“The Council—”

“I don’t care what the Council says. They’ll have to arrest me or let me go. I’m prepared for both.”

“Why are you going with Councilor Moon?”

“Why not? She offered to support me. And since the whole Devlen/Ulrick mystery has been solved, I’ve no worries.” I studied Yelena’s expression. “Unless you have something else to tell me?”

Her face remained impassive. “The Council won’t return the diamonds.”

“Too bad.” I wrapped Tula’s fox statue and Helen’s glass Stormdancer in a sheet.

“How are you going to afford to make your messengers? You’ll need equipment and supplies. Perhaps you should go home to Booruby and work in your family’s factory.”

Her suggestion had merit. In a normal situation, I would heed her advice. Nothing about this endeavor was normal. “Gressa offered to let me use her glass equipment and supplies. I will reimburse her when I earn enough money.”

“You’re going to get hurt,” she warned.

I shrugged. Not like I hadn’t been hurt before. “Then I’ll stay on snake alert.”

“Snake alert?”

“When I lived at home, we used to have a snake alert the first cold night of the season. The hot kilns were guaranteed to draw in poisonous fer-de-lance snakes. Armed with machetes, my family would kill as many as possible. It reduced the number of snakes living close to us. We couldn’t get rid of them all, but it helped.” I returned to my packing.

“Isn’t that how your uncle died?” Yelena asked.

“Yep. Uncle Werner went left when he should have gone right. But he was well aware of the danger and made an honest mistake. Much better than being surprised.”

“What about Kade?”

“Smart man. I should have listened to him when he advised me to keep quiet about my new power. Once I set up my shop and stockpile enough messengers, I’m planning to visit him.”

“Opal, you know what I meant.” Her frustration had grown to a dangerous level. “He won’t approve.”

“I don’t need his approval. Do you seek Valek’s consent every time you embark on a mission?”

Her chagrined expression answered for her. After a few more attempts to change my mind, she left. I sagged with relief. If I could endure Yelena’s lecture, then Mara’s should be easier.

Wrong again. Mara sliced into me. I was being selfish. Chop. I was being greedy. Chop. I was being stupid. Chop.

“Mara, stop,” I said. “If I stay here, I’ll be miserable.”

She inhaled a breath as if to reply, but released it in one long sigh. “You need to do this?”

“Yes.”

“Will it make you happy?”

“I’m not sure happy is the right word.”

She considered. “Will it help you return to my carefree, trusting sister? You remember the one? Before her trip to Ixia with Ulrick?”

My response lodged in the back of my throat. “Don’t you mean Devlen?”

Her hands pressed together as misery twisted her face. “Didn’t Yelena talk to you about her experiment?”

Obviously Leif had told Mara. I wondered how many more knew. “She told me.”

“You don’t believe her?”

“Nope.”

“But she’s the Soulfinder, she’d know.”

“Maybe.”

Mara stepped back as if my lack of trust was contagious. “Do you think she’s lying to you?”

“No. I think she gave up too soon.”

“Opal, she cares about you. Why wouldn’t she put her full effort into helping you?” Outrage and disbelief warred in Mara. She rubbed her forearms in agitation.

“Don’t know. Don’t care. I’m no longer relying on her. This trip should put this whole nasty business to rest.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Then I’ve been duped. I’ll concede the point and get on with my life despite being the world’s biggest idiot.”

“Opal, you’re not…” Another huff escaped her lips. “I hate to agree with you, but you do need to take this trip. Just remember, you have me, Ahir, Mother and Father all willing to support you no matter what. You will message us if you need us. You will be very careful.”

“Yes, sir.”

“…since I’m not going to be employed here, I’ll pay the Keep for Quartz, the saddle, tack and my weapons with glass messengers,” I said to Bain Bloodgood. “I already talked to the Stable Master and the Weapons Master to determine an amount. And I met with the head of the Messenger Committee, Councilor Featherstone, about providing them with new messengers as long as they provide me with details regarding their use.” I continued to babble at him. “If you need my other services, let me know and I’ll return to help.”

Bain remained quiet. He sat behind his messy desk in his administration office. He fiddled with a piece of parchment, letting it slide between his fingers over and over.

“I’ll make sure the shipments are well guarded,” I said into the horrible silence.

Finally, Bain let the parchment fall onto the top of a pile. He focused a troubled gaze on me. “You realize Gressa is ambitious. She will desire control of who receives your messengers?”

“Yes.”

“Then why, child, have you agreed to work with her?”