Chapter 4
The hours stretched endlessly. Yasmin waited for what was to come next.
She didn’t want to remain in the room but also didn’t want to return to Shaldorn.
A look around the space had shown her there was no getting out except through the door guarded by the three goons who had taken her in the market.
Food was brought, but there were no more interrogations or additional threats. Perhaps the elves thought they had done all they needed. Sadly, they had.
She ate because she needed her strength for the trip and because it had been a day since she had last eaten.
While alone, she used the time to think about what she was being coerced into doing.
The female Wood Elf had been careful about how much she gave away, but Yasmin wasn’t stupid.
These people weren’t just elves on some adventure.
They were the real thing. Defense Intelligence agents.
Who was the elf she would take into the mountains? Was it the Dark? At least he had been willing to help her. Not that she believed he had. But she couldn’t think about Jaya and the medicine, or she would lose it. Nay. Yasmin had to stay focused on what she could do something about at the moment.
She shook her head slightly to clear it.
Somewhere out there, the elf she would take to Shaldorn would attempt to double-cross her somehow.
She had to be mentally and physically ready when it happened.
They would likely wait until she got them inside the stronghold.
It might have been four years since she had last been inside those icy walls, but a person never forgot certain things.
She remembered every corridor, every nook and cranny.
She knew which of the maze of stairways led to which parts of the fortress, which led to nowhere…
And which led to the dungeons.
Life had dealt her a difficult hand, but Yasmin had managed to stay alive. It wasn’t always pretty or even just, but she was still walking around. That had to mean something. And the kids needed her. She would return for them. Somehow, someway.
She had dreamed of leaving Shecrish. Of finding another life somewhere without the elves.
If she didn’t play this treacherous game accurately, she would never get the chance.
But that was something to think about later once she’d held up her end of the bargain.
After—because there would be an after—she would return to Rannora, grab the kids, and they would leave.
It would be incredibly risky to take all of them, but she couldn’t—and wouldn’t—leave a single one behind.
They deserved a better life. Everyone had let them down. She wouldn’t be one of those people.
Yasmin felt eyes on her. She couldn’t tell where it was coming from, but she knew she was being watched.
She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.
Let them think she slept. She dozed, snatching rest while she could.
She had always been a light sleeper, but now she had to be on guard more than usual.
She wondered if the elves had taken her bag to the shop.
The Dark had made it seem as if she could trust him, like he would get the medicine to Jaya.
Her eyes burned at the thought of sweet, tiny Jaya.
The child was timid and shy but had the sweetest disposition despite the physical abuse she had endured.
Her illness had begun with nausea and vomiting and escalated at an alarming rate.
Yasmin had tried all the herbs she knew about and then sought others’ advice.
Nothing seemed to work. She had gone to one of the Star Elves for healing, but he had taken one look at her and shooed her out of the store before she could talk.
Jaya became sicker with every hour. Yasmin only had one other choice.
She managed to convince a human physician to take a look at the child. Thankfully, she had agreed to help.
The door opened. Yasmin lifted her lids and turned her head to see the trio of guards. They motioned for her to stand. The one she had kicked in the nuts looked as if he hoped she would refuse. She didn’t know why they hadn’t used magic on her, though she was thankful.
Yasmin climbed to her feet and made her way to the door.
One of them turned and began walking. She fell into step behind him while the other two took up positions at her back.
They led her down various hallways before going up a short flight of stairs, and then through another door to the outside.
The sky was dark, the stars glittering like jewels above her.
She didn’t spot the Wood Elf or the Dark.
Nor the Sun Elf.
They led her to a carriage and ushered her inside.
One of the guards sat inside with her while the other two rode outside.
The moment the door closed, the horses were in motion.
They drove through alleys behind the building to the fringes of Geggin Square and then continued through Rannora until they reached the city border.
To her surprise, they approached a quaint house, and the carriage came to a halt.
A moment later, the door opened. Yasmin disembarked and looked around to find a guard motioning for her to go inside.
She walked up the curving path with its overflowing beds of bright flowers and stopped at the stoop, staring at the orange door. Yasmin hesitated for only a moment before rapping her knuckles twice on the wood. The door opened to reveal the Wood Elf from earlier. Yasmin nodded to her.
