Ricardo held the door to the outbuilding open for me, and I stepped inside. I removed my scabbard from my back, belted it to my waist, and created a light globe in my hand. He led the way down the narrow steps to the tunnel.
“Why do you suppose they attacked Couve twice?”
“Only a few men entered during the first attack.” He unplugged a golf cart. “Probably to kill Gareth and remove the wards for the bigger attack.”
“Gareth?”
“That is Bastien’s father’s name.”
“How evil do you have to be to sacrifice your own father?”
“Odil has been a burr in his father’s side since birth, but I highly doubt he’d let someone kill his father.” Ricardo slipped into the driver’s seat of the golf cart. “I bet he’s not aware of the consequences from his actions. He’s not the sharpest tooth in a Laniar’s mouth.”
I rolled my eyes and slid into the passenger seat.
He turned the key, and the cart whirred to life. I dropped my light globe when he turned on the headlights. He backed the cart up and guided it down the tunnel.
“In spite of their differences, Odil loved and respected his father. No, something else is at hand and comes from Conemar, I am certain. I must get you to the shelter before I sneak into Esteril and find out what’s going on there.”
“You’re going to Esteril?”
“Yes. In order for Conemar to weave Sean’s and Carrig’s minds together, the two must be alive. I believe Carrig might be in Esteril.” He flicked his eyes at me and returned them immediately to the tunnel. “Carrig is a powerful Sentinel, and we need his skills to defeat Conemar, so I’m willing to risk it.”
“I know Carrig is in Esteril,” I said. “I had a vision of it.”
“You’re favored by the spirit seers? Gian was as well. They show you what they think you need to see. Be wise and remember all you’ve witnessed.”
“Why do the visions have to be so nightmarish?”
“Only by understanding the evil events of our past can we learn to prevent future disasters.” The blaze of the headlights ricocheting off the tunnel’s walls illuminated his perfectly aligned, sharp white teeth. I pulled up the collar of my leather vest, hiding my neck. He smirked. “I will deliver you unharmed to the shelter.”
Everything about him was smooth and dark, like melting chocolate. No wonder Faith was heartbroken over him. “Why did you dump Faith?” I gripped the window frame as he swung the cart around a corner.
“Most Laniars have no control over the desire to love many.” He kept his focus on the winding tunnel. “It’s a survival thing. Unfortunately, Faith is different and has many human feelings. Monogamy, one of them.”
“I see.” My toes clenched in my boots as he veered around another corner.
“I saw Katy when we rescued Asile. She told me to tell you she’s well.”
Nana had mentioned she’d gotten together with a Ricardo when she was young. Oh no. Eww. “You’re not the Ricardo. The one she had a romance with years ago, are you?”
“I am. She was a fiery little witch back then. A true beauty.”
My stomach churned. “I don’t want to hear any more.”
He laughed.
“Anyway,” I said. “I’ve decided to go with you.”
“What do you mean, you’ve decided?”
“I’m going to help you save Carrig. You’re right, we need him—I need him if I’m ever going to master my powers.”
“You know, Merlin—not to mention Arik—will stake me.” He slammed on the brakes as we came to the end of the tunnel.
“I’ll say I followed you. You had nothing to do with it. So, how do we get into Esteril?”
“Well, they will let me in, but not you. We can’t get you through the wards without a wizard. It’s best I go alone.”
“I can take care of the wards.”
He got out of the cart. “It won’t work. The moment you enter the library, they can track you.”
I walked around to his side of the cart, stood in front of him, and pulled down the collar of my shirt.
He eyed my chest. “You’re too young. Even I have standards.”
“Gross. I mean this.” I pointed to my scar. “This is a charm. It shields me from the Monitors and this”—I held up my palm and formed a pink globe—“disables wards and stuff.” I popped the globe, tugged up the neckline of my shirt, and waited for the side effects of conjuring. They didn’t come; I felt fine. “One more thing,” I said. “If you’re tricking me, I will