Chapter 23 #2
“I worry about your safety. I don’t think he agreed to travel with you all the way to The Shallows just because he got a few coins from you.
” Algar’s head shakes gravely as he stares into my eyes.
“I think he’s doing it because there’s something he wants.
Something he’s chasing. And he needs you to obtain it. ”
A nervous warmth coats my throat. I recall the conversation I had with Thane after the brawl at the Kamtaur Inn.
I lean in closer to Algar. “I thought the same thing, so I asked. He said he’s looking for a tome of some kind…” I snap my greasy fingers. “The Tome of Azidel. Apparently, there are spells inside it that can increase the power of his magic.”
“Ah. I knew it was something.”
“But it’s just a book,” I say. “He could’ve gone at any time to get it if he wanted to. Why would he need me if that’s all he’s after? I’m no more than a mortal.”
“You’d be surprised how valuable a mortal can be under the right circumstances.”
I turn my attention to Thane, who tosses his empty skewer aside while walking toward us.
“Just be careful with him, Zaira.” Algar places a hand on top of mine. “You’re a good person, and you don’t deserve to get dragged into whatever mess he’s created.”
With that simple statement, Algar pulls his hand away, stands, and flashes Thane the largest of smiles as he approaches. “How’s the ale, my ruthless friend? Thinking about grabbing another for myself.”
Thane lifts the mug and gives it an approving tilt. “You should. It’s better than most.”
“Will do. I’ll catch you both at the castle once the fete is over, yeah? I hear Bernwood brothels are like being sent to the Crystal Realm.” He shoots me a wink before disappearing within the crowd.
Thane drops his eyes to me, amber irises glinting from the fire. It’s like he’s trying to read me, trying to figure out the conversation I just had with his childhood friend.
“Wanna sit?” I tap the spot Algar just vacated.
Thane thinks on it for a second, sighs, then claims the spot next to me. His knee brushes against my leg, ruffling my skirts. I ignore the tingly feeling the movement creates. With him this close, smelling like spice and leather, pretending that electricity isn’t there is futile.
I allow us a moment to sit in silence, him sipping his drink, me finishing off my meat skewer.
“So…” I start. “Will you tell me more about that tome you were talking about earlier?”
He stares into the fire. “It’s a long story.”
I throw a hand up with a shrug. “I have time.”
“It’s…a lot, Quinlocke. Way too much to explain right now with all these people around.”
“Just imagine we’re the only people around this fire. No one else can hear us. They’re not worried about us anyway. They’re all too busy having fun.”
Without thinking, I place a hand on his arm for reassurance. His gaze falls to my hand, and he studies it for a second or two, not knowing what to do about the small gesture. I jerk my hand away and clear my throat, realizing how intimate the action was.
Thane leans forward, planting his elbows on his knees and wrapping both hands around his mug. “Fine,” he sighs. “What do you want to know?”
“You said you wanted to retrieve the Tome of Azidel from the temple. Why is that particular tome so important to you?”
“I told you why. To increase the power of my magic.”
“Okay…why?”
“To defeat Seferin.”
I blink at him. “So I was right before. You hate Seferin.”
His jaw clenches. “With every fiber of my being.”
“Care to explain?” Not that Seferin is a hard man to loathe.
“That’s an even longer story…and tonight is not the night to go over it. It’ll dampen your spirits and mine.”
I allow his words to steep, mulling over each one. “Well, if all of this is true, and you want that book so badly, why haven’t you gone after it before now?”
His throat bobs. “That’s the tricky part.”
I adjust my position on the slab, waiting for him to speak again.
“In order to get the tome, I need a mortal’s blood.
And it can’t just be any mortal. It has to be a mortal who is one hundred percent willing to go into the Temple of Elphar and help me retrieve it.
” He takes a long pause, drawing in a deep breath before delivering the last sentence.
“Most importantly, the mortal must be noble, kind, and willing to risk—possibly even sacrifice—their life with the sorcerer they traveled with.”
I blink at him a few times before staring at the ground between my boots.
He said the words, but it takes a moment for me to digest them.
Yes, I am willing to take the risk going to Elphar, like he said, because of my sister, but the word sacrifice…
that’s something else entirely. He’s supposed to protect me.
