widening as he catches on. This isn’t a conversation we can have in front of the others.
“Give me a minute with him,” I whisper to the crew. “Sooner or later someone’s going to catch him, and it’s never a pretty sight when money is involved. Go ready the ship, all right? I’ll only need a minute.”
“We’re not leaving you—”
I don’t stay to listen to Casem’s argument. I pull Ronan ahead by the wrist, ignoring the way the sharpening sunlight spins my head. I lead him to the same alleyway we had our discussion in the previous night, and only when I make sure no one is around do I speak.
“Did you find Ornell?” I try not to let my words sound as urgent as I feel. Too long, and surely some of the crew will come looking.
He nods swiftly. “I met a woman who recognized the name. She said she was a friend of Ornell’s mother, and that the last she’d heard, the family had moved to Curmana.” He works at his jaw, trying not to let his nerves show. “I’m sorry, that’s all I was able to find out. No one knows anything about him, or if he’s still there.”
It’s not much, but it’s a lead. And for now, that’s enough. I fish a small coin purse from my coat and press it into his palms. “Keep that safe, all right? No more swindling.”
He shoves the coins into his shirt, but the smile on his lips lasts only seconds before his eyes lift, looking over my shoulder. Fear settles into him and he shrinks back, making himself smaller. Every muscle in my body rigid, I look to the ground, where not one shadow hulks over me, but two.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Slowly, I trail my hand to Rukan’s hilt.
“Run,” I urge Ronan. He doesn’t need to be told twice. The moment he takes off I spin, narrowly avoiding a knife that spirals for my face. It takes a bite of my hair, and I scowl at the man wielding it. “I’m trying to grow that back.”
It’s the men from the gambling hall earlier. They squint at the sun, one of them with a knife drawn while the other brandishes his sword. I grip my own blade hard, refusing to let my face show the panic that comes from fighting a Ker.
Never fight a Ker. My heart is a monster, raging against my chest as I recall Father’s old warning. They’ll have a knife to your throat before you even see it coming.
Time magic isn’t one to be used freely. It’s the hardest to control, and takes the greatest toll on its wielder’s body. But any Ker would be a fool to enter a fight they mean to win without using it to their advantage.
I reach inwardly for my magic, doing everything I can think of—everything I’ve done a thousand times before—to try to awaken it. But once again, it refuses to listen.
I know my magic’s gone, but still I frantically try to pull it around me and make it heed my call. Because without it, I stand no chance in this fight.
The tallest of the men lashes out with his knife, and I’m relieved that the attack isn’t quite so fast this time. I take a nasty cut to my forearm but manage to dodge the worst of it, countering with Rukan. But the second before my weapon can slice into skin, Mother’s voice rings in my head and I falter. Make them love you. No matter where you are, I’ll have eyes on you.
I stop just short of striking.
My hesitation doesn’t go unnoticed. While the taller of the two hesitates, the shorter, stockier one growls, “You think because you sent us some soldiers, we should bow our heads and thank you? That somehow that’s enough to make everything better?”
I sheathe Rukan and make a grab for my steel dagger—maiming but not killing is the only way I can win this. But I’m unable to grab it before the man stands before me, quick as lightning, and slams me against the wall. My back cracks as it hits the stone, knocking the breath from my lungs.
“Get off our island.” Each of his words is its own snarl, and the stench of stale alcohol fouls his breath. I cringe as he leans in close, one hand wrapped tight around my neck, squeezing the breath from my lungs while his sword waits ready. I reach desperately for my weapon even as darkness peppers my