packets of clay. The box looked to be half empty.
"What's that?" I asked.
"C-4."
"C-4?" I said. "As in the explosive?"
"Yes."
"Where did you get it?"
"It's part of my supplies from the Order. I've got blasting caps, too. A fiery explosion can be very effective against vampires."
"But you might not survive something like that," I said. "You might not survive any of this."
Terrance set the box down carefully. "That goes with the territory."
I handed the sword back to him, and he replaced it in its scabbard. Then he sat down again.
"So what's our next move?" I asked.
"Our next move?"
"The Hunter doesn't know I'm free," I said. "And now would be an excellent time to set up a trap for him."
Terrance shook his head. "Katie, you can't go back down there. You're what he needs to complete his plan. We have to keep the two of you apart."
"I have to go back down there," I said. "I tried running once, and the Hunter found me. I tried running once, and someone I love—"
My voice broke, and I was forced to stop.
"You can't do this alone," I said, when I was able to speak again.
"Katie—"
"From what I've heard, the Hunter can take care of even you pretty easily," I said. "You'll need something to take his attention away from you. And I could be a powerful distraction."
Terrance gave me a serious look. "Go on."
"I'll go back into the cave and pretend to still be trapped on the slab," I said. "The Hunter will go on doing whatever he needs to do, not knowing anything is wrong—I assume as a vampire hunter that you have some way of disguising yourself so a vampire doesn't know you're near?"
"I have my methods," Terrance said.
"You'll hide," I said, "and then when the Hunter starts to perform his ritual to steal my soul—I'll run. All his attention will be on me. You can jump on the island then and get into position with the sword. When he brings me back to the island, you can spring the trap. Then we can try to jump out of the way."
"That's awfully dangerous, Katie," Terrance said. "There's a good chance you won't survive."
"There's a good chance you won't survive it, either," I said.
"I'm a member of the Order," Terrance replied. "It's what I do."
"And I'm the Little Sun," I said. "Besides, it's better than having my soul stolen."
Terrance looked at me. "I hate to say it, but it's a decent plan. But even so, I can't risk your life."
"You're not risking my life," I said. "I am. And we stand a better chance if we work together."
Terrance was silent. Then he nodded. "Okay. Let's do this together."
He glanced at me. "You're brave, you know that?"
"So are you," I said.
Terrance stood. "I guess we'd better go, then."
He shut the box of C-4 with a snap and put it away.
I stood also. ''Just one last thing. What day is it?"
Terrance looked puzzled, but he answered me. "It's the twenty-ninth."
"So Walpurgis Night is tomorrow?"
"Yes. You've got a whole twenty-four hours of waiting on that slab. And I've got a whole twenty-four hours of hiding in the shadows nearby."
"Where is the Hunter right now?" I asked.
"I saw him head west," Terrance said. "I believe he's out looking for me. He must know about the theft of the sword by now. And he certainly knows what it's for."
The two of us began to climb back down the stack of boulders.
"You know if we survive this," Terrance said, "I'm going to ask to be sent back to Elspeth's Grove."
"Why is that?" I asked.
"Well, first of all, I didn't quite finish my assignment. I found out what the mining operation was for, and I shut it down, but I didn't find out who was behind it. I'd really like to know that. And second, someone's got to keep an eye on you. You get into an unbelievable amount of trouble."
"Unfortunately, that's true," I said.
"And third—"
Terrance stopped.
"And third?" I prompted.
He smiled sheepishly in the starlight. "And third—and in many ways this is actually the first reason—I miss Irina. I'd really like to see her again."
I smiled, too.
"If we do make it back, please don't tell her about this," Terrance said. "I don't think she'd understand."
"Not a word," I said. "I promise."
Suddenly I saw a shadow rise up behind Terrance, and before I could call out a warning, a large figure slammed into him and then threw him down onto the boulders below. I turned swiftly, but the shadow was on me