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I paused in the avenue, turning to him. He was talking about my grandmother, who was well known in Askeland for her healing abilities. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought of her. “You think she could heal Raven?”
“I think it’s our only option at this point if we want to read that map.”
“We’d have to take Raven to Askeland with us,” I said, pointing out the massive hole in this plan.
“Without kidnapping her, preferably,” he said, probably knowing I’d be tempted to pay Sal to temporarily transform Raven into a trinket—just anything pocket-size, inanimate, without needs or opinions—so I could get her to Askeland quickly and unharmed.
“And we’d have to beg the king for more time to find the stone,” I said, thinking out loud as the night market swirled around us. The new moon would be upon us by the time we arrived in Askeland with a map and no stone. Would showing the king Raven’s map be enough to spare Lila’s life until we could get the Zavien stone? I didn’t know.
My head snapped up when I heard a commotion on the other side of the avenue. A basket of vials toppled over, and a woman shouted curses at a figure running by.
“Sorry!” the runner called back over her shoulder, not slowing down.
It was Raven.
And she was running straight toward us.
When she reached us, Kah glanced at me. “Well, that was easy.”
“What happened? Where were you?” I snapped at her.
“I could ask you the same thing.” There was a mixture of accusation and unease written on her face.
What did that mean?“Kah and I found accommodations for the night at this inn and bought some supplies.” I held out the satchel I was carrying as proof. “Look, it’s dangerous here. I told you that,” I said, my tone harsher than I intended, but she didn’t know the Market of End like I did. Bad things happened when backs were turned. And with the threat of Malengard growing, everyone was on edge. “What if the Wolf guards had seen you?”
“Skies, Jeddak, you’re not my keeper. I’m free to do as I will,” she said, her tone equally as inflamed.
“Well, next time, make it yourwillto stay in one spot until I get back, k’da?”
Her eyes met mine. “I followed you,” she said, her words measured.
“What?”
“To the Magi’s tent. You wanted something from her. Something to do withme.” It was a statement, not a question.
“She’s got you there,” Kah snorted, watching the drama unfold.
“I—” I stammered, running my fingers through my wet hair. Had she overheard my conversation with Sal? “I don’t know what youthinkyou heard, but I was asking if the Magi could restore your magic.”
It was the truth. Partially.
Raven watched me in silence for a few moments, her expression softening though still wary. Water dripped down her face to the ends of her long hair, glistening in the lantern lights strung above our heads. She inhaled like she was going to say something but then stopped.
“I would have told you, but I didn’t think it mattered because Sal said her magic couldn’t heal anyone,” I added, casually shrugging my shoulders. Then something occurred to me. Raven running back here. The unnerved expression on her face. “You didn’t talk to the Magi, did you?”
Her gaze shifted slightly.
Oh, no.If Sal talked to Raven, she would’ve quickly figured out this was the Zavien girl with the map who she’d told me about. I couldn’t imagine how many of Sal’s unsavory customers would pay handsomely to know that a map leading to a stone of power was in the Market of End. If word of the stone spread, others would be tempted by the same power the bear king craved.
“No,” Raven finally said. “Of course not.”
I stared at her. She was hiding something. I decided not to force it out of her. At this point, I needed her to agree to come to Askeland with us … willingly. Meaning I was going to have to use every bit of skill and charm I possessed to convince her without seeming forceful or underhanded. And when that didn’t work—because Raven was bound to do theoppositeof what I wanted—I still had some of the sleeping potion in my pack.
“Look, it’s been a long day. I got us accommodations at the inn. How about we go there and get some sleep, k’da?” I said, trying to make it sound like a friendly invitation, not a demand. She didn’t know I had no intention of letting her out of my sight again until Lila was set free.
“Fine,” Raven said, not putting up a fight as she followed me to the inn. As we passed the woman with the overturned basket, Raven ducked down behind Kah. He seemed amused to be used as her makeshift shield. I could tell he was starting to like her. Whereas every second I spent with her made me wish the stone I’d been seeking for months wasn’t tied to this beautiful, reckless, headstrong girl.
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