That’s our agreement. So how can he possibly protect me and help break my sister’s curse if there is even the slightest possibility that I’ll have to sacrifice myself?
I relax my shoulders, trying to see this from his perspective. He acknowledged he’s taking the same risk, and that’s fine. What isn’t okay is that he’s kept the truth from me this whole time—since the beginning.
“So you think I’m the mortal that can help you?” I ask through partially gritted teeth.
He nods. “Yes, I think you could be…”
“How do you even know the tome is still there? In the temple?”
“It is. Some sorcerers, if strong enough, can track certain objects and artifacts. Last I checked, it’s still protected in the temple.
Trust me, many sorcerers have attempted to go after it, and all of them have failed.
I assume none have been able to come anywhere near the tome because the mortal they’ve chosen would instantly back out before reaching the island…
or die before even setting eyes on the place.
If they have managed to make it there but left without the tome, it’s because it didn’t deem that mortal’s blood worthy enough. ”
The mortal they’ve chosen. No, no. I chose him. He didn’t choose me.
I frown as I stare harder at the ground, now gripping my skewer tighter. He should have told me this up front. Why didn’t he tell me this before?
I meet his eyes. “How much blood is needed?”
“Not much.”
Another cryptic, evasive answer. I narrow my eyes at him. “What if mine isn’t worthy enough, either? Will I die if I offer my blood and it’s rejected?”
“No. It’s been a while since anyone has tried, but I assume those who were rejected probably left the temple just fine.
It’s getting off of the island that they most likely didn’t survive.
But I’ll make sure that you do.” He pauses as he studies my profile.
I look away to stare at the fire, trying not to lose my temper.
“I think you come as close to worthy as possible considering all the sacrifices you’ve already made, Zaira. ”
“Right.” His flattering words should soothe me, but I find myself growing angrier instead. He even used my first name, but that does nothing for me right now. “So…the morning at the Tilted Crystal when I gave you the coins…you already had this plan in mind?”
I look at him, and he nods, seeming mildly sympathetic now.
Wow. This lying, scheming asshole. “Don’t you think you should’ve mentioned it to me, then?
We could’ve made an agreement, considering how desperate I am to reach the temple.
” I stand up and throw my skewer stick into the fire, trying not to explode on him in front of all of these people.
“You took my money when, in fact, you needed me as much as I needed you. I sold my necklace—the last thing I owned from my mother—so I could get you those coins! Who does that to someone?”
He remains seated, noticing my balled fist and the look of anguish on my face.
“I had to be one hundred percent certain that taking such a dangerous journey was what you wanted. You were drunk that night, so I couldn’t go based on that.
I told myself if you returned the following morning still wanting to save your sister, that it could work, and that it was possible I could get the tome while we were at it.
All I had to do was keep you alive long enough to reach it.
A slim chance, yes, but it makes sense to go after it if I have everything I need. ”
Finally, the missing puzzle pieces are sliding into place. “That’s what Maliek meant, then.” I gape. “About me being the noble one?”
“He knows what I’m after now. Fortunately, he’ll never be able to get the tome unless I have it in my possession, and I wouldn’t let him come close to it. He’s been chasing me for a very long time.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I stole something from Seferin.”
Great. So is the whole kingdom hunting him? Hunting us?
“And that is…?”
“A crystal. A powerful one that he needs.”
“You stole a crystal, too?” I exclaim. Why the shadows isn’t he locked up in Seferin’s keep like Analla, then? “Do you have it with you?” I ask, scanning him with wary eyes.
“No. I hid it. It’s far away from here.”
“So not only do they want the crystal back, but they now know you’re after the tome?” I glower at him, shaking my head. “Why are you mixed up with Seferin anyway?”
“Many people get mixed up with him, only to realize it was a mistake later. Fortunately, I escaped him. Your sister would know all about what he’s like, considering the situation she’s in.”
I swallow hard, still shaking my head. That I can’t deny, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of agreement.
“It’s easy to fall victim to a wicked fucker like him,” Thane adds.
