“Then why would he let her come with them?”
“Because he wants to find out why an English-speaking village girl would suddenly show up offering to help them along.”
Fear tightened Ellie’s throat.“She has no idea how much danger she’s in.”
Worry darkened Adam’s eyes.“I know.”
Subhas gave Jignesh another order, and the old Adrija warrior broke away to hurry to the other houses in the village.Jignesh had been the one to lead the party that had easily ambushed Ellie and the others on their way to Ranyapali, but he clearly deferred to the younger man—the one Vanika’s friend had called ‘abbaya,’ the term Vijay had given for the local clan leader.
Ellie was starting to suspect that Subhas Konja was capable of handling himself in places far more dangerous than a classroom.
Adam strode back over to Subhas.“Where are they?”
Subhas made a mental calculation.“I know the trail they’re following.If the detachment is marching at a regular pace, they should now be about two and a half miles to the northwest.”
Adam glanced unerringly to a point between the distant peaks beyond the village.He didn’t have to check the compass in his pocket to know where they needed to go.
Families crowded onto their porches, children held close as they watched Subhas with tight concern.Jignesh waved to some of the men as he stalked past.They slung quickly assembled packs over their shoulders as they hopped into the road to join him.
Ellie startled as Kalb pressed himself to the back of her legs, nearly knocking her over.He whimpered as though sensing that something was wrong.
Adam stepped closer to Subhas.“We have to get her out of there.”
Subhas assessed the gathering Adrija.“My men and I will ambush Borthwick’s line.”
Ellie stiffened with alarm.“You’re talking about a battle!People will get hurt!”
“My people,” Subhas returned dangerously, “are more than capable of a fight.”
“Vanikacould get hurt!”She looked frantically to Adam.“There must be a better way!”
Grim understanding tightened Adam’s mouth.“There is—if you and I go get her.”
Shock momentarily blanked her thoughts as Adam’s logic became clear.
She and Adam could go after Vanika—because they had an advantage against Borthwick that no one else in the village could replicate.
“Fiddlesticks,” Ellie breathed out uneasily.
Constance and Neil joined them, Nirjara following more sedately in their wake.
“And why should I believe that the pair of you can do what my men and I can’t—inourforest?”Subhas’s voice dripped with skepticism.
Ellie reeled as she answered him.“Because the pale man with Borthwick needs Adam and me alive.”
Subhas’s eyes narrowed skeptically.“For what?”
A single word echoed through Ellie’s brain, crackling with anger and disdain across a windswept desert night.
Justice.
“Long story,” Adam cut back, visibly mustering patience.“Look, best-case scenario, we track Borthwick’s expedition, sneak in after dark, and get the kid out before anybody notices we were there.She’s not a prisoner—yet—so it shouldn’t be that complicated.But if it gets complicated, Ellie and I won’t get shot over it.Jacobs would have to stop anyone who tried.”
“You realize this sounds insane,” Subhas noted.
“Sure does,” Adam agreed tiredly.“But so do magic mirrors and deserts that turn into waves, and I’ve seen both over the last few weeks.You going to tell me nothing has ever happened to you that you couldn’t explain?”
Subhas cast a frowning, uneasy look at his grandmother.
