The Whitefire Crossing - By Courtney Schafer Page 0,130

grimace. “No...he suspects we’re working a scheme, but isn’t sure if Simon’s our mark. So he pulls out the carrot-and-stick routine with Melly, figuring even I don’t fall for the trap, then I’ll be so busy moving my accounts I can’t interfere with them leaving Kost.”

“Pello’s deadline—you figure that’s when Simon means to make his move?”

I nodded. Cara handed me a tin cup full of dark purple liquid that fizzed and stank like rotting eggs. “Drink this,” she said. “I got it from an apothecary on the way here. It’s supposed to be good for head injuries.”

I took a wary sip. “Gack. Don’t the Alathians sell any potions that taste good?” At Cara’s severe look, I made a face and downed the lot. “Did you find a longsight charm? If Simon leaves—”

“Don’t worry, I got a charm.” Cara cast a satisfied look at the crossbow. “Not half so good as Ninavel-made, but it’ll do. We’re ready for them.” She frowned. “If Simon’s truly preparing to leave Kost, Pello can’t have much spare time. You’ve got to move your money, sure, but maybe you don’t have to worry about hiding it. Why would Pello ferret out money and gems he doesn’t even need?”

“With Melly’s life at stake, I can’t take that chance. I’ve got to assume he’ll try. Just like we’ve got to assume he means to shadow us. We’ll have to trade off Kiran’s amulet every time we switch shifts in the drain hole, and have one of us scout first for Pello before the other makes the climb And when we ambush them...” I rubbed a hand over my eyes. “Distraction’s still your top priority. But if you get a clear shot at Pello, you take it, understand?”

Cara nodded, her face grim. She worried at the end of her braid. “This mess is my fault, isn’t it? He’d not have come back to the room if I hadn’t kissed him...”

“If he bothered to access my account at Bentgate, he was suspicious long before. No help for it now. Either we keep on best we can, or cut and run.” I met her eyes, straight on. “You want to run, there’s no shame in it. This plan was a hell of a risk from the start. With Pello on his guard, it may not work at all.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Would you run with me?” When I hesitated, she snorted. “I thought not. You’d go to the Alathians, they’d execute Kiran, and you’d end up charm-bound to slave away in some coal pit when they found out about your smuggling. How would that help Melly, huh?”

“You know about her, now,” I said, simply. “The Bentgate account’s in my name, but I keyed the vault wards to you as well as me. You can take the money and gems, go back to Ninavel. It should be enough to buy Melly straight out if you sell the gems and put in a bid with Red Dal.”

Cara’s mouth fell open. “Khalmet’s hand, Dev. That’s been your backup plan all along, hasn’t it? That’s why you insisted I’d need to fire the bow from such a distance. To keep me safe, in case you get killed.”

“Well, yeah.” I’d thought that part was obvious. “Somebody’s got to live to help Melly.”

“Makes more sense if it’s you, doesn’t it? Maybe I should go to the Alathians, and you should take the money and run. I haven’t done anything illegal.”

Oh, the thought was tempting. But the memory of Kiran’s desperate, terrified face brought a black wave of guilt welling up. “I can’t run. Not while there’s still a chance to get Kiran free of both Simon and the Alathians.”

“Then we stick to the plan, because I’m not going anywhere.” Cara produced a flask, took a swig, and handed it to me. “Here. The Varkevians say that hekavi shared between friends brings the touch of Khalmet’s good hand.”

“You saved the rest of that bottle?” I drank, and shut my eyes in appreciation. It tasted like summer and sunlight.

“Hell, yes. That shit’s expensive. Bad enough I had to waste it on Pello.” Cara knelt in front of me and traced gentle fingers through my hair. “The swelling’s gone down. How’s it feel?”

“Much better.” Surprisingly so. The fizzy glop had quieted the last whisper of pain, and the hekavi kindled mellow warmth in my stomach. I smiled at Cara. “Near good as new, in fact. Thanks for cleaning me up.”

“Least I could do, seeing how I was the cause.” Her hand