Before I could enter the inn, the clatter of hooves sounded behind me. I spun in time to see Leif stop Rusalka. His panic reached me before his words.

“Moon Man,” he gasped. “Moon Man’s been captured!”

31

BACK IN THE INN’S common room, the five of us sorted through all the details we had. Moon Man had been captured that afternoon.

“We found no references to the tunnel in the Council Hall’s library,” Leif said. “We were meeting with an old magician who was hiding from the Vermin. Another had told us he had information on the construction of the Keep, but when we talked to the magician he only had vague details. He knew how to create a null shield and he taught me how to make one. I shouldn’t have tried it. The magic called the Warpers and we were attacked as we left his house.”

“How did you get away?” Janco asked.

Leif threw his hands up. “One minute we’re surrounded by Vermins, the next a group of brawling merchants and screaming children practically rolled over everyone. It was mass confusion. A man grabbed my hand and pulled me out. I hid until dark. One of the children from the Helping Guild told me Moon Man hadn’t escaped.”

“The Vermin will know we’re here,” Ari said. “We need to leave now. There’s a caravan camping about two miles north of here. We can stay with them.”

“Which way is the caravan going?” I asked Ari.

“They have a delivery in the Citadel tomorrow, and then they’re going south to the Greenblade lands. Why?”

“Oh no!” Leif said. “She’s got that look in her eyes. What are you scheming, little sister?”

“We have to get inside the Keep.”

“Impossible. There’s a bubble of protective magic around it. We couldn’t find the entrance to the tunnel. A few Warpers have gained master-level power. You’re powerful, but nowhere near their level. You’ll be caught in an instant.” Leif crossed his arms as if his statement ended the discussion.

“That’s a great idea,” I said.

“What?

I ignored Leif’s confusion. “Ari, how ready are the people in the Citadel to revolt?”

“They’re organized, have some weapons and a few magicians. What I would really like to do is run a few training sessions, but that’s not going to happen. They’re as ready as they’re going to get.”

“Would the caravan be willing to lend us one of their wagons?” I asked.

“Something could be arranged.”

Comprehension dawned in Janco s face. “If we get you inside, can we keep the five golds?”

“Only if you get us back out again,” I said.

“I don’t like the odds,” Janco said. He brightened. “Gotta love the underdog, though.”

“There are no odds. It’s suicide,” Leif said.

“Look at it this way, Leif. It’ll put an end to our arguing,” I said.

“How?”

“We die, you’re right. You don’t die, I’m right.”

“I feel so much better now.”

Janco tsked. “Sarcasm is detrimental to the team spirit.”

Ari frowned at me. “Don’t you mean, we don’t die, Yelena?”

I didn’t answer. Valek waited on the other side. My reward.

We packed our supplies and headed out. The merchants of the caravan agreed to include us in their group and we spent most of the night preparing our wagon. When we finished with the cart’s alterations, we stood around it, discussing the plan for the next day.

“Marrok, you’ll ride Garnet. Janco can take Kiki, and Ari, you’ll drive the wagon. No matter what happens, Ari, make sure we get to the Keep’s gate,” I ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

“What about me and you?” Leif asked.

I grimaced. “We’re the cargo.” The last thing I wanted to do was get inside one of those crates again, but there was no other way. “Ari is going to use me to get us inside. He’ll demand his five golds for bringing me to the Vermin.”

“I never thought I’d miss my days as necklace snake bait,” Leif said.

“What happens once we’re inside?” Ari asked.

“That will be the signal for the Citadel’s citizens to riot, which should keep a bunch of the Vermin and Warpers busy.”

“But what about all those powerful Warpers?” Leif asked.

“Can you make a null shield?”

He hesitated. “Yes.”

“When the riot starts, all the magicians will come to the Keep’s gate and help you build and maintain a null shield,” I said.

“But it won’t last long.”

“I just need a little time.”

“Time for what?”

“To get to the Fire Warper.”

Leif stared at me. “You can fight him?”

“No.”

“Tell me again why this isn’t a suicide mission.”

“I think I can stop him and keep him in the fire world. And in doing so, I think I might be able to pull some of the Warpers’ powers from them. If Bain and Irys are still alive, and if you round up as many magicians as you can, then you should be able to counter the Warpers.”

“That’s a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘thinks, ” Janco said.

“And there’s no ‘when,’” Ari said.

“When?” Leif asked.