The Traitor Queen (The Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)(115)
Tyvara moved to his side and leaned close.
“She and a few others were setting barrier and warning stones around the house,” she murmured. “The others lost sight of her just as the Ashaki attacked. She killed three of them before they overcame—”
“We must move,” Savara declared. “If we did miss one of them, he may be reporting his estimate of our numbers right now. They may come back with a greater force. If we are lucky we will relocate without them tracing us. It may be that we won’t get to rest tonight at all. What matters is we avoid outright battle with the Ashaki until we join the other teams.” She looked up and swept her gaze over all. “Pack, and take what food can be easily carried and eaten while we move.”
The Traitors scattered. Tyvara took Lorkin’s hand and dragged him away to the room they had planned to share with Savara. Since they hadn’t had a chance to unpack, all they had to do was shoulder their packs. Tyvara grabbed Savara’s and they returned to the Master’s room.
“… want us to do with her body?” a Traitor was asking.
“Leave her here. If we win we will come back for her,” Savara replied. She took her pack and shouldered it, but, as she turned away, Lorkin caught a glint of moisture in her eyes.
The Traitors were returning to the room now. One stepped out of a side passage near Lorkin, and as he turned his heart darkened. Kalia stared at him blankly, then gave him a wide berth.
Which is … odd. I’d expect a glare at least. He narrowed his eyes at her back and concentrated.
He caught no surface thought, just a wracking feeling of guilt.
“It’s her fault,” he gasped.
Nobody looked up. They hadn’t heard him. The room was too noisy. He turned to find Tyvara staring at him. Then a hand grasped his arm. He looked up to see Savara standing behind them, her other hand resting on Tyvara’s arm.
—Say nothing, she sent. This is not the time.
Choking back a protest, he nodded and followed the Traitor queen out into the street.
As Saral and Temi stopped in front of the gate and pushed it open with magic, Sonea let out a sigh of relief. The sun had set hours before, and she had begun to wonder if the escort planned to travel through the night. The Traitors steered their mounts through the entrance. As Sonea and Regin followed, Temi slid off his horse and walked over to close the gates again, glancing up and down the street before retreating.
Saral dismounted and handed the reins of her horse to Temi, then indicated that Sonea and Regin should do the same.
“We need to check the house,” she said in a low voice. “Looks like the slaves have gone, but there’s always a chance a few ones loyal to their master have stayed. While the Ashaki has most likely joined the king’s army, he too may have stayed behind, or might return for something, or may have sent a friend to watch over his house. Stay here.”
Sonea nodded. “Need help?”
“No.”
Saral straightened and looked at Temi, then stalked away toward a nearby door. It was unlocked, and she disappeared inside. Sonea looked around. It made sense to stand with Temi. If they were attacked it would be easier to protect everyone under one shield. But as she started towards him she saw that he was holding up a small object. She sensed a faint vibration in the air and realised that he, and the horses, were already within a shield. The object must be a magical gemstone.
So, it’s up to us to shield ourselves now. Why waste power that could be needed in battle on a couple of uninvited foreigners? Well, I suppose they are about to go into battle, and we can look after ourselves. Sighing, she veered away and headed for the shadow of a wall nearby. In the protection of darkness, she extended her barrier around Regin. He glanced at her and moved closer, but said nothing.
A long wait followed. Temi said nothing, but his anxiety was plain to see. The horses were quiet, heads hanging wearily. They’d been ridden with few pauses all day. Longer and faster than we travelled before. I wonder … are we in the city now? Low walls and houses set within fields had been replaced by high walls protecting buildings much closer to the road. Most structures were single storey, but the occasional one – as in the country – had a small tower protruding above the roof. She hadn’t been able to see if fields were hidden behind them, or how large the estates were. Even now, all she could see was the courtyard they stood within. There could be sprawling fields on the other side of the buildings, or another mansion.
It doesn’t sound like a city, though. It’s too quiet.
Regin shifted his weight from one leg to the other, and his shoulder brushed against her own, leaving an impression of warmth. She felt a shock go through her, not entirely unpleasant.
Stop it, she told herself.
A door opened to their left and her heart skipped a beat. Then a globe light appeared and she was relieved to see it was Saral returning.
“Empty,” she told them. “The stables are over there.” Temi nodded and led the horses in the direction she’d pointed. Saral looked at Sonea. “Come inside.”
They entered the mansion by the door Saral had first used. As with so many Sachakan homes, a short corridor led to a bigger room. Corridors led off on either side to suites of rooms, a bathhouse, and the kitchens and other service areas.
“If you use these later,” Saral said of the baths, “don’t take too long. If Tovira does return, you won’t want to be caught there.”