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Vesper was looking awkward. “I’ve been to Valtain before. With Laverna.”
I was thunderstruck. “You have? Why didn’t you tell us before?”
He didn’t meet my gaze, instead lifting the empty pan from beside him and beginning to scour it with sandy soil, rubbing the grease away. “It isn’t a trip I enjoy recalling.”
“Why were you and Laverna in Valtain?” Draven’s voice was hard. “When was this?”
“A while back. Nearly a year. Laverna and I took a contract. A very lucrative one.”
I suddenly wondered just how well Vesper knew Laverna. I hadn’t realized they’d worked together so closely.
“A group of merchants thought they could turn into treasure hunters and make a tidy profit,” Vesper continued. “They’d heard the stories, the good and the bad. They had ambition and weren’t afraid of the danger. They had guts,’ll give them that. They wanted to make sure they had sufficient protection, so they hired us. Among others.”
“And?” Draven was studying him coolly. “You and your fellow mercenaries led them into Valtain and what then? You all got rich and now you’re heading back in for more?”
Vesper shook his head. “No. In the end, we guards outnumbered the merchants two to one. But it still wasn’t enough.”
“What do you mean?” Lancelet asked.
“I mean Laverna and I were the only ones who made it out of Valtain again,” Vesper answered.
Draven snorted.
“What?” Vesper demanded.
“Just that I’m not exactly surprised. Did you make it out with the treasures the merchants had collected? I’ll bet you did. That explains how the Noble Knight got its fine new chandelier.”
“We nearly died,” Vesper said heatedly. “We tried to protect the caravan but...”
Draven waved a hand. “Why tell us this? Why now?”
Vesper’s face was angry. “Because I’m trying to help you.”
“Oh? And yet the last people you tried to help didn’t survive with yourhelp, did they? How reassuring,” Draven snapped.
“Stop it. Both of you.” I leaped to my feet. “Let him finish, Draven.”
“I tried to save them. I did my best. Their deaths are on my conscience. I know this. In the end, I hardly escaped with my own life. I have a younger sister to think of. The only reason I took such a dangerous job in the first place was for her.” Vesper met my gaze, and I nodded my understanding. He took a deep breath. “The reason I’m telling you all of this is because last night you mentioned Meridium.”
“Yes? And?” Draven crossed his arms over his chest.
“That’s where we were headed, too. We didn’t make it past the entrance.”
“And then what?” Lancelet sounded nervous.
“We were attacked. By harpies.”
Draven let out a chuckle.
“It isn’t funny!” Vesper said furiously. “They were wild. Vicious.”
“Harpies? You’re trying to scare us away from Miridmiun by talking to me about harpies?” Draven scoffed.
“I’m not trying to scare you away. I know you won’t change your minds. I’m just saying that we have to be careful.”
“I’m always careful,” Draven said coolly. “And in case I haven’t made myself clear enough, these women are undermyprotection. I have no fears for their safety.”
Lancelet scowled. “I’m under no one’s protection. I don’t need it. Yours or his.”
