A smile tilted his lips as he stepped out of the water spraying from holes in the marble. Steam rose around him like a halo. “If I knew I’d have an audience, I would have worn something other than my birthday suit.” He grabbed a towel hanging over the door.
“I didn’t know you could sing like that,” I said, watching the muscles of his shoulders and biceps flex as he dried his hair with the towel. He pulled on a thick robe, pushed the door open, and headed over to me.
“You were gone when I woke up,” he said, tossing the towel over his shoulder.
“Lei was training me with the globes.” I met his steps. “And I stopped by to check on Carrig.”
“How is he doing?”
“The same,” I said.
He stared down at me, and I brushed a strand of wet hair from his face. As I lowered my hand, he caught it and pressed his lips against my palm. “I could get used to you being around often.”
“Yeah, it’s sort of nice.” Sort of? Really, Gia? Way to encourage things.
A laugh escaped him. “Only sort of? I believe you’re downplaying it.” He pulled me to him and leaned over to give me a kiss.
A siren blared from the village, and we instantly pulled apart.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I’m not certain,” he said and took off for the camp, clutching my hand and taking me along with him. “Get in your gear. I’ll meet you at the path leading to the village.”
“Okay,” I said, panting. He let go when we reached the tents, and I sprinted to mine. I rushed around, putting the leather breastplate from the gear Lei had given me over my white linen tunic and strapping the sword and scabbard to my waist. There was a holster holding a dagger, and I snatched it up and belted it around my thigh.
Before leaving, I tucked the leather canister with the two vials and Gian’s instructions into my boot, since there were no pockets in the clothes I wore. With brisk steps, I weaved through the tents and up the hill.
Lei, Jaran, and Demos met me as I approached the pathway.
“Where’s Bastien?” Demos asked.
“Right here,” Bastien said, hiking up to us.
We followed him through the narrow footpaths snaking around huts and stucco buildings of various sizes. Through a break in a flowered hedge, I spotted a small Talpar woman. A litter of seven toddler pups ran around her legs. The mole-like feelers surrounding her nose moved frantically, like fingers grasping the air. Her eyes followed us as we passed, a frightened look on her face.
The Red towered over a group of his men. Beside him, I recognized Edgar. He had been a spy for the council. The last time I saw him, he’d become Uncle Philip’s personal bodyguard. His blond, stringy hair was gone, and he now sported a buzz cut that made his hair look darker. The usual look of doom sat on his face. He was thinner but still ripped. Though he was probably around twenty, his face looked aged and rugged with the many cuts and bruises marring his skin.
“The council has blocked the entry into Barmhilde,” Edgar was saying as we joined them. “They aren’t too happy with you, Red. It isn’t wise stealing Asile’s imports from the human world.”
The Red growled. “They left us with no other options. We must feed our own.”
“Their restrictions will only get worse.” Edgar’s eyes went to me. “Gia, it’s good to see you alive and well. But you should know there is a price on your head. You aren’t safe in the covens or havens. Why are you here? The human world is your best bet at hiding.”
“She’s under my protection,” The Red said, not giving me a chance to answer. “If anyone from Barmhilde tries to harm her or take her from here, I will have your head.” His eyes went around the group.
“A plant I have here in the village alerted me of Gia’s arrival in Barmhilde.” Edgar surveyed the crowd. “There could be other spies here, and you wouldn’t know them.”
My eyes followed where his were going. “Shouldn’t we speak somewhere more private?”
“I’m with Gia,” Bastien said. “We must take this someplace else.”
The Red nodded his agreement before speaking to the crowd. “It will get tougher the closer we come to war with the havens. We have plenty of supplies, thanks to Bastien Renard. We should be fine for several months, though we are on high alert. You all know what that means—prepare for an attack. Should you hear another alarm, get your children and your weak to the underground shelters.”
“I will place a ward over the entry,” Bastien said. “It should hold or at least delay an attack.”
“I’d appreciate it.” The Red lowered his voice, his eyes going to Bastien. “Come to the community fire pit in the camp after you place the ward. Gia and the Sentinels from Asile, follow me. Edgar, you may join us.”
We trailed The Red to a fire pit surrounded by large boulders. “Sit,” he said.
“Why aren’t you with Philip?” I asked Edgar, who sat on a rock beside me.
He scratched his scalp. “Have you not watched the Mystik box?”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “I don’t know what that is.”
“It’s like your human telly.” Lei adjusted her seat on the slanted boulder. “Except ours is holographic.”
Demos plopped down next to Jaran. “I actually prefer the human one.”
Bastien arrived and took the unoccupied boulder next to me. He rested his hand on my knee, and I leaned against him. This small talk was grinding on my nerves.
“Okay, so what about the Mystik box?” I asked.
Edgar dropped his hand from his head. “Philip has been arrested and is being held in the gallows under the Vatican. It’s been all over the news.”
“What?” It was as if a wave knocked me over and an undertow pulled me into deep water. I couldn’t breathe. “Why would they arrest a high wizard?”
“That’s unheard of,” Bastien added.
Edgar’s face held no expression. He was good at concealing his emotions, which he probably learned during spy training or something. “He’s been accused of assisting you and hiding you out in Ireland. They scryered him. Everything that was once hidden in his mind has been exposed.”
“The attack on our hideout was the council’s doing?” Anger burned over Lei’s words, and flames sparked in her eyes.
“I’m afraid so,” Edgar answered.
Demos shot to his feet. “They betrayed us.”
Jaran popped up and wrapped an arm around Demos. “Calm down. We have to think this through.”
“Why would they do such a thing?” The Red asked.
Edgar lowered his head. “With Philip out of the way, there is only one high wizard with a pure heart. He has been sickened by the Mystik disease, and his wife, Akua, oversees the Veilig haven in his stead.”
Oh my God. Of course. It was right there the whole time.
“That’s why they wanted to deliver the cure to the havens themselves,” I said. “They didn’t want the Fey handling it so that they could make sure Veilig’s high wizard would die from the disease. That way the council could put someone else in his place. Did they replace Uncle Philip?”