Page 97 of Traitor Witch

I almost have to physically drag her away from the awkward mage and his ramshackle shed after that.

"No more goodbyes," I mutter. "I still have to manage to convince Valorean to let you on his boat."

Kier's snort does not fill me with confidence.

It isn't until we get to the rowboat that I realise it's just the two of us and Kier.

"Where's Cas? Rysen?"

The fae just gives me alook.

"Right, they're adult men who can look after themselves. It's only me who apparently needs a babysitter," I grumble.

Elsie grins. "I'd want to keep an eye on someone with your reputation too."

I level her with my best 'shut up now' glare.

"Right. Silence..."

We all climb into the tiny rowboat and Kier takes the oars as I struggle to come up with a reason why Val should take Elsie and me to Idos.

Opal sits in my lap, feet curled beneath her, and watches the fae as his powerful arms propel us across the bay towards the dark ship on the horizon.

I still haven't thought of anything by the time the shadow of the hull looms over us.

"Why have we picked up yetanotherwitch?" Val grumbles, though I can't even see him.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, master bond mage," Elsie pipes up. "Elsie at your service."

Kier abandons the boat, flying up to the deck as ropes descend to anchor the tiny craft to theDeadwood.

Val's silence worries me more than I can let on.

It's cowardly, but I let Elsie go first and climb the ladder onto the deck, inwardly dreading what I'll find at the top.

But it's nothing like what I expect.

Elsie is making cooing noises and fussing over ... the biggest, most slobbery dog I've ever seen. The beige-coloured monster is on its back, making funny, running motions with its feet in the air as Elsie pets it.

"What—"Opal begins, tone dripping with disgust—"is that?"

But one look at Val's smug face and I know.

This is his revenge.

I want to laugh out loud.

Opal can eat that slobber monster for breakfast.

"I think it's a challenge," I whisper to my familiar.

My cat drops from her customary perch around my shoulders, arches her back in a stretch and turns her head towards me.

"Hmph. We shall see."

She has the attention of everyone except the mastiff.

That is, until Elsie stops rubbing his chest to observe.