Shadow Study
Page 82
The heat finally soaked into my bones. I removed my cloak and most of the hidden weapons inside the fabric.
Devlen returned with Reema. They both carried small rucksacks.
Reema raced over to me. “I knew you didn’t run away. I told them you were chasing the bad guys, but they didn’t believe me. Did you catch them?”
I smiled at her utter confidence in me. “Not yet. I need you to go on a secret mission with your dad. Do you think you can handle it?”
Her cheeks blushed with excitement. “Yes!”
“Good. Do you know how to ride a horse?”
“Yes.”
“She’s only been on Quartz with Opal,” Devlen said.
She shot her father a withering look. He ignored her.
“Can you mount without help?” I asked her.
“Of course.”
“That’s all you need. Just hold on and Kiki will do the rest.”
“Kiki!” she squealed.
“Reema, this is very serious,” Devlen admonished.
She settled down, but pure impish delight danced in her gaze. Oh boy, this was going to be...interesting.
“Let’s go into Opal’s office. Bring your packs.” I hefted mine along with the new package.
Once inside the somewhat private space, I showed them the two wigs—one with straight black hair and the other with blond corkscrew curls.
I held up the black one. “Reema, you’re going to pretend to be me. If you wear this wig, my cloak, and pull the hood down low, no one should suspect anything. Kiki will take you northeast.”
“That’s all?” Disappointment laced her tone.
“It is very important. You can’t show your face. You need to be serious and stay on Kiki until your dad meets up with you. Kiki will protect you. Okay?”
She nodded. “I won’t mess up.”
“Good.”
Reema exchanged her cloak for mine. The hem dragged on the ground, but not enough to be noticeable in the dark. I hoped. I wrapped her hair into a bun and set the wig on her head.
I showed her where the darts were hidden in the fabric. “These have Curare, and these have sleeping potion. Only use them in an emergency. Don’t try to throw them. Just jab into skin if you can.”
We walked her to the front door.
“Ready?” Devlen asked, drawing her into a brief hug.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise. Your dad will tell you when he sees you later. Don’t worry. Kiki knows the way.”
Reema pulled the hood down low over her face and without looking back strode from the factory as if on an important mission. Which she was. I raced upstairs to a front-facing window and peeked out just in time to see her spur Kiki down the road. Two heartbeats later a couple of shadows detached from the building across the street and followed, proving that not all my memories were false.
Now for part two. I joined Devlen in Opal’s office.
He played with one of the blond curls. “I hope you are not endangering her.”
“Kiki is going to head straight northeast, pass the town limits, and that should make them happy. And Kiki will not let anyone harm her.”
“And this?”
I braided my hair and wound it around my head before taking the wig from him and securing it to my head. “This is to show the other two watchers that Reema is still here.” I tied her cloak around my shoulders. It fell to my knees, shorter than I liked, but with my black boots and dark pants no one should notice. Letting a couple of curls escape the hood, I drew the fabric low. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Where would you take Reema?”
“There’s a taffy shop a few blocks away.”
“Perfect. Leave your bag. You can catch up with her and Kiki later.”
We left the factory. The two guards at the entrance accompanied us as we walked to the taffy shop. The other watchers followed us at a discreet distance. They were professionals. If I hadn’t been searching for them, I would have missed them. My heart skittered and urged me to run away. It pulsed a warning that death would befall all if I stayed in Fulgor.
“Where am I meeting Reema?” Devlen asked.
“Just head north. Kiki will find you.”
“And then where?”
I twirled one of the curls around my finger. “Kiki can carry you both.”
“Yelena.”
“You’re going to the only place Reema’ll be safe from an assassin.”
“The Magician’s Keep?”
“No. The Commander’s castle. Valek will protect her.”
He opened his mouth. Probably to protest. Then he sighed. “You are right. As much as I would like to believe I can keep her safe, I cannot.”
“Once this mess is settled, you can return home.”
We reached the taffy shop. The owner was about to lock up, but she let us in. Devlen bought a pound of Reema’s favorite—peppermint mixed with vanilla. We shared a portion of the confection as we returned to the factory.
“How long should I wait?” Devlen asked.
“When is Opal due back?”
“It depends. Some nights not until late, others...”
“Wait for her and explain what’s going on.”
“What about Reema?”
“Ben’s men should stop following her once they’ve determined she isn’t looping back into the city. Kiki will know and turn west to rendezvous with you. Do you have another way out of the factory?” I peeled off the blond wig.
