"It didn't feel dark. It felt like a simple guarding spell, but I'll know for sure when I'm there."
I nodded and looked past her to Stane. "Are you going to be all right alone?"
He snorted softly. "It's not like I have any choice in the matter. Besides, as I said, they need me alive to sign the papers. Just make sure you're there to rescue us once I do."
"Then we'd better get going—"
"Wait!" Ilianna turned and bolted for the car. She rummaged through her bag for several seconds, then came back carrying a can of drink in one hand and something clenched in the other.
"Here," she said, offering what looked like an old copper coin to Stane. "Swallow this."
His look was one of disbelief. "Swallow it? Why in God's name would I want to do that?"
"It's a talisman of protection. The Charna won't be able to spell you."
"And I can't wear it because …?"
"Because whoever is meeting you might know enough about magic to rip it from your throat. If you swallow it, they can't."
"But they can gut me." He picked up the coin somewhat gingerly. "It feels heavy."
"It's neither heavy nor large," Ilianna said impatiently. "And it'll pass through your system within a day or so. Don't be such a baby. Swallow it."
He gave her a somewhat dark look, but put the coin in his mouth. She offered him the can. He took a long drink, then shuddered. "God, I can feel the thing sliding all the way down to my gullet."
"Bullshit." Her voice wasn't in the least sympathetic. She glanced at me. "Shall we go?"
I nodded, glanced at Stane, then headed for the car. Ilianna climbed into the front passenger seat, but Azriel was nowhere to be seen. And this time, I couldn't feel the heat of him. Maybe he'd decided to keep a little more distance between us, just in case I decided to ask any more pesky questions.