Chapter Twenty-four

Yasmin saw Ravi’s lips moving, but the roar in her ears obscured his words. Her chest was tight, making breathing difficult. She had been drowning in the unbidden memories since the moment she allowed herself to look at the building. In an instant, she was back within Shaldorn’s walls, living a nightmare she would never wake from.

It was Ravi who steadied her. She gazed into his copper eyes and struggled to determine reality from illusion. Her body warmed where his hands rested on her shoulders. Slowly, the nightmare crumbled to reveal trees, an inky sky filled with stars, and Ravi. His gaze was filled with concern. Her fingers began aching from the way she clung to him. She wanted to be closer to him. She needed to know he was real.

His lips moved again. She tried to focus on his voice, which she had come to love hearing. Deep and smooth. She strained to listen to him, willing the roar to die away. Gradually, his words reached her. The unforgiving band around her chest loosened as what he said penetrated her mind. She didn’t have to go inside, wouldn’t have to face the past and see all those she had left behind. Yasmin drew in a shaky breath at the reprieve she hadn’t known she needed. She feared he would find a way to force her inside. That was the deal she had made. Her vow.

Ravi watched her intently. “Yaz?”

A portion of his face was lit by the flickering torches. She dared another glance at Shaldorn. Her eyes burned with unshed tears of regret. She was ashamed that she had given in to her anxiety when so many lives were in jeopardy. She had marched her way across the mountains while ignoring the doubts and worries that cropped up, shoving them aside as she always had. But she had to face not just her fears but also the friends she had left to suffer. Ravi’s face swam in her vision as tears gathered.

“It’s all right,” he said, giving her a soft smile. “Stay hidden. I’ll find you.”

He lowered his arms and turned to leave. A tear dropped onto her cheek. Yasmin refused to release him. Ravi’s head swung to her, a small frown furrowing his brow. There was no way she could let him go into Shaldorn alone. It didn’t matter how good he was. He wouldn’t get far without being caught. The mission would fail, and the device would be sent to Idrias. Whether she liked it or not, she was his only chance.

Yasmin tugged down her scarf, hating that her hand shook. “I’m coming.”

“You’re in no condition to do that,” he said as he moved closer.

She briefly closed her eyes at his nearness. It would be so easy to rest her head on his chest. Just for a moment. That’s all she needed. But she was too scared to do it. “I’m aware that I…” She paused and tried again. “I know that being here has drudged up things I wasn’t prepared for. I should have known. It’s just…it’s easier not to face the past.”

“It is.” His hands lifted to cup her elbows.

Yasmin swallowed and inched closer. “The exchange happens tonight. There isn’t time to meander around, trying to find your way. It wouldn’t matter how well I explained each level, you would get lost or, worse, found. But I know the way.”

“It would be better to have you with me, but I can’t ask you to come.”

“You aren’t. I gave my word.”

He glanced to the side. “I don’t care about that.”

“I can do this. We both know you need me.”

“Yaz,” he began.

She put a hand on his chest. “I know what I said before, but being here, seeing this…place?” she said as she glanced at Shaldorn, “I can’t run anymore. I won’t. I have a chance to stop a catastrophe.”

“And if your fear takes you again?”

Yasmin pressed her lips together, knowing what she had to do. “You won’t be caught with me. I’m not just saying that to convince you. It’s a fact.”

His copper eyes searched hers. “How?”

“I have a secret no one else knows. Something I’ve kept my entire life.” She jerked her chin to Shaldorn. “The stones tell me where to go and if there’s danger.”

Ravi didn’t scoff or laugh at her. He released a long, slow breath. “The stones. That’s how you got us here. That’s why you are always touching them.”

“It is,” she said, lifting her chin and waiting to hear what he would say.

“They talk to you?”

“In a way. If you want to steal the device, then I need to be with you.”

Ravi lifted his gaze and stared at the imposing structure. After a moment, he slid his gaze back to her. “Are you sure you can handle it?”

“I can. I’ll have to stay out of sight, though. They will recognize me.”

He disregarded her words. “First things first. Let’s get inside so we can warm up.”

She looked forward to getting out of the cold. Even if it was within Shaldorn. Ravi looked down. She followed his gaze to find her hand on his chest and her other on his arm. Yasmin lowered her arms to her sides. She chanced a look at him, and for a moment, thought he might say something. But the moment passed.

