Chapter 14
With each step Manu took, climbing to his perch, tension melted from his body.
The lanterns were few, which cast many of the steps in darkness.
He checked on Inej as the stairs became steep and narrow.
She kept up, though her breathing was labored.
The trek might be long, but it was worth it—even if they got a little wet from the waterfall.
He sighed once he was at the top and used his magic to light the lantern hanging from a rock.
Then he looked out across Navara. From this height, the city was stunning, no matter the time of day.
The location wasn’t a secret, but it also wasn’t a spot that many visited. And it was one of the reasons he came.
“Oh,” Inej murmured as she came to stand beside him.
Pride filled Manu. “This is Navara in all her glory.”
“I can see everything. So many homes.”
“The houses are easier to discern with the lights coming through the windows.”
She stepped forward, the edge perilously near.
“Careful,” he said, putting a hand out in front of her.
Inej looked down and immediately backed up. “I didn’t realize I was that close.”
“You can sit.” He motioned to the boulder that had been carved into a bench.
The ends of her hair brushed lightly against his palm as she turned.
He found himself reaching out for the glorious locks and quickly dropped his arm to his side.
She lowered herself onto the rock and returned her attention to the city.
He took in her profile, his gaze lingering on her long, slim neck before lowering to the outline of her breasts.
“Do you come up here often?”
Her question snapped him from his thoughts. “Not as often as I once did. My father used to come up here daily. This was a place we would talk.”
“It’s a sacred place for you.”
He shrugged and sank onto the other end of the bench. It was the wrong thing since it brought him closer to her. Only a hand separated them now. “I suppose you could say that. I like to come up here for the view. And to clear my head.”
“I imagine you have tremendous responsibilities.”
“Anyone in my position does. Some carry them easier than others.”
There was a brief pause before she asked, “Is it easy for you?”
“Nay.” He finally looked at her again, only to discover her staring at him. The lantern hung over her, bathing her in a warm glow, as if it, too, were mesmerized by her presence. “I had hoped things would become less challenging the longer I remained in my role, but that hasn’t been the case.”
“You don’t like the power?”
Manu glanced at the ground. No one had ever asked him that.
“Every single individual living in Navara counts on me to keep them safe. The weight of that is…” He trailed off, unsure why he had started to tell her his deepest thoughts.
He cleared his throat and changed the subject.
She didn’t care about his struggles. She only cared about her future, and rightly so.
“We don’t get visitors, be they elf or human.
Mountain Elves are reclusive by nature, and it might take some time before the others warm to you. ”
“It won’t be much different from Belanore, then.”
Anger simmered within him on her behalf. “I don’t tolerate any kind of discrimination. If it happens, let me know.”
Inej turned her attention to the view. “That would paint an even bigger target on me. I can handle whatever happens.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“It’s just how things are.”
Manu scratched the back of his neck. He wouldn’t argue, but he would get the word out among his people. Just because racism was accepted in the lowlands, didn’t mean he would tolerate it in Navara.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching and listening to the city.
He cut his eyes to his home and spotted one of the younger children running past a window.
Right behind him was Sameer, a big smile on the juvenile’s face.
But if he could see them, then so could Inej.
Thankfully, her attention was directed the opposite way.
“I have no way to pay for lodgings,” she suddenly said. “Or for the clothes given to me. At least, not yet.”
“You will remain at Jalall’s home until we can find you a place.”
She swung her head to him. “I used to clean. I’m happy to do that again.”
“We’ll find you something. I’m surprised you’ve not asked for a position in a kitchen so you can bake.”
“Those are generally difficult to come by.”
He thought about the delicious pastries. “Is it something you would be interested in?”
She stared at him blankly for a long minute.
“Did I say something wrong?” he asked, confused.
“I’m trying to figure out if you’re teasing me.”
He grunted and leaned back against the wall. “I leave the jesting to Jalall since he has a better aptitude for it. You have a talent. But this is also me being selfish because I want more of those tarts.”
“I…” She swallowed. “Aye, I would enjoy a position that allows me to bake.”
“Good.” He pushed to his feet. “I’m sure you would like some time to yourself. Shall we return?”
She rose and headed down the steps. Manu paused to extinguish the lantern before following her.
He unlocked Jalall’s door and stepped inside first. Inej watched him close and lock the door behind her. “Return to doing whatever you wish,” he told her.
“You’re staying here?”
He didn’t know if the surprise in her voice was one of delight or dread. “I am.”
“I assumed you would’ve assigned someone else to watch me.”
Manu walked past her toward Jalall’s study. “Someone will relieve me later.”
He saw her glide past as he shut the door.
Manu ignored Jalall’s desk and headed to the sofa instead.
He dropped onto it and blew out a breath as he stared at the opposite wall, where a painting from Jalall’s mother hung.
The house was silent. He had no idea what Inej was doing, and now he wished he hadn’t cut their night short.
There were at least a dozen guards he could’ve stationed in the house with her, but he hadn’t. Nor did he intend to. Everything of importance was locked away, so she couldn’t get to it. He remained because he couldn’t seem to stay away from her.
The shadow in the far right corner moved, catching Manu’s attention.
He turned his head just as a Dark Elf stepped out.
Dain was dressed in all black from his long coat with six vertical slits at the bottom and silver armor plating the shoulders, to the shirt beneath, where more armor extended over his chest and abdomen, to his trousers tucked into knee-high boots with more armor on the front.
Scars crisscrossed the Dark’s face. One ran from his left temple through the brow and across his nose, and then over his right cheek.
Another dissected his mouth from right to left.
The deepest ran from the inside corner of Dain’s left eye, diagonally down the left cheek to his jaw.