A woman begins to sing loud and proud behind us on a platform stage, and the villagers cheer. Before long, she begins dancing with a chimp-like beastial. Other people begin to dance, too. Everyone is truly enjoying themselves, oblivious to the storm raging between me and Thane.
“Now I see why you agreed to risk your life to go on this quest with me,” I say, focusing on him again. “It’s not about doing the right thing or helping someone else. It’s all about getting what you want.”
“The only noble thing about this quest is you,” he says, pushing to his feet. “I never indicated otherwise. I haven’t lied to you. Not once.”
“But you withheld the truth. That’s the same thing in my opinion.” I raise my chin to meet his eyes. “Why are you only telling me this now?”
“Would it have made a difference? Would you have decided not to make the journey if you’d known about all this before we left?”
I study him for a moment, my anger cooling a bit. “No. I would have made the journey regardless. But I wouldn’t have had to sell my necklace.”
He releases a short breath. “The coins you gave me for that necklace have been used to make this journey easier for you, Zaira. They’ve benefited you most. And I figured I would tell you more about the tome and the blood the closer we got to the island.”
“I would have agreed to help you regardless of if you were willing to help me.”
“I know that now…but I can’t just take people at their word.
Actions speak much louder.” His lips twist before he adds, “And this must stay between us—only us.” He leans in close—so close, I can feel the heat rolling off his body.
“I don’t want a single word about us going after the tome to spread.
Algar is a blabbermouth, and Rynthea…well, you know how she feels about me—about any sorcerer, really. ”
I start to tell him that Algar already knows but think better of it. I’ll just have to talk to Algar later, beg him not to tell anyone. As for Rynthea, I understand. I’m not a huge fan of this particular sorcerer myself at the moment.
“You better hope that broker still has my necklace,” I growl as I poke a finger into his chest. “And I expect you to repay me for every fucking coin I gave you.”
Thane doesn’t even react to my finger. He sighs instead. “I’ll pay you back with any treasure I get from the island. That’ll be worth way more.”
I scoff and roll my eyes. “Yeah, if we even make it there.”
A body brushes against my right side, and I startle when an arm drapes over my shoulders.
“Zaira the Noble. My goodness, you clean up so well.” Kelrean smells of way too many pints of ale. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
I let go of some of the tension in my body and smile, flattered. Kelrean lowers his hand to squeeze my upper arm. I steal a glance at Thane, who is now glaring at the fire with a frown and a ticking jaw.
“I love mortals.” Kelrean hugs me from the side with a wide smile. “You’re all so…simple.”
“Um…thank you?”
“It’s a compliment, trust me,” he assures me. “Question for you: have you ever tried talmoon?”
“You’re joking,” Thane counters, cutting a glare at the prince.
“Not at all.” Kelrean’s eyes turn to the assassin. “There’s a tent a short walk away with loads of it. Would you like to join me, Zaira?”
“Not wise,” Thane grumbles.
“Let her decide, yeah?” Kelrean gives him a smug grin.
“I’m her protector, so I can chime in. It’s not wise to do talmoon when we’re in the middle of a quest, Quinlocke. Anything could come up, and you’ll be too high off your ass to handle the situation. You shouldn’t go.”
My eyebrows knit together as I focus on Thane. I intended to tell Kelrean that I would pass. I wanted to talk with Thane a bit more, possibly even hammer down on him about withholding the truth about the tome, but now that he’s pulling this shit, I don’t want to be anywhere near him right now.
Yes, he was hired to protect me on our journey, but he has no right to tell me what to do during my free time, and he definitely doesn’t have the right to make any personal decisions for me.
Algar’s warning from before replays in my mind. “Just be careful with him, Zaira.” I know a bit more about Thane now, but I still have so many questions.
How did he go from marching with The Divine to getting involved with Seferin and the Grim? Why does he want to take Seferin down so badly with the tome?
There are still some missing pieces to this giant puzzle, and I doubt he’s going to explain any more of it any time soon.
Staying here with him will be a waste of my time and energy anyway.
I have no intention of doing anything foolish, but I refuse to allow Thane to dictate what I can and cannot do.
I settle my expression into one of indifference, face Kelrean, and say, “Let’s give it a try.”