“What can it hurt to look?” Shade asked when Grim still showed hesitation.
With a resigned sigh Grim leaned forward and pulled the closest bag over to him. His expression shifted from suspicion to shock as he stared at the contents and then looked up sharply at Neph. “Who do you drink tea with?” he demanded. He slipped his hand into the bag and lifted a handful of what looked to be black gravel from her vantage point across the table. Still watching Neph he let the handful spill slowly back into the bag and glanced to Shade who looked thoroughly confused. “These are Stonevine seeds from Glis. Typically they are in very short supply and the amount in front of me is worth a small fortune in gold.”
“Uh, how exactly are seeds going to help us?” Shade asked with obvious hesitation. He still looked confused but there was a faint gleam of hope in his eyes at Grim’s reaction to Neph’s gift.
Neph, Zoelyn noticed with amusement had remained utterly silent on the matter of how he had gained the seeds and from his expression he didn’t look inclined to speak of it anytime soon. Her gaze shifted back to Grim once more as he lifted another handful of seeds and let them trail from his hand back into the bag. She could see the gears of his mind turning and the glint of determination that was slowly forming in his dark eyes.
“I can disable the city with these.” Grim whispered and Zoelyn wasn’t sure if he was answering Shade or talking to himself. His eyes were still focused on the small treasure before him. “We sneak into the city and scatter these and then I will lure Derrick Rivasa to us and ensure he brings Syrah with him. Once Syrah is safe I will activate the seeds. That should cause enough of a distraction for you to kill Derrick as you promised Onvalla while I see to his remaining guards. The part I’m unsure of is how to rescue the prisoners. We will be working with limited time once I attack the city. Someone there is bound to have enough skill to mind link for help with a neighboring city.” Grim’s voice trailed off and he began to slowly drum his fingers on the table as he continued to contemplate the matter.
“It’s simple. Dray and I will go with you and while you and Shade are seeing to Derrick we will retrieve the prisoners from where ever they are being held.” Zoelyn said quietly.
“No.” Neph snapped at once and Zoelyn smiled in response. She had known he would hate the idea, but it was the most logical solution to their problem.
“Dray can you camouflage Zoey or does her curse absorb your magic as well?” Shade asked quietly before Neph could continue in his objection.
Shrugging one shoulder Dray rose from his chair and moved closer to her. Zoelyn watched his face closely as he extended a hand toward her, but there was no trace of the fear that typically showed on the faces of others who touched her. She could feel the weight of his hand through the leather of her coat, but no trace of the tingling that always accompanied her curse when it drained magic. With a frown she glanced up at Dray and raised an eyebrow.
“Are you going to try it?” She asked softly and he smiled at her in obvious amusement.
“I did and it is working. You can still see me because of the contact between us.” Dray explained with a wink then reluctantly pulled his hand back and nodded to Shade. “There was no drain of my powers. Perhaps it’s due to the lead lining of her coat or maybe the Blight immunity to magic protects my talent. I’m not sure why it works, but it does and that is all that matters.”
“Zoelyn you just arrived here. How can you possibly expect me to allow you to go?” Neph growled with clear annoyance. His pale blue eyes were alight with anger, but he was controlling it. She wasn’t sure if it was due to Shade’s earlier threat or if her brother still remembered how poorly she reacted to his temper. She had always been the more rational of the two of them, and in the past she had chosen to simply ignore his tantrums until he conceded to rational conversation.
“Neph, how can we ask them to rescue our own people without offering help? I understand why you can’t go, but can you give me one solid reason why I shouldn’t beyond your concern for my safety?” Zoelyn countered calmly.
“You are a pacifist for one.” Neph said raising one finger. “You aren’t trained to defend yourself even if you decided you wanted to.” Neph continued raising a second finger.
“I’m going Neph.” Zoelyn cut in before he could raise the third finger. “I know a bit about defending myself and I can heal. There is a very good possibility that particular talent will be required.” She added firmly and gave him a glare of sheer stubbornness.
“So everything as I said it before and add the fact that Zoelyn will be rescuing the prisoners while we deal with Derrick.” Grim said with a nod of approval. “There is a distinct possibility that this might actually work. Can you stone the ship again Shade so that you will have a quick escape once Zoelyn returns?”
“I can stone the ship so that we can have a quick escape once she returns.” Shade corrected with heavy emphasis on the word we.
“No time to argue it now.” Grim grumbled and rose from his chair. He carefully lifted each of the bags with the same tender care most handled newborn babes and nodded to Neph. “Give her more credit and respect her courage.” He suggested in a none to gentle tone.
“I respect her courage and condemn her idiocy in the same breath.” Neph growled and rose from his chair still glaring down at her.