can, but I need time to pack.”
“But—”
Dev cut him off with a sharp slash of his hand. “I mean it. Otherwise, go throw yourself off the nearest cliff, because that’s a better way to die.” He heaved a supply sack down off the wagon bed. “I want to warn Cara and Jerik about him, anyway—”
“No, you can’t!” Kiran grabbed Dev’s arm. “The less they know, the safer they’ll be. Ruslan will search their thoughts when he arrives. It won’t be pleasant for them, but if he finds they know nothing of my identity and weren’t involved, they’ll survive the experience.”
Dev wrenched his arm from Kiran’s grasp. “Fuck that! Ruslan’s gonna be mad as a stinkwasp when he finds you gone. They deserve the chance to get the hell away before he comes, same as us!”
“You’ll guarantee their deaths. Ruslan will hunt down any who leave the convoy, and they’ll have no way to hide, or defend against his magic. I know you fear for them, but truly—their best chance of survival is to remain here, unknowing.”
Dev raked his hands through his hair, and glared at Kiran. “You’d better be right, damn you. Harken’s death is on your head already; don’t think I’ll forget.”
Guilt stabbed Kiran again. “I won’t either,” he said, wearily.
“By the way, I wasn’t kidding about Pello, earlier. He thinks you tried to kill him, and he’s not a happy man. He searched you while you were out; I stopped him from anything more, but I hope you’re not missing anything important.”
Pello had become the least of his worries. Nevertheless, Kiran put a hand to the amulet. Glowing lines of force traced delicate spirals on his inner sight. The pattern remained intact and the energies flowed unhindered. “The amulet is the only charm I carry, and it shows no sign of tampering.”
Dev’s scowl didn’t lessen. “Pack your gear, but stay in the wagon. If you hear anyone coming, pretend you’re still unconscious.” He pointed at the amulet. “And for Khalmet’s sake, put that thing away.”
***
(Dev)
Gods, I had to be out of my mind. Running for the Alathian border with an untrustworthy, half-assed excuse for a mage, while some scary bastard hunted us with the gusto of a hungry sandcat...I’d taken some crazy risks in my time, but this had to top them all. Slim chance of a payoff, but slim was better than none. Melly’s fate still lay in my hands, and I owed Sethan far too much to break my vow to him out of simple fear.
On the bright side, leaving the convoy would solve another problem. Kiran’s panic had clearly shoved all other concerns clean out of his mind, but I knew better than to ignore the threat of an alive and angry Pello. The bastard was probably accusing us to Meldon right now. And whenever Ruslan showed up, Pello’d be happy to help him hunt us.
On a solo trip three seasons ago, I’d discovered a climber’s shortcut across the high peaks barring the way on the other side of Garnet Canyon. The route wasn’t easy. I remembered miles of steep scrambling over unstable talus, and one serious climb. I’d never tried the route this early in the season, when treacherous snow coated the cliffs. But nobody else in the convoy should know of it, not even Cara, and it’d let us reach the border in days, rather than the week it’d take for even a flat-out ride on the trail.
I thought of Kiran’s sunken cheeks and unsteady hands, and grimaced. I had serious doubts about his ability to handle the rugged terrain off the trail, let alone climb in his condition. Damn it, I’d haul him by main force if I had to. If he was so desperate to reach Kost, he’d find a way to manage.
I sorted through equipment, throwing gear down into a pile on the ground. A full length rope, ice axes, extra cords, short lengths of rope to make harnesses, a set of fire stones, heavy clothing, food, waterskins...the pile grew. I snatched up our largest pack and jumped down off the wagon.
A flat, arid voice spoke from behind me. “What the fuck are you doing, Dev?”
My hands spasmed on the pack straps. I turned to see Cara’s lean form standing in the shadows at the edge of my lantern’s glow.
Shit! I’d counted on the sound of her horse warning me of her return. Of all the times for her to walk back instead of ride! Kinslayer had damaged our friendship;