“You did well. I thank you for your hard work and sacrifice. That being said... I need you to do something else.” Mahin added.
“What else do you want?”
Almost immediately Victor’s face appeared in front of my eyes. He was right, they definitely wanted more.
“I need to be sure it is the right place.” Mahin drawled.
“In other words, you want me to get inside?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t ask it from you. I simply need to know how many men and what defenses they have.”
“Are you planning to attack the settlement?”
“It is too early to draw any conclusions.” Mahin calmly met my gaze.
I chewed on my lip.
“You have to trust us the same way we trust you,” the priestess continued.
“And you... you trust me? Is that so? Do you keep me separated from Victor because of trust?”
Amira took a step forward, her hand disappeared in the folds of her tunic. I clenched my teeth but made a conscious effort not to reach for my dagger.
“It’s alright.” Mahin raised her hand, stopping the enforcer right in her tracks.
“If you are referring to me not allowing you to go on missions together, you are right. I admit it. I don’t want you two to leave us before you help us locate the abducted women and children.” Her eyes bore into mine, full of calm power and conviction.
“If that’s the case, why all the secrecy? Why keep me in the dark? Is there something else you’re not telling me?”
Mahin looked at the table, and for the first time, I saw some resemblance of hesitation on her face. I waited. Finally, she raised her eyes to me.
“We know where they are,” she said slowly.
“Of course you do.” I shook my head, looking away.
Fatigue hit me unexpectedly. Everything I did, risking my life out in the wastelands, all for nothing. I thought that at least I was doing something good. But as it turned out, Victor had been right all along, I was being used.
“We know where they are. We don’t know how to get the prisoners out.” Mahin added.
So many more questions were on the tip of my tongue, but I held all of them back. There was no way I could trust any of the sisters ever again. Even less, the high priestess. It was simply impossible.
“If I manage to find out more about the compound... If I give you that kind of information, would you consider our debt paid?”
“I give you my word.”
Victor would hate it. I will never hear the end of it.
But, what if what she was saying was true? What if there were women and children that were being abused at this very moment? Would I be able to just leave, go back to Darragh, knowing that I could have helped, but chose not to?
“In that case, I’ll go back out tonight,” I sighed.
“Take a day or two to rest.” Mahin intertwined her fingers, scrutinizing me.
Her gaze made me uncomfortable. It felt like I was doing exactly what she wanted. And I did not like the feeling of being manipulated.
Instead of responding, I moved to the exit.
Amira followed after me.
