Spellslinger (Spellslinger #1)(69)

How the hells am I suppose to make these kinds of choices? ‘What do we have to do?’ I asked.

She closed her eyes and formed somatic shapes with both hands, two simple cantrips, one for attracting, one for shunning, each the reverse of the other bound into a single spell, then interlacing the syllables of the evocations back. It was clever actually. Then she put her arms around me and hugged me. ‘I need to strengthen the connection between us. It’ll make it easier to fool Tennat’s tracking spell.’

We stood like that for a while before she let go, but she didn’t step away. ‘I think … I think it’s working,’ she said. I wasn’t sure how to reply, all I could think about was the fact that my lips had never been this close to hers.

Reichis snorted. ‘You do remember you were puking up green foam a few minutes ago, right?’

Hells. ‘I’d better go,’ I said.

‘No,’ Nephenia said. ‘You stay here. I’ll go first and draw Tennat and the others away. Wait until after I’m gone, and then go find Shalla.’

Before I could stop her, she started out the door. ‘Wait,’ I said. ‘Why are you doing this?’

Nephenia paused at the door. ‘Back at the oasis you told me that one day I’d figure out I was special.’ She turned and looked back at me, a silhouette framed by the doorway, rain pouring down all around her, ready to risk her life for mine. ‘I’m done waiting.’





30


The Prisoner


Those next few minutes nearly drove me insane. Every sound I heard – every drop of rain dripping onto the floor through the leaky roof, the steps outside of Sha’Tep returning to their homes after their day’s labours, running, stumbling to get out of the wet – I jumped at all of them. I kept wondering when the next noise would be Tennat and his brothers shouting for me, or Nephenia screaming.

‘You know,’ Reichis said, ‘I kind of like that human. Maybe I’ll let her keep both eyes.’

‘That’s decent of you.’

‘I’m still going to eat one of her ears.’

After another minute, he went to the door and sniffed the air outside. I couldn’t help but wonder, given how arrogant the little bastard was, whether his sense of smell could really be as good as he claimed it. ‘They’re gone,’ he said, then added, ‘Guess this is where we part ways.’ He started out the door.

‘Wait! Stop!’

The squirrel cat peeked a head back in. ‘What?’

‘I thought you were going to help me!’ I replied, immediately wishing the words hadn’t come out sounding so desperate.

Reichis gave a passable imitation of a shrug. ‘I did help you. I freed you from your parents before they finished … whatever it was they were doing to you. I gave you lightning weed and got you out of the house, and now you’re here, in this lovely hideout where you can lay low for a while.’

‘My sister’s in danger! So is Ferius. I need you to help me—’

‘You need?’ the squirrel cat repeated. ‘You need a lot of things, kid. What’s in it for me?’ He shuffled over and started pawing at the pockets of my trousers. ‘Don’t suppose you’ve got anything to trade?’

‘Stop that,’ I said, pushing him away. If I’d been smarter I would have brought something from my father’s study to bargain with. In my defence, I’d never had to put the lives of people I cared about in the hands of overgrown avaricious part-feline rodents before. ‘You said … You said there was a tradition between your people and the Mahdek. You said sometimes you worked together.’

‘So?’

‘So, be my business partner.’

The other squirrel cat chittered.

Reichis gave what sounded like a loud, stuttering cough. It took me a moment to realise he was laughing. ‘Him? What’s he got to offer?’ He started walking around me like a merchant inspecting defective wares. ‘He doesn’t own anything, he can’t fight worth a damn and from what I’ve seen so far, he doesn’t have any magic. Why in the world would I—’

The other animal was on him again. This time Reichis resisted, but within seconds she landed him flat on his back with her teeth around his neck, shaking him. ‘Fine!’ he growled. ‘Gods damn it. I’ll do it.’

The female gave one more shake and then let him go. With as much dignity as anyone could muster in the situation, Reichis righted himself and snarled at her. ‘You’re a terrible mother, you know that?’

‘That’s your mother?’

He looked up. ‘Of course she’s my mother. Can’t you see the resemblance?’ Without waiting for a reply he ambled back to me. ‘All right. We’ll try this thing. One time. I’ll help you find your sister and the Argosi and in return you help get me something I want. But I’m not your familiar, understand? I’m not your pet and I’m not your friend. If you can’t hold up your end of the bargain, I’m gone. Got it?’

‘I guess that’s fair,’ I replied, my eyes still on the other squirrel cat, who now looked as placid as still water.

‘Hold out your hand,’ Reichis said.

Great. He’s going to bite me again. I figured this must be part of the ritual and, not being in a position to refuse, I did as he asked. Sure enough, he sunk his teeth into my palm. It hurt worse than the other two times. ‘Do your people have any traditions that don’t involve biting?’ I asked.