Page 84 of Made

“Oh?” said Araxinthe. “Why is that?”

“I know Esmerelda well enough to know that every hour she’s held in captivity is difficult for her. She’s no’ the submissive type.” Araxinthe nodded at that. “The sooner we can conclude your tests, the sooner she’ll be home.”

Araxinthe stared at Kagan for a couple of minutes before shooting the briefest of glances at the other two. It was clear the other two were committed to doing what Kagan wanted. She calculated that there’d be little chance a strategy designed to divide them would work.

“What if the lack of rest compromises your ability to succeed?”

“The first challenge was no’ physically difficult. So far, the only thing that might reduce my ability to perform at my best would be the tasin’ I got from your guard.”

“What did you do to inspire such treatment?” she asked.

“He was pushed from behind. I saw the whole thing,” Killian said.

“Physically pushed by one of my guards? With no provocation?”

“Exactly right,” said Killian.

She pressed her lips together. “If that should be proved true, I can understand why Vox felt the need to interfere with your escort.” The sephalia said nothing. “Do you feel recovered from the experience? Enough to continue to the next challenge?”

“Aye,” said Kagan.

“Very well.”

“Except…”

“Yes?”

“I’d like to return home long enough to gather a couple of items to give us aid in the coming trial. I shouldn’t need longer than a half hour.”

“Didn’t we already talk about tools?”

“We talked about you providing tools. We did not talk about makin’ use of my own private assets.”

“Your own assets,” she repeated.

“Aye.”

“Such as?”

“You want to know exactly what I would gather?”

“I do.” She nodded. “Yes.’

“Gold coins and silk thread.”

Araxinthe smiled slowly. “I’m following your train of thought. You might be smarter than expected.” She folded herhands together. “Since you didn’t ask for something that might be used as a weapon, I’m inclined to grant this request. I’d keep your brothers here, but they’d just be in the way. So, beginning now, you, all three of you, may have awholehour. Twice as much as requested as a means of apologizing for your poor treatment. When the time is up, you’ll find yourselves returned to this very place.”

“Thank you,” Kagan said, his tone infused with every bit as much sincerity as was warranted by the circumstance. There was no way of knowing if she heard because he hadn’t stopped speaking when he found himself, and his brothers, standing on the green expanse that sloped from his castle ruin to the river he loved to fish.

Keir sat down on the grass. “I’m calling my wife.” He’d had his phone with him the entire time, but that does no good when one finds himself in dimensions with no cell towers.

“I’m gettin’ a drink,” said Killian, hurrying after Kagan, who was striding purposefully toward the old stones he called home. “Where do you keep the Macallan Rare?”

“I have no reason to hide my whiskey. Quite sure you’ll find it on your own.”

Keir heard the simulated ring of his phone. He’d forgotten he was temporarily restored to the world. “Keir? Where are you? Is everybody ok? Is Esme with you?” I asked.

“I’m at Kagan’s. Esme is not with us. I have an hour. Just. Not enough time to come home, but enough time to tell you what’s happened.”