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captor win, I pleaded.
Gelsi showed me a bare room. She was naked and tied to metal spikes that had been driven into the
wooden floor. Strange symbols had been painted on the floor and walls. Pain throbbed from between her
legs and the multiple cuts along her arms and legs burned. He hadn t needed to drug her with Curare.
I loved him, she said. I gave myself to him.
Instead of the wonderful loving experience she had expected, Ferde tied her down, beat her and raped
her. Then he bled her, collecting the blood in an earthen bowl.
Show me where you are, I instructed.
Beyond the room was the living area and outside I could see a courtyard with a white jade sculpture of
fifteen horses.
Have faith, I said. We ll be there.
He ll know. He has surrounded the neighborhood with a magical shield, he knows when someone
passes through and if he feels threatened, he ll complete the ritual.
Doesn t he need to wait until the full moon tonight?
No.
The note left by Alea had originally set the exchange for the full moon so everyone had not only assumed
Ferde sent the note, but that the phase of the moon was critical for the ritual.
He had to move many times, Gelsi said. I had thought it exciting. I didn t know he was the one the
Masters were searching for. He led me to believe he was on a secret mission for the Master
Magicians.
We ll find a way, I promised.
Hurry.
I withdrew my awareness and sat back. Dax stared at me in horror, he had been able to see and hear
our conversation.
She will need you when this is over, I told him.
We need to tell the Masters
No. My mind raced through options.
But he s strong. You heard Gelsi. He has a shield, Dax said.
All the more reason to go alone. They have been searching for him and he knows them. I think I can get
through undetected.
How?
There s no time to explain. But Gelsi will need you close by. Can you meet me in the market in an
hour?
Of course.
I jumped up and started gathering supplies.
Dax hesitated at the door. Yelena?
I looked at him.
What happens if you don t stop him? Fear shone in his green eyes.
Then we find Valek. Otherwise, Sitia will be Ferde s.
Dax swallowed his fright and nodded before leaving. I packed my equipment and changed my clothes.
Dressed in a plain brown tunic and pants I would blend in with the regular citizens of the Citadel.
Covering my disguise with my cloak, I stopped at my parent s suite on the way out.
Leif sat with them in the living room. I ignored him. Father, do you have those extra pills? I asked,
hoping he knew I wanted the Theobroma.
He nodded in understanding and went to retrieve them. While I waited, Mother remembered her little
invention she had told me about. She handed me a strange device made of tubes and rubber and
explained how to work it.
Just in case, she said.
This is great, I said. You were right about it being useful.
She beamed. That s what every mother wants to hear.
Leif had said nothing, but I could feel his penetrating stare as if he tasted my intentions.
Esau handed me the pills. Are you coming to lunch with us?
No. I have something I need to do. I ll catch up with you later, I said, giving my father a hug and my
mother a kiss on her cheek.
A queasy feeling rolled in my stomach. Perhaps I should tell the Master Magicians about Ferde and
Gelsi? After all, it had been only pure chance that saved me from Alea. I was still discovering what I
could do with my magic. And now that I had been expelled, would I be able to fully explore my
potential?
My mother stopped me just past the door.
Here, she said, handing me my fire amulet. I think you need this. Remember what you endured to win
it.
I opened my mouth to protest, but she shook her head, I want it back. She squeezed me in a tight hug
for a moment.
Examining the scarlet prize in the sunlight, I marveled at Perl s empathy. I tucked the amulet into my
pocket and set a brisk pace for the Citadel.
After I had passed the Keep s gate, I heard pounding footsteps behind me. I whirled, drawing my bow.
Leif halted a few feet away. His machete hung from his belt, but he made no move to grab it.
Not now, Leif, I said, turning, but he clasped my shoulder and spun me around to face him.
I know where you re going, he said.
Bully for you. I shrugged his hand off. Then you know time is of the essence. Go back to the Keep. I
started to walk.
If I do, I ll tell the Masters what you re doing.
Truly? You re not very good at telling.
This time I won t hesitate.
Seeing the stubborn set to his broad shoulders, I stopped. What do you want?
To come along.
Why?
You ll need me.
Considering how helpful you were in the jungle fourteen years ago, I think I m better off on my own. I
spat the words at him.
He cringed, but the obstinacy remained in his face. Either include me in your plans, or I ll follow you and
ruin them.
I clamped down on my sudden rage. I didn t have time for this. Fine, but let me warn you that you re
going have to let me inside your mind in order for you to get through Ferde s shield.
His face paled, but he nodded and fell into step with me as I hurried to the market. Dax waited there. I
left Leif with him and hunted for Fisk. He helped a woman barter for a bolt of cloth, but he finished as
soon as he recognized me.
Lovely Yelena, do you need help? he asked.
I told him what I needed.
He smiled and said, Sounds like fun, but
It s going to cost me, I finished for him.
He raced off to gather his friends.
Once Fisk had assembled about twenty children, I explained my plan to them. Make sure you don t go
within a block of the courtyard until you hear the signal. Understand? I asked. The children nodded.
When I felt satisfied they knew what to do, Fisk s friends scattered and went to get into position. Fisk
led Leif and me toward the white jade statue. Dax waited in a side alley far enough away not to touch
Ferde s shield, but within sight of the second-story windows.
I kept my mind open, seeking for the edge of Ferde s magical barrier. About half a block away from the
courtyard, Leif touched my arm, stopping me.
It s just ahead, he whispered.
How do you know?
I feel a wall of fire. Don t you?
No.
Then it s good that I came.
I glared, but had no reply. Fisk watched us, waiting for our signal.
This was not the time for a fight. I looked at Leif. You have to open your mind to me, I told him. You
have to trust me.
He nodded without hesitating. Do it.
I pulled power to me, spinning it around me like a huge curtain. Reaching out, I made contact with Fisk s
mind. Think of your parents, I instructed, hoping this would work.
The young boy closed his eyes and imagined his parents. I linked to their minds through Fisk then
reached for Leif s.
Leif s mind resembled a black labyrinth of pain. Guilt, shame and anger twisted together. I understood
why Moon Man wanted to help him, but I felt a mean satisfaction at Leif s remorse.
Pushing his dark thoughts aside, I replaced them with Fisk s father s concerns about finding work and
supporting his family. I pulled in Fisk s mother s thoughts about her sister s ailing health into my own
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