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I rejoined the others just as Szerain finished his rundown of Xharbek’s antics and our plans thus far.
“That seems a clever trap,” Elinor said, brow furrowed. “But how will you get him to tamely walk into it?”
“We hadn’t quite reached that point in the planning,” I said. “Xharbek isn’t stupid, which rather limits the possible ways to lure him in.”
“Is there perhaps an object he desires?” Giovanni offered.
Szerain leaned back and crossed his feet. “His wish list is a touch more abstract than most.”
Elinor stood a bit straighter. “I know what he desires—me,” she said. “Use me as your lure.” Her voice held the barest whisper of fear—noticeable to me only because I’d been her.
My estimation of her climbed higher. Being fearless was overrated.
“Don’t be absurd,” Szerain said at the same time as Giovanni’s, “Absolutely not!”
She shifted to better narrow her eyes at both men. “Excuse me?”
Giovanni wilted under the fierce gaze, but Szerain inclined his head in apology. “What I meant is that you are of no use to Xharbek now that you have the firewall.”
“Xharbek doesn’t know that, though,” I pointed out. Elinor shot me a grateful look.
Szerain grew thoughtful. “You’re right. And he wouldn’t be able to resist making a try for her.”
“Wait, no,” I said, wincing. “He’d be able to read the truth from her before he got close enough to be trapped.”
Szerain shook his head. “With the firewall, I can shield her well enough.”
“Perfect. How close can he get before he realizes she’s no good to him anymore?”
“Within a few feet,” Szerain said.
Close enough.
Giovanni reached for Elinor’s hand. “My love, please. You cannot put yourself in such danger.”
“Yes, I can, and I will.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Dear Giovanni, don’t you see that I must?”
He searched her face, then his distress softened to acceptance. “I do, though I am loath to admit it. My beloved. I will remain here and await your triumphant return.”
She gave him a smile of heart-melting adoration then leaned in and kissed him. “My little snake,” she murmured ever so softly. He chuckled and kissed her back.
Curiosity swelled about the little snake thing, but I forced my mind to more important matters and hit Szerain with my next thought. “To keep Xharbek from discerning our intention, I propose that only Elinor, you, and I know that she’s a lure, or that we’re hoping to confront him at all. We can’t be read. Everyone else needs to believe that we’re there to close the valve, and the extra forces with us are to keep the demons at bay.”
Szerain considered for a moment then blew out a gusty breath. “That seems to cover the needed bases. And Elinor can wear a makkas bracelet. It will be arcane camouflage to muddle her signature so Xharbek won’t notice her until we get into place.”
“At which time, she’ll remove the makkas and be like a beacon of come-and-get-me.”
Szerain gave a firm nod. “He’ll take the bait, I’ll break the bond, we’ll wrap him in makkas and zap him with rakkuhr. Wham. Bam.”
“I just had a nasty thought,” I said. “What’s to keep Xharbek from scooping everyone into dimensional pockets and leaving them to rot?”
“Aside from demahnk constraints—which Xharbek is good at loopholing—the area around ground zero is too unstable to allow access to any dimensional pockets.” He looked around. “Anything else? No? Good. Go do what you need to do.”
I pulled Elinor aside as we neared the stairs, then waited for Giovanni to reach the top before I leaned close. “What’s the ‘little snake’ about?” I whispered. “Eilahn called him that, and he blushed scarlet.”
She grinned, bright and mischievous. “He is quite skilled with his tongue,” she whispered back, eyes dancing with merriment as I clapped a hand over my mouth to hold back my chortle. “Eilahn once heard me say it to him, and she does so love to tease.” She looped her arm through mine as we climbed the stairs. “Do you not have a term of endearment for your Lord Mzatal?”
“Yep. I call him Boss.” I grinned. “Because we both know who the real boss is.”
