Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(105)

“I’ll send you to your room with Lanna,” Kizira said. “If I don’t see you again, it means I ended up in the dungeon, too.”

That would screw up the plans. “Tell Tristan and his sister what’s going on, too.”

“Done.” Kizira waved her hand.

Evalle didn’t even stumble this time when she landed in her Medb bedroom. “Lanna?”

The girl appeared next to the bathroom door, then ran to Evalle. “Where have you been?”

Evalle had never been much for touching in the past, but Storm had changed that. She opened her arms to Lanna, hugging the girl and actually enjoying the moment. “I’ve been busy trying to get us out of here.”

Lanna stepped back, eyes brimming with excitement. “We’re leaving?”

“Very soon. You’re going to cloak yourself and ride on my back.”

“I am confused.”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you that—” Evalle paused, not sure if the compulsion spell meant she could or couldn’t tell Lanna. “Look, I’ve been compelled not to share some things, so you’re going to have to trust me and, for once, do exactly what I say.”

“I will not make mistake. I will do everything you say.”

The poor girl was terrified, and with good reason. Evalle tried to help her understand. “You know I can change into other forms, so just be prepared for something that surprises you, okay?”

Lanna nodded.

She was bright and resourceful. Evalle had no doubt the girl would do her part and follow Evalle’s lead. She explained as much as she could without going against her compulsion spell, telling Lanna what she had to do when they landed on the island.

No mentioning Treoir by name, but Lanna was quick. She asked two questions, and after that, she didn’t ask any more when Evalle shook her head.

Energy whistled through the room, then Kizira appeared with a pitiful-looking guy who sagged next to her.

Evalle gently pushed Lanna aside and stepped over to Kizira. “How’d it go?”

“Flaevynn is addressing her witches and warlocks about the attack, so I found Cathbad instead and told him he owed me. I reminded him he should know better than Flaevynn just how capable I am of sidestepping their plans, and that if he wanted to see me on those steps calling them in, he had to do something for me.”

“Nice.”

“I’ve got to get with Tristan next.” Kizira wrinkled her nose at Conlan. “Also, even with Flaevynn busy, it may not be safe to talk here, where she can drop in.”

Lanna spoke up. “I can shield their words, but you must compel Evalle to allow a teenage girl to listen.”

Kizira appeared impressed and gave a shrug. “Fine. Be ready when I come back.” She compelled Evalle, but Evalle held up her hand to stall Kizira’s exit.

Evalle stepped around Conlan, who stood hunched over as if he’d been in that position for a while. He smelled worse than week-old restaurant garbage. Dried blood covered more of him than not, and his back had been split open over and over—it looked like it had been beaten with a cat-o’-nine-tails. One arm hung at the wrong angle.

Pointing at him, Evalle said, “How about healing his wounds and cleaning him up?”

Sighing as if she’d been asked to do the laundry, Kizira swept a hand past Conlan.

The stink dissipated, replaced by a fresh-scrubbed smell. He wore a clean gray sweatshirt and new jeans. When he finally stood upright and lifted his head, he no longer had a thick beard. He was attractive, and edgy as an animal waiting to see if he had to maul something to get away.

But nothing would remove the haunted look deep in his eyes. His voice was rough and dry. “All this time I thought nothing could sway you from your Belador oath.”

Evalle flinched as if struck, but Conlan didn’t know what was going on, and last she’d heard, he was still considered a traitor.

Kizira said to Evalle, “Get your mini-me to do anything else you need,” and vanished.

Lanna stepped up. “You must stay in one spot. I am not as good as Storm.”

Just hearing his name poked at the ache in Evalle’s chest. She told Conlan, “Even though I was told you’re suspected of being a traitor, I’ve learned more and am willing to hear what you have to say. You should want to hear what I have to say, since I got you out of that dungeon.”

His eyebrows dropped over repentant gray eyes. “Okay.”

“Let’s sit down and make this easy for Lanna. She’s Quinn’s cousin.”

Conlan’s sharp gaze went to Lanna. “Why would he let—”

“Not yet, Conlan,” Evalle said, moving to the sofa.

Once they were seated, Lanna said, “I cannot talk to you while I do this or I may make mistake and cause thunderstorm.”

Guess mini-me had a few bugs to work out in her spell casting.

Evalle waited until Lanna nodded at her, then Evalle turned to Conlan and told him how she—and Lanna—came to be at T?μr Medb. Then she laid out what she knew about the impending attack on Treoir. “So, right now, I’m the one suspicious of you, since you escaped VIPER headquarters and you came to the Medb voluntarily, right?”

“I did.”

When Evalle pulled back, Conlan lifted a hand. “Let me explain. Quinn did see the vision of me offering to join the Medb in the part of my mind that projects the future, but that isn’t always reliable, because the future can be changed.”