Phoenix Flame - Sara Holland Page 0,82

close inspection, but we don’t need it to. We just need the Silver Prince to put it on.

We pack everything up, being extra careful with the real armor, but moving fast. I’m desperate to get back up to my room and get a shower. My clothes are sticking to my skin with sweat, and if I’m lucky I might be able to get a couple of hours of sleep before I have to wake up for breakfast. I imagine Nahteran and Taya feel similarly.

But then a nagging thought sneaks through my sleep-deprived brain.

As Taya and Nahteran turn toward the stairs, I call out. “Wait! Now that we’ve got something to trade the Silver Prince for Mom, how is it all going to go down? I mean, once he figures out we betrayed him, I don’t think he’ll let Nahteran escape. And how will we get Mom back to Haven since we’re not bringing the real phoenix flame armor with us?”

“You’re right. That’s not going to work,” Nahteran says.

Taya bites her lip, thinking. “I know the Silver Prince’s bargain said you had to take armor into Oasis. But if we came up with some plausible reason for it, do you think he would come here instead?”

An unmistakable look of relief flashes over Nahteran’s face before he nods. “He wouldn’t be happy about it. But yeah, he would, if he thought he would get the armor. Still, though …” He squints at me. “Are you sure you want him here? In Haven?”

No. That’s almost the last thing I want. It makes my heart feel like it’s turned into a block of ice. But it’s better than the idea of Nahteran venturing into Oasis alone.

“At least then it would be on our terms.”

“We could do it somewhere outside of Havenfall,” Taya suggests. “Past the inn’s protection. That way he’ll have to put the armor on right away, or he’ll get sick.”

I turn to her. “That’s perfect.”

She flashes a tired grin. “Any ideas?”

I think. We’ll want it to be someplace we’re familiar with—or can get familiar with before tomorrow. It needs to have hiding spots, but also be wide open, so that we can run if need be. And far away from people, so that the Silver Prince can’t do any collateral damage.

“How about up in the mountains?” I turn to Nahteran. “Tell the Silver Prince with your mirror that you’ll open a doorway at a certain time and place. We’ll each wear a piece of the real armor so that we can make a doorway, but keep it hidden once the Silver Prince arrives. We’ll wait until he gives us Mom, and then we’ll give him the counterfeit armor. We’ll activate the magic … and …”

And what? And then this nightmare will be over.

The Silver Prince has already tried to kill me and take Havenfall. He would conquer the whole damn planet if he could. And he has Mom. We have to end his threat however we can. No matter what it takes.

“Okay.” Nahteran smiles, and for a second the shadows play oddly with his face, making him a stranger.

A vicious stranger, just like me.

He reaches into his backpack. “I’ll send the message.”

21

That afternoon, Nahteran, Taya, and I climb up the mountain to familiarize ourselves with the spot where we plan to make the trade with the Silver Prince. We haven’t heard back from him since Nahteran sent a message with the scrying mirror, but there’s little else we can do to pass the time. Already the day is going unbearably slowly.

I thought I was in decent enough shape, but Nahteran and Taya outpace me as we climb. As we near the top, they’re twenty yards ahead of me on the path, talking and laughing like we’re not about to face off with a supernaturally powerful murderer. As if it’s just another day.

I can feel myself getting more scared and irritable with every step. I can almost imagine the Silver Prince standing at the top of the mountain, his pale silhouette scarcely visible against the cloudy sky, flames dancing at his fingertips. He’s right there, waiting, but Taya and Nahteran don’t see him. I blink until the image disappears, wipe the sweat roughly from my brow. But I can’t shake the feeling that we’re walking straight into his trap, and I can’t do anything about it. I can’t stop us.

When we get back to the inn, I excuse myself to go help Willow with dinner, wanting to be by myself for a little