Page 58 of The City of Zirdai
Even though she was tempted to head straight to the temple, Shyla took a more circuitous route. The effort to smooth out her tracks became a test of her will. The sand grains resisted and moved with a heavy reluctance each time she stopped.
Her tunic was soaked with sweat when she arrived at the temple. The early angle crew were clearing sand. Gurice dumped her bucket and intercepted Shyla before she reached the entrance.
“Where’s Rendor?” Gurice asked.
A sharp pain ringed the empty spot where her heart had been. “He’s not coming back.”
Gurice was smart enough to avoid asking why. Instead, she squeezed Shyla’s arm in support. “His loss.” She returned to work.
When Shyla entered the common room on level eight, Jayden was at a table with Aphra. She considered it a win that the treasure hunter had decided to join them. As she approached, Jayden glanced behind her as though expecting Rendor to be there. His gaze returned to her and he studied her expression. He too was smart and didn’t question Rendor’s absence or celebrate it.
“I was explaining the rules to Aphra,” Jayden said. “Which shift do you want her on?”
“None of them.” Shyla plopped onto a cushion opposite the woman. She made eye contact, gazing into her golden-brown eyes. “Are you committed to helping us?”
“Yes,” Aphra said.
The truth. “Good. I’ve a job for you.” Shyla dug into her pack and removed the map to Gorgain’s crypt. Smoothing it out on the table, she pointed to the grave diggers’ tunnel. “This will lead you right to the crypt. I need you to recover his crown and ruby torque. Can you do it?”
Aphra studied the scroll. “With the right equipment.”
“We have people, shovels, buckets, and pulleys.”
“How many people?”
“Twenty.”
“We can’t spare anyone,” Jayden said. “We—”
Shyla shot him a quelling glare. “This is a priority. We’re running out of osees.”
“What about the Water Prince’s decree that no one can dig within thirty klicks of Zirdai?” Aphra asked Shyla.
“One or two of those twenty people will be able to hide your activities from any nosy neighbors.”
She crossed her arms. “Yeah? How?”
Too tired to demonstrate, she cocked her head at Jayden.
“We’ll make you invisible,” he said and then disappeared.
Aphra jumped and gave Shyla a wild-eyed stare. “Where did he go?”
“He’s still sitting there.”
Jayden reappeared. “You’re no fun.”
“That’s one of the reasons we’re called theInvisibleSword,” she said to Aphra, ignoring him.
“Can I do that?”
“No,” Jayden said.
“Why not?”
Good question. Shyla waited.
“You don’t have the potential.” Jayden explained how magic worked.
