Oh gods. We were dead.
Lorian turned. Somehow, he knew, and he opened his mouth—likely for some cutting remark that would, in his mind, motivate me to do better.
Scuffing on the stairs.
Footsteps.
My lungs forgot how to breathe.
Lorian moved faster than I’d ever seen. He leaped across the cavern and pulled me behind the closest pillar, his eyes glittering with banked fury.
My heart thundered, and I trembled. Behind me, Lorian was so still it was as if he’d stopped breathing.
The High Priestess stepped into the cavern. She didn’t bother glancing around, her gaze on the blue stones. My eyes met Lorian’s, and he gave me a warning look.
I peered around the pillar, just in time to see the High Priestess pluck one of the stones and shove it into the pocket of her robe.
She glanced around the cavern and then whirled, striding toward the stairs.
Relief crashed through me, my knees turning to water. If not for Lorian pressing me against the pillar, I would have slumped to the floor.
Neither of us moved for several long moments.
Finally, Lorian let me go.
I swallowed. “What do we do?”
“We don’t need to do anything. Except you. You need to—”
“Work harder. I know. But why wouldn’t we need to do something?” My voice was very small. “Should we…kill her?” She would have seen the door cracked so we could get back out. Unless she was an idiot, she either knew someone had been here or knew she was being watched.
Lorian’s eyes gleamed in amusement. “My, how things change. Just weeks away from your village, and you’re already turning into a little savage.”
I stared at him. He turned and strolled away, back toward the chests he’d been inspecting.
“She must have noticed we’d unblocked the entrance,” I said, reaching for patience.
Lorian just shrugged. “She was clearly busy with her own sordid deeds. What do you think she’ll do? Tell the king she noticed the door was ajar when she snuck down here to steal from him?”
He had a point. But… “You’re not worried?”
He glowered over his shoulder at me, obviously tired of my inane questions.
“Of course I’m worried. If it had been a guard—or worse, Sabium himself—the entire castle would have been searched. Likely, truth-seekers and assessors would have been involved. Let this be a warning. Distractions will get you killed.” He studied my face, and I saw curiosity in his eyes. A curious Lorian had never boded well for me. “Just what were you thinking about enough that you dropped the thread?”
My face flamed. If I told him I was imagining a future back in my village, he’d likely snarl at me.
“Nothing. I’m tired, that’s all.”
He just shook his head at my obvious lie. “You have a few minutes to rest. The priestess wouldn’t have sauntered down here if there were a chance of discovery.”
I turned my attention to the empty oceartus stones, my own curiosity like an itch I couldn’t scratch. “Why do you think she took the stone?”
He shrugged absently, throwing open another chest. “We’re not the only ones in this castle with plans of our own.”
I let him work, wandering toward the stones. Not long ago, I’d daydreamed about having one for myself. I’d thought if I could just drain my magic until the Gifting, everything would be fine.
The worst part? I still had to actively prevent myself from darting forward and swiping one of those stones. Even knowing I needed my power to survive, I wanted to listen to the little voice inside me that said if I could just be normal, everything would go back to the way it was.
I turned away, disgusted with myself.
Something caught my eye, and I took a step closer to the marble pillar. The carvings weren’t just decorative. They showed strange creatures I’d never seen before. Creatures with wings and claws, tentacles and talons. Furred beasts that stood on two legs and tiny men with misshapen faces.
“What are these?”
“Did you truly think we were the only creatures on this continent?”
“Well, yes.”
Silence. I turned.
Lorian had finished his search. And from his empty hands and emptier eyes, he hadn’t found what he was looking for.
The mercenary practically vibrated with rage as he stared at the chests—in fact, I’d never seen him this angry before. While he was a master of hiding his expressions from me, I’d gotten used to studying his face while I attempted to figure out what he was thinking. And if I wasn’t wrong, buried beneath the rage was…desolation.