“Come in, please,” the elf said.
Yasmin stepped inside. Her gaze moved past the entrance to land on the Sun Elf, who stood in the main area with a surly expression. He took one look at her before turning on his heel and leaving.
The Wood Elf motioned for her to follow. Yasmin realized that she had changed from her navy gown into one that made her coppery skin glow even more. Another set of elaborate gold tips decorated her ears. Yasmin’s gaze swept the areas of the house she could see, but there was no sign of anyone else.
“No one is hiding to jump out at you,” the woman stated. She smiled and beckoned Yasmin inside. “Come.”
Yasmin softly shut the door and walked to her. “What is this place?”
“A safe haven.”
“And you? Who are you?”
The elf smiled and sank onto a chair before indicating that Yasmin should take the one across from her. “I wondered when you would get around to asking.”
“Does that mean you won’t tell me?”
She laughed, the sound soft and melodic. “You may call me Durga.”
Yasmin watched as Durga poured them some tea from a setting Yasmin hadn’t noticed until then. She loved tea, but it was a luxury she hadn’t been able to afford in years. “Thank you,” Yasmin said after Durga handed her a cup.
Durga sat back with her own cup and regarded her. “I’m able to find out things about people, but it has been difficult to learn anything about you before Shaldorn.”
“Good.”
“Do you have something to hide?”
Yasmin lifted one shoulder. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“That they do.”
“I’d like to know how you discovered my time at Shaldorn.” Because if the DIA could find her, then so could the Trinity. Which put everyone around her in incredible danger.
“That is information I’m unable to provide you. Suffice it to say I deal in the dark places.”
“You are DIA.”
Durga grinned behind her cup. It didn’t last long, however. “There has been a slight change in plans.”
“Meaning?”
“Our timetable has been moved up.”
Yasmin drank her tea, letting it fill her mouth before savoring the sweet, floral flavor. “To when?”
“If I had my way, you would leave now.” Durga glanced to the side, her lips compressing slightly. “A complication prevents it. It’s being worked out. Regardless, you depart at dawn. You’ll spend the next few hours here.”
Yasmin wondered what could be holding up the mission and then wondered why it had been brought about so rapidly. She had a small reprieve, but it would be over soon. Then, she would be heading back to the nightmare.
“Do you have questions?” Durga asked.
Yasmin cradled her cup in both hands on her lap. “You put a lot of confidence in me to get your agent to Shaldorn and back.”
“He has a map. I wouldn’t suggest attempting to divert him. That wasn’t a question.”
“Wasn’t it?” Yasmin sipped her tea. “How much do you know about Shaldorn?”
Durga released a long breath. “I know what it is.”
“I’m not sure you do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t force me to return.”
“If I had another choice, I would take it.”
“Everyone has a choice.”
Durga’s lips curved slightly. “I like your spirit, Yasmin. The fact is, all of Shecrish is in danger. If it means saving everyone, I’m willing to send my agent, as well as coerce, force, or bribe you to take him, knowing that both of you may die.”
“At least you’re honest about that. Why tell me?”
“You should know. It isn’t something I can tell the public, but they aren’t the ones risking their lives.” Durga leaned forward and set her empty cup on the tray. “I know about the children you’re looking after. They’ll be watched.”
“In case I return sooner than expected.”
Durga folded her hands in her lap. “You don’t trust me, and you have every right to feel that way. Trust is earned, and it goes both ways.”
“Aye. It does.” Yasmin held Durga’s gaze, not backing down.
The Wood Elf smiled. “Few things in this world are truly ours. Things can be taken away. Food, clothes. A home. But we have our word. A promise given, a vow made and kept, can mean more than riches. And if broken, it can mean that no one believes us after. Would you not agree?”
“I would.”
“Then let me begin. I give you my word that no charges will be brought against you if you take Ravi to Shaldorn, get him inside, and then return him to Rannora.”
Yasmin considered that. “He could find his way home.”
“This is about completing a mission.”
“I’m not one of your agents.”
“You are for this.”