ordinary way! We have to run, right now!”
“You mean you have to run.” Dev glared at him. “I agreed to help you sneak past the Alathians, not escape from a mage ready to dump a mountainside on my head!”
“He’ll find out you helped me leave Ninavel. He’ll kill you for that, if you don’t run with me. Not a fast or easy death, either. Magic can bring agony greater than any you can imagine. And Ruslan is...inventive.” Alisa had screamed long after her voice gave out, her mouth gaping in agonized, airless cries. The sight haunted Kiran’s dreams.
“Maybe I’ll offer to help him, instead of you.” Cold calculation gleamed in Dev’s eyes. “You’re too weak or too afraid to use magic right now, aren’t you? Otherwise you’d be casting spells on me instead of talking. Seems to me my best chance of survival might be in joining the guy most likely to win.”
Kiran’s chest constricted. All his fears were coming true; and Dev was right, he didn’t dare attempt a working in his weakened state. Chill sweat trickled down his back. He had to convince Dev; he had to. “I know you need money. You’ll get none from Ruslan. If you’d sent him word of me before the avalanche, he might have rewarded you then. Now, all you’d receive is your life, and perhaps not even that.”
Kiran leaned forward and drew out his amulet. “If you guide me the rest of the way to Kost, you can have this once we cross the border. I know it’s worth a lot. Between that and Bren’s money, you’ll gain a fortune if you help me.”
Dev stood silent, his head lowered. Kiran’s pulse drummed in his ears.
“Tell me something,” Dev said. “If you’re so desperate to hide from this guy, why’d you go mess with the avalanche?”
“I couldn’t let all those men die.” Kiran hesitated. “I know what you must think of me, after...after Harken, but I’m not like Ruslan. I’m not a murderer!”
“Wish I could believe that,” Dev muttered. He studied Kiran, a deep frown line etched between his brows. “You claim Harken and the other deaths mid-line were—what? The result of some kind of fuck-up of yours in the spell casting?”
Kiran swallowed. He was fortunate that Dev knew too little of magic to understand what the deaths implied about Kiran’s methods. It was true enough that if he’d drawn power with more skill, the men might yet live. “Yes. I told you before, I had to work too fast to block the avalanche. If only I’d had more time to cast the spell...but if I hadn’t cast at all, far more would have died.” Why couldn’t Dev see that he’d saved far more lives than he’d taken?
Dev’s frown remained. “Why’s this Ruslan so hot to find you?”
Kiran twisted the crumpled blanket in his hands. He’d have to tread cautiously, to have any chance of Dev’s help. Perhaps a series of carefully chosen truths, rather than a lie...
“When two mages work together, spells can be cast beyond the ability of either alone. Joining mind and power so closely with another is difficult and dangerous, but I have certain...skills in this area. Ruslan wants my cooperation in his spellcasting. But the spells he casts...he seeks power without any regard for others, and kills for the pleasure of it. I’d rather deny my magic than use it in service to him!”
Kiran halted; tried to gain control of his breathing.
“Let me guess, Ruslan’s not the sort of guy who takes no for an answer,” Dev said.
“His strength far exceeds mine; I can’t hope to stand against him. If he finds me now, he won’t ask. He’ll simply rip my mind apart until I have no will left to resist him, and make me his creature entirely.” Desperation filled Kiran at the thought. “You have to help me, please!”
Dev was silent again. At last he huffed out a sharp breath. “Fine. I’ll run with you, do my best to get us safe to Kost. But not because I think you deserve help—all I want is my payment.”
Kiran shut his eyes, dizzy with relief. Dev could think what he liked, so long as they escaped Ruslan. “I understand.” He gathered his strength, and tottered to his feet. “I’m ready to leave.”
“Not yet, you aren’t.” Dev scowled at him. “I get you think this Ruslan could spell himself here any minute, but there’s no way in Shaikar’s hells I’m leaving without proper supplies. I’ll work fast as I