Page 125 of Tempting Fate

“In myself, I am well. But I have a problem. Have you been following the news on Orith?”

“Why would I? I’m busy playing hide and chase.”

Because information provided solutions; Shohari knew that as well as I. “Your actions have caused more ripples than a boulder thrown in the garden pond, sister. The shaa’ith here are leaving for Orith. Soon. They plan to rescue everyone.”

She blew out a long breath. “Skik.”

“There’s more. At least one bounty hunter is here, and they know where I am. The only reason I’m still free is the village’s protection.”

Shohari’s face twisted, and she tugged on a handful of headspines. “You have to go with them.”

“I can’t.” For various reasons. “Orith is likely to retaliate. Who’s to say they don’t get hurt? It’s not logical.”

“But you’ll definitely be in danger if you don’t go.”

“Leave me to worry about myself, Ohri. Tell me, are you any closer to calling off the bounty?”

She growled, her lip curling in a snarl. “No. Even Paiata cannot find a contact to help. It was done legally, and none of the people he could have spoken to still work at the Hunters’ Guild. And we lasted a week before hunters cottoned on to our decoys. We’ve outrun at least two, but I hope you are putting that brain to good use, brother.”

“I am. Send me everything else you have, no matter how irrelevant you think it is. And stay safe.”

“I will. And you.”

By the time Imani came in, my eyes and neck ached, and the sun rode low in the sky.

I stood, rolling my shoulders, and pulled her into my arms. “I’m glad you’re back.”

She softened into me. “Same, kitten. Have you been there all day?”

“Yes.” I’d reviewed everything I had, over and over, and still the answer eluded me. I knew it existed, knew it like I knew my own self, but every time I got close, it skittered out of reach. “How did you get on?”

“Ugh, don’t ask. Don’t want to talk about it.”

“Does that mean you succeeded, or you’re still looking?”

She gave my chest a half-hearted slap. “I told you not to ask. The former.” She deflated, shoulders drooping, and wrapped her arms around herself. “I’ve got somewhere to stay.”

I couldn’t help the stab of disappointment—or hope. She didn’t sound happy about it, not in the slightest. “That is good, I think?”

“I guess. It helped that Fenn knows people in town now, they have contacts I would never hope to have. What about you, are you winning?”

I pushed my spectacles up my nose. “Not at all. Not reviewing the Hunter’s Guild charter, not reviewing news articles. I’d even hoped I’d glean something from what’s happening on Orith, how Mother might have taken out the contract in the first place, but I only have Orkri’ian sources, and they have nothing.”

Imani tipped her face towards me. “If only there was someone on Orith you could talk to. Get the information direct.”

A gust of wind swooshed through the open window, carrying the scent of hypra blooms and the distant cry of birds. Someone on Orith.

Patterns fell into place like so much code scrolling over a holodisplay.

“You’re brilliant.” I released her and grabbed my datapad, scrolling through the articles I’d already read three times. There. “Not on Orith. From Orith!” At her blank stare, I continued. “The Orithian ambassador! Don’t you see? He was there!”

“You’re not making any sense, love.”

I pointed to the article. “I didn’t recognise the name at first as I was so addled when I was rescued. But look. The ambassador was there. At my home. Rokharu fei Sinla was to mate Shohari, but he helped us escape instead. If we can contact him, he may be able to assist.”

I knew I wasn’t explaining properly, but hours and days and weeks of thinking all condensed into one line of thought, excitement growing with every second like dawn breaking on the horizon.

I called my sister again, not even waiting for her to greet me when she picked up. “Shohari, why haven’t you spoken to Rokharu fei Sinla?”