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“The father is dead,” he ground out. His voice was oddly strangled.Ah,she thought.He grieves for the fallen.“You’ll face no trouble from him.”

“It’s not her father you should worry about,” she muttered.It’s the pirate.

“A daughter,” the Elder breathed. As if he had accomplished something, weaseling such little information from her. He reached for the purse. “Very well, Assassin. That’s more than enough in payment.”

“Like you know,” she scoffed. “I can find the girl for you. And I’ve settled on a price.”

“Good,” he said with an eager, desperate grin.

Mortal or immortal, it did not matter. Sorasa read him all the same. His smile had a child’s innocence, despite the centuries he had seen. Sorasa despaired of it.

At least he would be useful.

The smile disappeared when she named her price.

But still he agreed.

6

IN THE BLOOD

Corayne

The tale of the Elder and the assassin crashed in an impossible wave.

Corayne broke it into pieces while he spoke, as she did with her lists and calculations. To weigh what he said without being dazzled or intimidated by mention of enclaves and distant cities, ridiculous deeds and Spindle magic. Until it all made some sort of sense in her head. Her conclusions sharpened in her mind, each one more preposterous than the last.

The father I’ve never known is dead. A portal is torn to another realm. The Ward is in grave danger. And for some reason, these two lunatics think I can do something about it.

Half of her felt afraid. The rest laughed.

She looked over the strange pair, her jaw locked tight. Domacridhan still knelt, his golden head bowed, while Sorasa paced back and forth, barring the road back to port. Corayne sorely wished Kastio had accompanied her home. Or, better yet, her mother.She would not tolerate this nonsense, not from anyone.Not even an Elder, ageless and unfathomable. Not even one of the Amhara assassins, near to legend in their skill.

But Kastio is not here. Mother is not there. There’s only me.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, but Corayne kept her body still and her face blank.

“We agreed to terms, Sorasa and I,” Domacridhan said, bringing an end to his story. He raised his head and stared at Corayne in desperation, enough to make her skin itch. “And she led me here, to Lemarta. Toyou, the only person who can help us, and save the world entire.”

Corayne blinked at both of them in turn. The immortal and the assassin blinked back.

“Good evening to you both. Safe journey,” she said neatly. Her fingers trembled as she turned on her heel, setting off toward the cottage.

But the Elder was already moving, following Corayne up the overgrown pathway. He made no noise at all as he caught her on the front step.

She glared up at him stubbornly, using anger to hide her unease.Better to show anger than fear or doubt.

The ruined half of his face stood out sharply, illuminated by the moon cresting over the hills.

The Elder felt the light and turned his head, hiding his scars. “Perhaps you did not understand—”

Her voice hardened. “I’m mortal, not stupid.”

“I did not say you were stupid,” he said quickly.

Her hand found the latch of the cottage door, wrenching it open. “My answer, to whatever idiotic question you hope to ask, isno.”

With two fingers and little effort, he pushed the door shut. Like his scars, his eyes caught the moon.