“Dagan,” Asha breathed his name. “You scared me.”
At the sight of the newcomer, Eris froze.
The man on the other side of Asha was older than she remembered. His face was lined by years at sea and his hair was almost entirely white with age. But she knew him. A sudden memory struck her, of running down the scrin’s wharf at the sight of hisboat’s sails. Of the smile that greeted her when he’d cast anchor. Of the weathered hands that passed her baskets of fish.
Dagan.
A lump formed in her throat at the sight of her old friend. And in that moment, she forgot to keep herself concealed.
The old fisherman looked up, over Asha’s shoulder, and saw her.
His forehead folded in a frown. And then his eyes shone with recognition as he whispered her name.
“Eris?”
It was the way he said it that undid her. He was speaking to the girl she used to be. Not the girl she was. He was seeing the child she’d been before everyone and everything she loved was torn away from her.
Eris stepped back, not wanting him to get close. Not wanting him to realize what she was about to do.
Because above them, Kadenze flew in slow circles. Watching her.
“Is that really you?” Dagan said, taking a step toward her.
Asha had turned around now. Her eyes narrowed on the dart shooter in Eris’s hand.
Acaw!broke the moment—a warning about the cost of not coming through on her deal.
If she didn’t act now, she would lose everything all over again.
Eris faced down the Namsara—the cousin Safire loved, and who loved her back. Eris had known that kind of love once. Lifting the shooter once more to her lips, Eris sucked in abreath. Only this time, as she blew with all the force in her, she tilted it skyward.
The dart flew.
Straight at Kadenze.
The raven writhed as it hit, then quickly regained its balance. She could almost feel its shock... which quickly turned to rage as it swooped back, its red eyes on her.
Eris stepped back. It hadn’t worked and now Kadenze was coming for her.
It must be immune....
Kadenze stumbled, dipping, then recovering.
Eris stopped her retreat.
It dipped again, losing control, then dropped into the forest.
Eris looked back to Asha and Dagan, then exchanged her dart shooter for her spindle.
“Wait,” said Asha, stepping closer.
“The empress made Jemsin a deal,” said Eris, already crouching down. “I don’t know why Leandra wants you, but I suggest you stay far away from her.”
Her hands trembled as she drew a silver line in the earth. It glowed faintly as the mist poured out.
What have I done?The question beat in her brain. She needed to run. Needed to head for the furthest port from here and stow away aboard a ship....
Once the poison wears off, Kadenze will come for me. It always does.
