When she withdrew from his soul, Shyla became aware of her physical body. No longer frozen in place, she filled her lungs.
Ximen had his hand on her arm. “Are you all right?”
“Not really, but I will be.”
He nodded his understanding. Ximen wasn’t all right either. Mojag stared at Jayden, who was now curled in a ball on the floor. Tears welled from his amber eyes—the same color and shape as his sister’s.
“Did you…” Ximen twirled his hand. “You know…”
“Yes, I learned what we needed to know.”
“Do we have to evacuate?”
“No. Everything he told us was true.” She faced Mojag, putting her hands on his bony shoulders. “He loves you. All your interactions with him were genuine. He never lied to you.”
“But he lied to everyone else.”
“He believed he was doing the right thing for everyone.”
“Except you,” Ximen said.
True. “Let’s go. We’ve lots to do to prepare.” But she turned toward Jayden.
He’d uncurled and sat up, wiping his face with the back of his hand.
Shyla pushed the druk closer to him with the tip of her boot. “Being locked in total darkness is cruel, so you can have the druk.”
“You can’t leave me here,” he said.
“Why not?” she asked then pointed to the back of the chamber. “You’ve plenty of supplies for the next thirty sun jumps.”
Jayden spun. Water skins and rolls of jerky rested on the low stone table. A cushion sat next to it along with a small pile of scrolls—because they weren’t heartless. Collection buckets lined the far wall with a jar of cleanser.
“No,” he said with dawning horror. “No. You can’t.”
“We can. And now that you have lots of time to think, consider this: if we’re defeated by the priestess, will we tell her where to find you or not? That is, if we live through the battle.” She paused to let her words sink in. “I guess if no one shows up after thirty sun jumps, you’ll have your answer.”
She tilted her head toward the exit and the three of them turned to go.
“Stop,” Jayden called, once again using his magic.
But Shyla was ready for him and deflected it. They strode from the chamber, turning right at the first intersection.
“No!” Jayden’s last anguished yell echoed off the walls, thudded with their heartbeats, and followed them all the way back home.
So. Much. To. Do. With only limited time. Before they entered their headquarters, Shyla explained to Ximen what she’d learned and what she was planning.
“Wait. The priestess knows we’re going to buy the platinum from Zimraan and you still want to go ahead with the purchase?” Ximen asked with plenty of skepticism.
“Yes.”
“And that’s where they expect to capture you.”
“Yes.”
He shook his head. “You’re the boss.”
And she had the most to lose. When she entered the common room, she noted the quiet conversations and morose expressions, the sense of defeat and fatigue in the air. Time to change that.
“Listen up,” she said, projecting her voice. “We’ve work to do.”
They fetched the rest of the Invisible Swords and she issued assignments. Handing a bunch of torques to Ximen, she said, “Figure them out. I want to know exactly what they can do and how to counteract them.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that all?”
She ignored his sarcasm. “Have Titus help you. Gurice!”
The woman snapped to attention.
“You’re in charge of training the new wielders. Start with Mojag. He’s quick and from the way he stopped Jayden’s sand attack, powerful. Concentrate on manipulation; we’ll teach them the other techniques later.”
“Them?” Gurice asked.
“Yes, I’ll be sending you more soon.” She glanced at the two women and the man who’d been cracked. They’d sat together, looking overwhelmed and uncertain.
Then Shyla gestured to Elek and Jaft. “Gather all the warriors,” she instructed. “Ask the new members who can fight and see what they can do. I want a status report on readiness in a sun jump.”
They nodded and, for once, Jaft didn’t have a smart-ass reply. Shyla watched them move among the others. Before they could approach Rae, she pulled the woman aside.
“Rae, it’s your choice. Open your magic or join the fighters.”
While petite, Rae knew how to use her size to her advantage and was fierce in a fight.
“What do you need more? Wielders or fighters?” Rae asked.
An easy question to answer. “Wielders who can fight.”
“Figures.” She drew in a breath and straightened her shoulders. “All right. Let’s do it now before I change my mind.” She gave Shyla a tentative smile.
“Meet me in my room,” Shyla said. “I need to talk to the others.” She found Yoria, Lamar, and the three ex-deacons and their three friends. Explaining the process of opening their magic, Shyla gave them all the choice. “No one is forcing you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. If you decide to become wielders, then wait outside my room for your turn.”
As she headed there, Aphra approached her. “What’s my job?”
“That tunnel is very important. Take who’s left and keep working on it.”
“All right.”
Rae waited for her inside her small chamber. She sat next to the bucket of sand, staring at it. “I never thought of sand as a weapon before Jayden attacked us. It was always just a nuisance to me.” She met Shyla’s gaze. “The Ways of the Yarin are all about defense, and I can think of many instances where sand would make an effective shield.”
“I see you’re getting used to the idea of wielding magic.”
“I’m an Invisible Sword. We don’t back down from a challenge.”
“Ah, that’s my girl. Are you ready?” At Rae’s nod, Shyla asked her to concentrate on the sand, willing it to move.
When her magic glowed, Shyla pulled on the edges, opening it up. Rae’s fear of abandonment poured out. Not a surprise, but the fact Rae had been three circuits old at the time shocked Shyla to her core. Most parents left their sun-kissed children when they were mere sun jumps old. Rae’s hid her from the deacons. Until they changed their minds.
Stay here, her mother says. We’re going to play a game.
Rae claps her hands in excitement, but why does Mommy look so sad? The glare of the hot sun makes it hard to see, but tears shine in Mommy’s eyes.
Close your eyes and turn around, her mother says.
She doesn’t understand this new game or why there are people dressed in green with her and Mommy. Where’s Daddy? But she does as she’s told. ’Cause it’s Mommy. When nothing happens for a long time, she opens her eyes. The heat sears her lungs as she looks behind her. She’s alone. Terror strikes her like a blow. Crying out for her mommy, she runs, following the tracks, but they’re confusing and she’s soon lost. She keeps running even though the sun presses fire down onto her. Her skin turns bright red. The soles of her feet burn.