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“You don’t happen to know where the library is?” she called over her shoulder, clasping the cloak at her throat. That was her next project. She needed more information on the legends ofMethi and on the fishing villages. They were the key to finding the Pernicious. She could feel it in her bones.

“I’ll tell you on your next visit.”

Wily old woman.

As she reached for the handle, Ravi called from her chair. “Come back and see mesoon, my dear. I enjoyed our talk.”

“Only if I survive.” She pulled the hood over her head.

Ravielle cackled. “Something tells me you will.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

MER

It was relativelyeasy to get into the nest.

She’d slipped down the stairway and ghosted through the halls until the scent of hay, animals, and leather reached her.

Mer had been expecting that the Methian’s most important resource would be guarded fiercely. And yet, she’d waltzed right into the nest without anyone stopping her. She looked left and then right. No guards here. Odd.

She stepped to the right and leaned against the curved stone wall, taking in the breathtaking view. It was as if a giant sphere had been carved inside the mountain. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like vicious rotten teeth. A rectangular opening to the face of the mountain let in a weak shaft of light.

Stepping farther along the wide walkway, Mer slowly made her way to the abrupt drop. A lump of fear lodged in her throat as she stared down into the gaping maw of the cave. It was so deep that it seemed as if there was no bottom to the chasm. Chills ran down her arms, causing the scales near her elbows to quiver. There would be no coming back from a fall like that.

Fiileenested in every nook and cranny, their eyes crawling over her skin. Several hissed, raising the hair along the nape of her neck.

Gently.

Feline eyes reflected back at her, and she spotted a fewfiileecreeping a little closer. It was time to move back. Mer crept away from the edge, feeling a little dizzy. Leviathan’s bones, she hated heights.

And yet you plan to fly.

Mer grimaced and slowed her movements as not to spook the predators. Her back touched the stone wall, and she sighed with relief. No beasties would be sneaking up on her, and she was far from the drop. A leather strap brushed her right shoulder, and she glanced up.

All sorts of riding paraphernalia hung on the wall.

Harnesses, bridles, ropes, reins, and saddles.

She eyed the saddle, noting the metal notch at the front. Brilliant. She could only assume it was used to tie oneself to the saddle, negating any possibility of falling. That’s what she needed. But there was no way she was actually flying today.

“I’ll come back for you,” she whispered, not wanting to disrupt or agitate thefiileethat were observing her with interest. Mer pulled a sturdy-looking leather strap from the wall with stones knitted into each end the size of her fists.

A snare.

She was familiar with the tool. Mer gave it a couple of expert swings. If afiileeattacked, she’d at least have the option of capturing one by its legs.

Mer crept down the wide stone walkway, flinching each time a flying feline circled above roaring or screeching. She clambered around the rough protrusions in the wall, ever watchful of the beasties, searching for a small place to survey the cavern.

Her plan was simple.

Find a spot to watch the felines.

Call one to her.

Bond with it.

While she was no great rider, even when it came to horses, bonding with afiileewould be similar to a leviathan in her mind. They were both taciturn, fearsome creatures. She was just exchanging one of the seas for one of the sky.