Devlen returned with Reema. They both carried small rucksacks.
Reema raced over to me. “I knew you didn’t run away. I told them you were chasing the bad guys, but they didn’t believe me. Did you catch them?”
I smiled at her utter confidence in me. “Not yet. I need you to go on a secret mission with your dad. Do you think you can handle it?”
Her cheeks blushed with excitement. “Yes!”
“Good. Do you know how to ride a horse?”
“Yes.”
“She’s only been on Quartz with Opal,” Devlen said.
She shot her father a withering look. He ignored her.
“Can you mount without help?” I asked her.
“Of course.”
“That’s all you need. Just hold on and Kiki will do the rest.”
“Kiki!” she squealed.
“Reema, this is very serious,” Devlen admonished.
She settled down, but pure impish delight danced in her gaze. Oh boy, this was going to be...interesting.
“Let’s go into Opal’s office. Bring your packs.” I hefted mine along with the new package.
Once inside the somewhat private space, I showed them the two wigs—one with straight black hair and the other with blond corkscrew curls.
I held up the black one. “Reema, you’re going to pretend to be me. If you wear this wig, my cloak, and pull the hood down low, no one should suspect anything. Kiki will take you northeast.”
“That’s all?” Disappointment laced her tone.
“It is very important. You can’t show your face. You need to be serious and stay on Kiki until your dad meets up with you. Kiki will protect you. Okay?”
She nodded. “I won’t mess up.”
“Good.”
Reema exchanged her cloak for mine. The hem dragged on the ground, but not enough to be noticeable in the dark. I hoped. I wrapped her hair into a bun and set the wig on her head.
I showed her where the darts were hidden in the fabric. “These have Curare, and these have sleeping potion. Only use them in an emergency. Don’t try to throw them. Just jab into skin if you can.”
We walked her to the front door.
“Ready?” Devlen asked, drawing her into a brief hug.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise. Your dad will tell you when he sees you later. Don’t worry. Kiki knows the way.”
Reema pulled the hood down low over her face and without looking back strode from the factory as if on an important mission. Which she was. I raced upstairs to a front-facing window and peeked out just in time to see her spur Kiki down the road. Two heartbeats later a couple of shadows detached from the building across the street and followed, proving that not all my memories were false.
Now for part two. I joined Devlen in Opal’s office.
He played with one of the blond curls. “I hope you are not endangering her.”
“Kiki is going to head straight northeast, pass the town limits, and that should make them happy. And Kiki will not let anyone harm her.”
“And this?”
I braided my hair and wound it around my head before taking the wig from him and securing it to my head. “This is to show the other two watchers that Reema is still here.” I tied her cloak around my shoulders. It fell to my knees, shorter than I liked, but with my black boots and dark pants no one should notice. Letting a couple of curls escape the hood, I drew the fabric low. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Where would you take Reema?”
“There’s a taffy shop a few blocks away.”
“Perfect. Leave your bag. You can catch up with her and Kiki later.”
We left the factory. The two guards at the entrance accompanied us as we walked to the taffy shop. The other watchers followed us at a discreet distance. They were professionals. If I hadn’t been searching for them, I would have missed them. My heart skittered and urged me to run away. It pulsed a warning that death would befall all if I stayed in Fulgor.
“Where am I meeting Reema?” Devlen asked.
“Just head north. Kiki will find you.”
“And then where?”
I twirled one of the curls around my finger. “Kiki can carry you both.”
“Yelena.”
“You’re going to the only place Reema’ll be safe from an assassin.”
“The Magician’s Keep?”
“No. The Commander’s castle. Valek will protect her.”
He opened his mouth. Probably to protest. Then he sighed. “You are right. As much as I would like to believe I can keep her safe, I cannot.”
“Once this mess is settled, you can return home.”
We reached the taffy shop. The owner was about to lock up, but she let us in. Devlen bought a pound of Reema’s favorite—peppermint mixed with vanilla. We shared a portion of the confection as we returned to the factory.
“How long should I wait?” Devlen asked.
“When is Opal due back?”
“It depends. Some nights not until late, others...”
“Wait for her and explain what’s going on.”
“What about Reema?”
“Ben’s men should stop following her once they’ve determined she isn’t looping back into the city. Kiki will know and turn west to rendezvous with you. Do you have another way out of the factory?” I peeled off the blond wig.
