“Looking for possible snipers’ nests,” Riley concluded. “Even though he knows this is too far up. They may HQ here, but they’ll come down a ways, the snipers. When we get back, I’ll see if I can find out if Malmon’s bagged a villa. And he’s going to want a boat. He has his own, so maybe he’ll just bring that, or have it brought. The Escapade—his yacht. As if what he does is charming.”

“I hope we search for the star tomorrow. I like the scent of the land here.” To prove it, Annika drew in a long breath. “And the way the sun strikes the water, the land. But if we find the star before he comes, we could be gone.”

“We face him first. On the land, on the sea. In the dark, in the light. Our lightning against his. He hurts you.” Again, Sasha gripped Annika’s hand. “It’s your blood in the water. And Sawyer’s on the ground.”

She dropped her head. “They’re coming too fast. I can’t keep up.”

“You’re pushing too hard.” Riley scooted around, knelt on the rocky ground to dig knots out of Sasha’s shoulders.

“I just can’t see it clearly.”

“You’ve blocked her. Stands to reason she’s doing what she can to block you. Don’t push it, Sash.”

Then Bran and Sawyer were back, nearly at the exact spot. Now both of them carried satchels.

“Supercool trip.”

“Another?” Bran demanded after a single glance at Sasha.

“Just in flashes. They’re just flashes today.”

“Let it go for a bit.”

“See?” Riley rubbed Sasha’s shoulders, then rose. “Let’s get started.”

“Won’t they see what you put inside the cave?” Annika asked.

“I’ll sink them into the ground, at Doyle’s strategic points. This time they’ll work in a chain reaction, at my command. The first goes, then all follow.”

“Will it kill?”

“It’s war,” Doyle said as he strode back. “And none of us can afford to be delicate about it.”

“Ease up,” Sawyer ordered.

“There’s no easing up once they come, once they come at us. Munitions, and plenty of them. Room for cages for any of us they capture. That’s what I’d use the cave for. And the prep area for sending men down from the west, for securing snipers’ nests. Men,” he said flatly, “who’ll have guns with long-range capabilities. Men who kill for a living and who’ll be trained to put a bullet in your brain in the middle of one of your cartwheels.”

Sawyer stepped in front of Annika. “Back the fuck off.”

“No, don’t shield me. Thank you, but don’t.” Her hand wanted to tremble, but she willed it steady as she laid it on Sawyer’s tensed arm. “I know what must be. I took my oath.” She stepped clear, faced Doyle. “You’ve killed men before, and you will again. I don’t need Sasha’s gift to know this. Land people kill what they are, and it’s your greatest weakness, your deepest shame. I know those who come will kill, so we do what we must do. But it brings no peace or pleasure.”

“No. Neither. Ever.”

“Do you see them, the ones who’ve fallen for you?”

“Every one.”

She looked into his eyes a long moment, then took his hands. “It’s a heavy burden to carry. After this, we’ll all carry it. I can’t place the weapons in the cave. Show us where else they’re needed. Sawyer and I will do our part.”

They took the second satchel and, using the map, hiked to the nearest location marked.

“You shouldn’t be angry with Doyle for being harsh with me.”

“Can’t help it.”

“You can,” she corrected. “Because, as I do, you know he’s harsh because he worries I will hesitate, and be hurt, or not protect another from harm.” To soothe them both, she leaned against him. “You worry, too.”

“Sure, a little.”

“More than a little, I think, and I don’t like to give you worry. Sometimes I need Doyle to be harsh, and make me remember.”

“Okay, but remember this, too. I’ve got your back.” He tipped her face up. “And everything else.”

“I will. We’re teammates.”

“You got it. Now watch this,” Sawyer told her as he carefully lifted a vial from the satchel, set it on the stony ground.

It lay a moment, then sank out of sight as if into water.

Annika said, “Ahh. Bran has such a gift. But is it safe for others? Innocents?”

Though she caught at his hand, Sawyer deliberately stepped on the spot where the vial had been. “Evildoers only. Mr. Wizard strikes again. Okay, next about fifty paces southeast.”

He looked at her as they veered off the narrow track. “I know this is hard for you. You have the sweetest heart. But you’re right that Doyle’s right. You need to look at it in a hard light, Anni. Nerezza chose to take this direction, and the men she’s using as weapons against us? They have a choice, too. Those choices take ours off the table. They’ll end us, and more, end any chance of keeping the stars out of Nerezza’s hands.”

She said nothing as he placed the next vial.

“Once Malmon’s on the hunt, he won’t stop. And he’s good. He has almost unlimited resources to keep looking. And maybe, at some point, even to find the Fire Star Bran’s already secured.”