one as he bit his fingernail and whistled some tune unfitting for his surroundings. When he finally did look down, he jerked his head sideways in surprise.
“Whoa there!” he said. “I’ve had a few people stare at me over the past couple of days, but you my friend are by far the biggest.”
Coffman looked over his shoulder to see if anyone was paying him any attention. He was safe for the moment. “I’m here to get you out,” Coffman whispered.
Daewyn pushed his nose between two of the bars in the cage. “Forgive me for not believing you. You wouldn’t be approaching me during the day if you were telling the truth.”
Coffman waved him off. “I never said I have a plan. I know who you are. I saw your name on the list when I was brought in today. I know you’re the son of Jiaros Florelle. Which means you aren’t supposed to be tied up in a cage in enemy territory. ‘Find me, help me, right?”
“You speak the Erellen tongue?” Daewyn seemed surprised. “I left that note in case any of my companions were picked up as well. I didn’t expect a Human to be able to understand it.”
“I have an Erellen friend,” Coffman said.
“Do you? You mean to say that my countrymen are out fraternizing with the Humans now? Please, tell me, who is this Erellen friend of yours?”
“Lorcan Zamire,” Coffman answered.
Daewyn’s eyes fell sharp on Coffman and his blond brow lowered. “I know of this Erellen.”
“You do? That’s great!”
Daewyn shook his head. “It’s not great. I don’t think I can accept your help.”
This confused Coffman. How could Daewyn not want his help?
“Lorcan Zamire is a wanted man in Elysium. He’s nothing more than a criminal!”
Coffman scratched his head, not knowing what just happened. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“You don’t know?”
Coffman shook his head. “Obviously not.”
“Your friend Lorcan never told you who he was?”
Again, Coffman shook his head.
Daewyn sighed. “I don’t suppose it would matter to you anyway.”
“He’s my friend. Of course it matters.”
Daewyn slumped back down against the cage, looking nowhere specifically. “I suppose you also don’t know that Lorcan was once selected to work as an advisor trainee under my father? That would have made him my close personal advisor whenever I become king, if I so choose. And I would have too. Lorcan was brilliant.”
For a moment, Coffman wasn’t sure they were talking about the same Lorcan, but when Daewyn said something about Lorcan being worthless against the Stühocs, Coffman knew it was the same man. But how? Lorcan had never told him any of this.
“To make a long story short, Lorcan did something terrible, fled Elysium, and will be punished should he ever return.”
Coffman shook his head. “I don’t know anything about his relationship to the rest of the Erellen people. He’s never mentioned it.”
“That’s not surprising,” Daewyn said.
Coffman was about to ask what Lorcan could have done when the movement of an approaching guard hushed him. As Coffman began to walk away, he spoke over his shoulder.
“I’ll find a way to get you out. The Meshulan has returned!”
Daewyn shifted in his cage a bit as Coffman continued onward. “Meshulan what?” But Daewyn heard him correctly.
*****
Grif had been more than willing to give up the location of the Orange Medallion. He had looked at the two of them like they were idiots when Alric suggested that they steal it to have leverage. Nalani didn’t think going all in and telling a Nestorian their plans had been the best move on his part, but Alric told her several times that he had it under control. The disadvantage of not being able to speak was annoying. She was used to doing things her way, not allowing anyone but the council to question her. But all talking and apparently decision-making had to be made by Alric. She made sure to let him know how unhappy she was with the current plan.
Grif told them that the location of the medallion was no secret. A Nestorian called General Mintuk held it under lock and key in a safe, and a guard stood watch near it at all times. It was near the center of the city in a tower that was hardly ever used by anyone, except some of the top commanders when there were meetings. This would be advantageous to Nalani and Alric since it didn’t seem likely there would be a meeting in the next few hours. The real action would be taking place