Page 12 of Thief of Hearts

“And a diviner stone!”

I couldn’t help myself. “What’s a diviner stone?”

“You can ask it any question you want, any question, and it will give you an honest answer.”

Chills danced across my skin. While I’d been annoyed with Invara earlier, this was it. This was how I would become leader of my clan.

I would ask this diviner stone what I needed to do to change my mother’s mind.

It sounded like I was going to have to enter a tournament. “Where is Sagaris?”

The handsome man spoke again. “It’s a day’s ride across the Wastelands, due east from here.”

The Wastelands were a neutral territory—none of the surrounding nations wished to claim that desert.

No wonder I hadn’t heard of Sagaris. Who would set up in the middle of the Wastelands?

“The desert can be a dangerous place,” the handsome man continued. “You really should ride with us. And then perhaps you could think of a way that you could . . . repay us.”

“We don’t mind sharing,” another man added.

All of them laughed, letting me know exactly how they expected to be repaid. Bastards.

The family finally got their linens and their key, and the second that I heard their door lock, I stood up. “I’d rather ride with a pit of poisonous vipers.”

Then I invited them all to do something that was anatomically impossible to themselves.

I gave myself one second to savor their shock and anger before heading up to my room.

My clothes were damp and I hung them up to finish drying. I got into the bed but didn’t go to sleep. I hoped the men were smart enough to stay away, but I needed to remain awake in case they weren’t.

Sure enough, four hours later, I heard them on the landing. They were moving stealthily down the hallway.

“She’s in that last room,” someone whispered.

I already had my sword out as I got up to stand near the door. Anticipation of the upcoming battle made my limbs feel light.

“If you wish to live to see the morning, I would suggest you return to your own rooms,” I called out. “If you enter my room, I will kill you.”

That made them fall silent, as they apparently considered my words.

Then one of them said, “She’s only one weak woman. How much damage could she do?”

I gripped my sword more tightly.

They were about to find out.

Chapter Five

“This is your last warning!” I told them.

They began to throw themselves against my door. It took them a bit but they finally managed to kick it down.

The handsome man entered the room first with his sword drawn. I shouldn’t have been surprised.

“Why are you all so eager to meet your own end?” I asked. “Did you have difficult childhoods?”

He ignored my taunt. “I have won sword-fighting competitions in three different tournaments. What makes you think you’ll survive?”