He wasn’t an elf you wanted as an enemy.
Manu looked into the yellow eyes of the Counter Corruption Division agent. “About time you showed up.”
The Dark Elf snorted and walked to the desk. He pulled out the chair and lowered himself into it. His gray skin had a sallow tint—the only sign that he had exerted a tremendous amount of magic getting to Navara.
Dain’s white hair fell to the middle of his back, and he always left it loose. Another thing that he was never without were the two small, silver metal bands fastened around locks of hair on either side of his face.
“I went to your place,” Dain finally said.
Manu glanced at the door. “Some things have happened.”
“Aye. I saw the human. What’s her story?”
“Her name is Inej. She claims to be trying to find somewhere safe.”
A white brow rose on Dain’s forehead. “Claims? You don’t believe her?”
“I have no way of checking her story.”
“But?” the Dark pressed.
“I was going to send her on her way after she recovered. Then, someone tried to kill me. She got between us and nearly died herself.”
Dain’s yellow eyes flashed as he sat up straight, his body rigid. “How did they learn about you?”
“I don’t know,” Manu said with a sigh.
“Who was it who tried to kill you?”
“A Mountain Elf from another tribe. Jalall went to deliver the body and see if he could uncover whether the tribe is working with the Masters, or if the attack was about something else.”
Dain quirked a brow as he leaned back, though his body was still tense. “Do you have so many attempts on your life that you can be so dismissive?”
Manu briefly lifted his gaze to the ceiling. “You know I don’t.”
“We both know this was the Masters. I want to know how they learned about you.”
“You and me both. The kids are safe, however.”
Dain leaned on the arm of the chair. “I just came from speaking with them. Tell me what the real problem is?”
“We need a plan in case someone gets to me. I can’t be the last line of defense for them.”
“I had hoped you would be able to stay hidden,” Dain said with a long sigh. “Navara was another escape for us if we needed it.”
Manu shrugged. “It always will be. There are places within to hide.”
“That’s good to know. I hope it never comes to that, but we need options.”
“For the children, too.”
Dain drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “The only way those children will be safe is if they’re not in Shecrish.”
There was something about the way Dain said the words that made Manu study the Dark. “You want to use your relationship with the Dragon Kings for a favor, don’t you?”
“I’m going to ask Esha for the favor. But aye, I am.”
The Asavori Ranger was the mate of Kendrick, a Dragon King. It was a bold move, but if it worked, it would alleviate a lot of issues for everyone. “Have you spoken to Yaz and Ravi about it?”
“Not yet. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that, but I’ve always feared it would.”
“The kids are stuck in my home. While they have the run of it, I don’t want them seen by anyone but my staff. I want to trust my tribe, but fear makes people do things they normally wouldn’t.”
Dain nodded slowly. “And now there’s Inej.”
“I’ve already considered that she might have been sent here to find them.”
“Or you.”
Manu gave him a flat look. “Please.”
“A human can kill an elf.”
“She saved my life.”
Dain sat forward, his face hard. “Don’t forget who the Masters are, or the extremes they’ve gone to. Elves dismiss humans, which would make her a prime candidate to get close to you.”
“If she wanted me dead, why get between me and the assassin?”
“There are many reasons. Just take heed.”
Manu looked to the side as he considered the Dark’s statement. Dain was used to assuming that everyone lied and deceived. Manu hadn’t had to do that until recently, and it wasn’t something he enjoyed.
“You don’t want to believe she is anything more than what she says, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Dain said. “Keep hoping she’s exactly who she claims. But until you know for sure, be on guard.”
They were wise words. Dain wasn’t just a spy, he was also a warrior who had seen more than most. The scars on his face told a story, and Manu would bet that there were more on Dain’s body.
He was selective of those he got close to, but the Dark was also one of the most loyal individuals Manu had ever met.
He dipped his head. “I will. What about you? How are things going in the lowlands?”
“Quiet. Too quiet. Something is up.”
“What do you mean quiet?”
Dain shifted, causing his coat to creak. “The kidnappings have almost stopped.”
That should’ve been cause for celebration, but given Dain’s choice of words, Manu knew it wasn’t. “Are you sure we haven’t scared them away?”
“No such luck, I’m afraid.”
“You said the abductions have almost stopped. Regardless of why, that’s good news.”
Dain’s lips compressed. “It is, but I’m afraid that what happens next will be worse.”
“You have connections all over the plateau. Surely, you’ve discovered something about who the Masters are.”
“Those who know won’t breathe a word. And those who might know are too afraid to talk.”
Manu sat forward. “We have to do something.”
“What do you think we’ve been doing?” Dain said in a low voice vibrating with fury. He slowly rose to his feet. “Perhaps I should take you to the Below. Maybe a trip to the Mortham Compound is in order. We just pulled out Farah and Rohan.”
Manu stood and stared across the expanse into the Dark’s yellow eyes. “And how many years did I and my people handle those at Shaldorn before the DIA and CCD finally got involved?”
Dain’s nostril flared before he spun away. He was silent for several moments before his shoulders rose and fell.
“You’re stretched too thin,” Manu said. “You can’t keep going at this rate.”
“There’s no one else.” Dain faced him again and shook his head. “My outburst was—”
“Don’t think twice about it. We’ve all been there.”
Dain looked at the door. “Watch your back. I’m going to talk to Esha. Someone coming after you has changed things.”
“I’m fine.”
“And you need to stay that way. I’ll return as soon as I can.”
Manu frowned as he took a step toward his friend. “You’ve not rested for long enough.”
Shadows rose up around Dain quickly before they vanished with him.