"Please."
He released Valdis and the sword began to hiss and spit fire. Azriel frowned. "There is magic attached to that silver."
"Ilianna said that Tao had been spelled to prevent him using his fire—could the chain be the source?"
"Possibly." He passed the tip of Valdis over the links, not quite touching them. The hissing grew more intense. "The spell is twofold. One is containment, the other is notification."
I paused. "You can tell this by just passing the sword over the links?"
"I can't. But Valdis can."
"Hang on," Tao said, craning his neck around to see what Azriel was doing. "Who the hell is Valdis?"
"The sword," Azriel and I answered together. I added, "So the Charna will be warned when you melt the links?"
"Something will." His gaze met mine. "It may not necessarily be the witch."
"I don't care what comes after us," Tao said. "Just get the fucking things off."
"I wouldn't advise—"
"Do it," I cut in. "Silver is poison to wolves, and it's already eating into his wrists."
He stared at me for a moment, then said, "If I melt the cuffs, the Charna will know Tao is free. Which may endanger Stane's life."
"Stane?" Tao said. "Why the hell would he be in danger?"
"Long story." I rubbed my eyes wearily. "Azriel's right. We can't risk it until Stane and the others—"