Yasmin turned and put her scarf back in place. Her emotions were under control. For so long, she had snubbed and disregarded the past, believing it was better for her to forget it existed. She could push it as far down as she wanted, but it would never leave her. She didn’t know if facing the past would help, but it certainly couldn’t hurt. No matter what, she couldn’t fall apart once they were inside.

“Ready?” she asked without looking at Ravi.

“Aye.”

She sent up a silent prayer to the gods and checked for guards before hurrying across the space from the tree to the structure. As soon as she reached it, she placed her hand on the stones. Even through the gloves, Yasmin heard them. They immediately showed her where the guards were without her asking, as if they knew what she needed.

Yasmin grabbed Ravi and tugged him after her into an alcove before the guard above looked out the window. He didn’t question her as they flattened their backs against the building. They heard a male’s voice before someone dumped liquid from a window into the snow where they had been.

Ravi shot her a look. She grinned, shrugging. The stones then showed her there was a clear path to the hidden door at the back. She motioned for Ravi to follow as they kept close to the wall and hurried down the long stretch to the next alcove. Once there, the rock she needed to push to open the door was glowing. At least, to her. Ravi didn’t seem to notice it.

Yasmin met his gaze as she pushed on the rock. A soft scraping noise was the only sound that broke the silence as the door unlatched. She pushed it open wide enough for them to slip through, and Ravi shut it behind him. They crept quickly down the narrow, dimly lit hall. Yasmin tugged off her gloves and ran her fingers along the stones. She heard their warning and quickly rounded the corner and moved out of sight as the guard appeared.

“That was close,” Ravi whispered.

She felt his warm breath and realized he had lowered his scarf. Yasmin did the same before stuffing her gloves into her pockets. It was warmer inside, but not enough to thaw her just yet. She planted her hands on the stones and closed her eyes as their song surrounded her. She let her question fill her mind.

They showed her the path that would bring them to an empty staff chamber where they could decide their next move. When she opened her eyes, she saw Ravi watching her. His expression gave nothing away, and she found she wanted to know what he thought of her ability. But perhaps it was better if she didn’t.

“This way,” she told him.

He stayed one step behind her as she followed the stones’ directions. It had been years since she’d walked these corridors, but little had changed. If she became confused, all she had to do was touch the stones for them to remind her of the way.

Yasmin’s lips split into a grin when she saw the door to the room on the left. Her steps lengthened to reach it. She went to grab the handle to open it, but Ravi beat her to it. He gave her a silent look, letting her know that he would go in first. She stepped aside as he quietly opened it and peered inside. Then he pushed it wide and waited for her to enter before he closed and locked it behind them.

“The room was empty,” she said.

He shrugged as he looked around the small, barren chamber. “I wanted to be certain. Why are we here?”

“To plan.” She dropped her pack and unfastened her coat, then removed her cap and scarf and stuffed them into her bag. “It’s still early. We have an hour, maybe two before the exchange happens.”

Ravi turned to look at her. “How can you know that?”

“I don’t. I’m going on how things were done in the past. There isn’t much happening right now.”

“I hear music. Conversation.”

“There are those who jump at the chance to spend a night at Shaldorn when the opportunity arises. They’re the ones you’ll find downstairs right now. They arrived yesterday and will likely stay tonight before they have to depart in the morning. Others will begin arriving soon, and the conversation will grow even louder. Of the Trinity, One is always around. Two will appear once the majority of the guests arrive. Three will emerge shortly after that. Once all three are seen, that’s when you know things are beginning.”

Ravi tugged at his scarf so it hung around his shoulders. “Meaning?”

“The staff is already making the rounds with food and drink. The guests won’t say the night has begun until the market is open, and the other staff is brought out.”

He considered that for a moment before nodding. “All right.”

“I have a friend here who will assist us. Neela helped me escape. We can trust her. First, we need to change out of these clothes and into something that won’t make us stand out. There are a few places where we can watch the happenings.”

Ravi ran a hand down his mouth. “We could stay hidden, but it would be better if we mingled with the guests.”

“I can’t. Remember?”

“I have a solution for that.”

“What?”

“I’ll explain as you take us to your friend.”