“What’s going on?” she asked.
“The Water Prince sent his dogs to round up all the treasure hunters,” he said in a defeated tone.
“Round up? Are they—”
“They’ve been arrested. They’re either rotting in one of his black cells or have been tortured to death.”
Horrified, she pressed her hands to her chest. “Do you know what happened to Banqui?”
“Dekel spotted him creeping around the city, looking skeletal. It was about twenty to twenty-five sun jumps ago. Then one of my hunters reported seeing him about two or three sun jumps after that with a deacon escort. And I’ve heard nothing since.”
Captured or collaborating? Either way it wasn’t good news.
“Sorry, I know you are friends. I’d look into his whereabouts, but I’ve my own problems to deal with.”
She focused on Fadey. “Why is the prince arresting the hunters now?” The prince had mostly ignored them and the black market merchants.
“Those blasted Eyes. You stole them from him and he’s determined that no more artifacts shall be taken. Rohana, his new archeologist, is the only person authorized to dig.” Fadey leaned forward. “If you still have them, you need to give them back!”
It was a good thing Fadey’s powers of observation tended toward ancient artifacts or else he would have noticed the change in her eye color by now. “The Eyes don’t belong to him.”
“But we’reallsuffering.”
“Do you really think if he had The Eyes he would release the hunters?” Guilt and sadness twisted around her heart. At least Fadey wasn’t locked in a cell. A beat later—why not? “Why didn’t he arrest you?”
“He did. I was…questioned and forced to give him the names of treasure hunters.” He hung his head in shame.
“Did he interrogate you in one of his special rooms?”
A nod, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“Fadey, no one is going to blame you for cracking. You survived a terrible experience.”
“No one else thinks that way. They all say I’m a coward. Then to rub it in, the prince assigned me to be Rohana’s assistant and if I don’t locate artifacts for her, she threatens to send me back to the prince.” He shuddered then hooked a thumb behind him. “Those dogs outside my door are looking for the hunters who got away.”
A spark of hope. “Some escaped?”
“A few. Fortunately, I don’t know all the hunters in Zirdai so couldn’t name them, and they’re smart enough to stay far away from me. No one has visited me except you, and now he’ll know you’re alive.”
“No, he’ll learn someone came to visit you. They didn’t recognize me.”
Looking miserable, he put his head in his hands. “They’llaskme, Shyla. And I’m not strong enough to keep it secret.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
He glanced at her. “Are you that confident you can avoid being arrested?”
“No, but I’m learning how to stay hidden, probably like the hunters who escaped. Or do you think they left Zirdai?”
“I don’t know where they are. If they’re smart, they’re long gone.”
“Do you know who escaped?”
“Someone tipped off Dekel and he told his crew. They scattered right before the guards arrived.”
“Is Aphra part of Dekel’s crew?”
“Yeah.”
