shifts with me in that cursed drain hole to watch Simon’s house, remember? If he shadows you there, we’re fucked.”
Cara’s eyes widened, but she shook her head. “He didn’t notice, I’m sure of it.”
“Yet he hardly protested when you shoved him right out the door, after.”
“I told him drink had crossed my judgment, but much as I enjoyed the lapse, I had to hold to my rule. No dallying with convoy men, so my head stays clear on jobs.”
I nodded, grudgingly. Cara’s rule was well known amongst Ninavel drovers and outriders. If Pello asked around, he’d get confirmation. “Got a strip of cloth I can use?”
Cara dug in her pack and handed me a threadbare square of linen covered in old, yellowed salve stains. I rolled the hairs in the linen and tucked the packet away in an inner pocket. “You might think he didn’t notice, but we’ll have to—”
A rap on the door silenced me. We stared at each other. I mouthed, “Stall them,” and rushed to the window. Damn it, not only did the latch squeak like an angry hopmouse, now it’d stuck shut. I’d have to ease it free. I squeezed a fingertip between the metal edges and tugged, keeping one eye on the door.
“Who’s there?” Cara called.
Faint and muffled came the very voice I’d feared. “Pello. I apologize for the lateness of the hour—I’d thought to leave a message, but I saw your light...” The doorhandle rattled. A ghostly flicker raced over the lock, so fast and faint most wouldn’t notice. Gods all damn it, the lock wouldn’t hold against a snap-charm, but the ward should—
The door ward spat a few sparks, then darkened. Shaikar take the Alathians and their half-assed wards! I hammered open the window latch, uncaring of the noise.
The door cracked open. Pello peeked around, still talking. “...was wondering if—” He stopped short, his eyes widening.
Fuck! I might escape if I ran now, but Cara never would. I aborted my reach for the window ledge, and turned to face Pello. Behind my back, I eased a hand toward my belt. My boneshatter charm was powerful enough to trigger the detection spells and bring the Council’s mages running. If that was the only way left to protect Cara and stop Simon, I’d do it, no matter the cost for me and Kiran.
Cara strode to the door and yanked it all the way open. “Thank Khalmet,” she announced to Pello. “Get in here and help me get rid of this asshole.” She turned a vicious glare on me. “Fuck if I’ll give you your job back, you sneaking, lying little gutter rat! After what you brought down on the convoy, I’ll see you in Shaikar’s darkest hell first.”
Damn, not bad. I folded my arms and scowled right back. “If you’d just fucking listen! Kellan was a mage, and he cast against me, before we ever left Ninavel! I had no choice but to help him!”
Pello’s eyes darted between the two of us. The surprise on his face was now only a mask, but I couldn’t tell what thoughts lurked beneath.
Cara stomped toward me. “You think I’ll believe one word out of your lying mouth? Go on, crawl back out before I throw you!” She stabbed a finger at the open window. Her pale eyes locked on mine, full of urgency.
I couldn’t leave, not without some sign of Pello’s intent. She’d stand no chance against him if he decided to strike her down and drag her back to Simon. “The hell I will,” I told her. “That bastard Kellan made me abandon you and the convoy. I won’t leave until you understand I won’t ever do it again.”
Cara grimaced in very real frustration. “I said, get out!”
I was so busy concentrating on Pello that her rough shove caught me by surprise. I overbalanced, caught my heel on a loose floorboard, fell. My head cracked into the sharp corner of the window ledge hard enough to send stars bursting over my vision.
An iron-hard grip on my wrist dragged me upright. “Ow,” I said, thickly, and reached a hand to my throbbing skull. My fingers came away sticky with blood.
Pello slung my arm over his shoulder and wrapped his own arm tight around my waist. Low at my side, I felt the unmistakable cold prick of a blade. “I’ll take him off your hands,” he said to Cara.
Cara reached for me, her face white beneath her tan. “You shouldn’t trouble—it was me who—”
Pello hauled me toward the door.