Stop.
They both froze. Vallie’s arms were extended as she reached for Shyla. Pushing her arms down, Shyla hooked the manacles back on the woman’s belt. Then she took Nuru’s sword and slid it back into its sheath. Shyla stepped behind them and erased their memories of the encounter with her. Only when she was out of sight did she release them.
She climbed to level forty-two. After ensuring there was nobody in the tunnels around the professor’s room, Shyla knocked on the door.
Emeline invited her inside. “I didn’t think you’d be back this quick.”
“No sense waiting.” Shyla pulled the statue from her pack.
“Oh my.” She took the golden figure almost reverently. Holding it near a lantern, she examined it carefully, once again using her tools. “It’s genuine.” Emeline glanced up. “Well done. How many artifacts did you find in Tamburah’s second vault?”
“I’ve a few more pieces,” Shyla hedged. “Are you interested in buying them?”
“I doubt I have the coin for such historically valuable items. But the Water Prince is very curious where you found these. Guards!”
Shyla started as guards rushed from the professor’s sleeping chamber. So focused on potential ambushers outside the room, she’d never considered seeking them inside. A deadly mistake.
Fifteen
Shyla recovered from her shock and held up her hands. Not to surrender, but to push her magic at the six guards.
Stop.
They halted.
The professor clutched the statue of Tamburah to her chest as she glanced at the guards. “What are you waiting for? Grab her!”
Sleep.
The four men and two women collapsed to the floor.
Emeline backed away from Shyla. “What did you do to them?”
Shyla stepped toward the deceitful woman. “You’ll find out if you don’t pay me what you owe for the crown.”
“She’s bluffing,” a familiar and rather terrifying voice said. The Water Prince stepped from Emeline’s sleeping chamber with Captain Yates right behind him. “Shyla won’t hurt you.” He met her gaze.
Big mistake as that allowed her to read his soul. The prince gaped in shock as he noticed her new eye color. His surprise transformed to fury in a heartbeat, but he recovered, burying his anger deep and resuming his neutral expression. He studied her as if appraising a gamelu herd. As much as she was tempted to go deeper into his thoughts and emotions, she kept her focus on his surface emotions only. For now.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Shyla said. Her voice remained calm despite the tight fear ringing her throat. Gauging how much strength she needed to knock both the prince and Yates unconscious, she collected her will. From past experiences, Yates would be hard to influence. Perhaps she should just bolt. But would she make it to the door before Yates caught her?
Still clutching the statue, Emeline pressed into a corner, staying out of the way. The prince and Yates kept their distance from her. The Water Prince wore an unremarkable tunic and pants that showed off his athletic build. At twenty-five circuits old, he was young for such a powerful position, but his ruthlessness had developed at an early age.
Holding his hands out to the sides, the prince said, “Relax. We’re here to talk.”
The truth. Yates’ massive fists were pressed to his hips, but he hadn’t drawn his sword. Or his knife. His fierce glower warned her that he could grab both at any time.
She gestured to the six guards on the floor and edged closer to the door. “Sure doesn’t seem like it.”
He gave them a disdainful look. “They’re for my protection.” Then he returned his full focus on her.
Even though she knew he was evil to his core, she was still struck by his handsome features, the deep emerald of his eyes flecked with silver, his black hair contrasting with his tan skin. Like many others who lived deep in the bowels of Zirdai, the prince spent little time in the sun, while Yates could almost be his shadow.
Subtly she shifted, increasing the distance between them. The door loomed behind her about two meters away. But then she sensed more guards on the other side. They filled the hallway in front of Emeline’s quarters.
Scorching sand rats.
“What did you want to talk about?” she asked, delaying the inevitable. Her best chance would be to dive into the hallway, surprising those waiting, and hope to sprint away without having to send them all to sleep. She inched closer.
