news for you is you’re no longer in charge of this monastery,” she said to Egan.
“Xerxes will not be pleased. You won’t be able to trick him,” Egan hissed.
“I no longer wish to please Xerxes. In fact, I’m looking forward to upsetting him a great deal.”
Neda handed her the pendant and Shyla put it inside a black pouch, pulled the ties tight, and knotted it.
“What about them?” Neda asked, inclining her head at Kamila and Fareed.
“I’ll erase this little coup from their memory.”
The monks took Egan to the holding cells in the lower levels of the monastery. Neda left so Shyla could alter Kamila’s and Fareed’s memories of what had really happened.
When she finished, she asked them, “Ready to go?”
“More than ready,” Kamila said, setting a fast pace to the surface.
Shyla soaked in the sun as they walked quickly back to Apanji. Somewhere along the way, she dropped the black bag with Egan’s sunfire pendant. Moving the sand with her magic, she dragged the pouch deep within the heart of a dune. If only dealing with Xerxes would be so easy.
“Little One, I’m surprised to see you,” Xerxes said. He had taken over the prince’s residence and was consulting with one of his men in the prince’s office. “I didn’t expect you for another couple sun jumps.”
Remembering that she had to appear eager to please, Shyla hurriedly replied, “We searched all four Rooms of Knowledge and just about exhausted the records available when I found out how to counter the King’s magic.”
His full attention focused on her as sparks of excitement lit his gaze. “Go on, Little One.”
“I discovered a way to bypass the King’s immunity. I need to use the power of The Eyes and my magic simultaneously to stop the King from wielding his magic.”
“Can the King be converted to our cause?”
“Yes.”
“Good to know. I’m just about finished with this city. Everything is in place. Just a few more sun jumps and we’ll leave for Haiya.” He studied her. “You did good. You can spend this darkness with me. I’ve taken over the Water Prince’s sleeping quarters.”
Shyla smiled as if thrilled by the idea. Inside she recoiled. “What else can I do for you?” Her stomach almost heaved.
“You can rest. The trip to Haiya will take us seven sun jumps.”
Normally it would take fifteen sun jumps. She bowed her head as if accepting his orders. But she plucked at her tunic as if distressed.
“Little One?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Come on. Out with it.”
