Page 142 of The Moon's Fury

“Why don’t you leave? Move closer to the training camp. Lasha can find work there?”

He shook his head sadly. “Our parents owed money. We’ve been paying it back slowly, but we can’t leave ‘til the debt is clear. They’ll come find us otherwise.” Layna’s heart twisted in her chest.

Lash inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. When he exhaled, the shine had returned to his gilded smile. “But worry not, Miss Ahna. I have a plan! A few weeks ago, I went to the tavern to pay the lender. Not a friendly man, that one. Ya might have seen ‘em on the way back from the markets the other day. Anyway, there was a man at the tavern—arecruiter, he fancied himself. There was a crowd around him, mostly my friends if I’m being truthful. There’s good, honest work in Valtisaan.”

Her heart stopped.

Lash didn’t notice. “Said they need strong, young men for a few months of work. We’d all be together. And Miss Ahna, the pay is moonsdamned wild! Pardon my swearing. I wouldn’t have believed it, but he gave us ten gold coins each, just for listening to him!”

Every word was a punch to her gut.

Lash saw the stricken look on her face. “It’s only for a few months. Four, maybe five. And it’ll be more than enough money to pay off our debts.”

She racked her brain for a way to dissuade him without appearing suspicious.

“What kind of work?” she asked slowly.

“All kinds,” Lash replied, sliding the diced potatoes into a large bowl. “He said they’d look at our skills and assign us where we fit best. Metal work, carving, building. Some might even get to work with those fancy science people.”

It was a struggle to keep panic from seeping into her voice. “What does Lasha say? She can’t be happy about you leaving for so long.”

Lash shot her a guilty smile. “Well … I haven’t exactly told her yet. The recruiter said we’d leave in two weeks, when he’s got enough workers. I’ve been dragging my feet about telling her.”

“Lash, listen to me. You cannot go with this man.”

His brows furrowed. “Why not?”

“I’ve heard horror stories about what happens to workers in Valtisaan. You’ve heard about their marvels, yes?” He nodded. “But isn’t it strange that even after years, the rest of the continent has no idea how they’ve advanced so much?”

“Well, they’ve always been secretive about their methods—”

“It’s because they bring in workers from the outside. Boys like you. But they never let them leave.”

He frowned, mulling over her words. “That can’t be. We’d have heard about somethin’ like that.”

“No, Lash, listen—”

“There you are.”

Both their heads snapped to the doorway. Zarian leaned against it, arms crossed over his chest. His discerning gaze flicked from Layna to Lash to the bowl of potatoes.

“Here to steal more honey?” Lash teased, though his smile was forced. “It’s a bit late in the day for ya.”

Zarian rolled his eyes and pushed off the door. He must have noticed the panic in her eyes because he grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze—are you all right?

The words tumbled out of her. “Lash is going to Valtisaan. For work.”

She stared with wide eyes, trying to convey the crushing fear flowing through her.

His expression didn’t change.

“Don’t say a word to my sister,” Lash added hastily. “I’ll tell her soon.”

Zarian kept his gaze fixed on Layna. “If you’re done putting my Ahna to work, I need to borrow her.”

Zarian’s grip was firm on her hand as she led them to their room. As soon as the door shut behind them, she whirled.

“We have to—”