“It better work.” Tricky stared at me with murder in his eyes.
“Even though her powers are weak, blood magic is very powerful. I will inject her blood into your skin and we’ll see if that helps you reclaim any of your magic. There are bandages in my pack. Cover her wound and join me when you’re done. I need a fire to complete the ritual.”
“What about her? Sir said to stay—”
“She isn’t going anywhere. Let her alone. Besides—” Devlen cocked his head as if listening to the storm “—the winds are dying down. I suspect you will have plenty of orbs to appease your General friend.” He left the room, taking my blood with him.
Tricky dug through the pack, removing items as he rummaged. He laid Kaya’s orb and a pair of Devlen’s pants on the ground, scattering a few other things. Finding the bandages, he quickly stuffed most of the items back in.
He delighted in causing me pain as he cleaned and wrapped my cut and pulled my sleeve down.
“If this blood magic works, then I get to siphon the Stormdancer’s power. Once he teaches Crafty, we won’t need him anymore.” He laughed at my dismay. “I don’t trust you in here by yourself.” Tricky put his hand on the screw.
“Don’t—”
He tightened the clamp. Pain dominated all my senses, but I clung to the knowledge that, in his haste, Tricky missed the little silver key.
My world returned the moment the pressure abated. Devlen held the clamp. His mouth twisted in displeasure as he scanned the others in the storeroom. Sir and Tal carried Kade. Exhaustion pulled on him and he offered no resistance as they bound his hands and wrapped him in the null shield net. He appeared to fall asleep the moment he was pushed to the floor.
“Can you dance the storms?” Sir asked Crafty.
“Yes. But with two of us, we get more orbs.”
“He’ll eventually cause trouble.” Sir turned to Devlen. “What about this blood magic Tricky’s so excited about? He has regained some power. Does that mean if you transferred the Stormdancer’s powers to Tricky, he could dance in the storms?”
Devlen’s blood magic experiment had worked. However, this bit of news didn’t spark a brilliant plan for escape.
“He should have the magic. He will need to learn how to use it. But Tricky must follow my orders or else I’ll keep the Stormdancer’s power for myself.” Annoyance colored the last few words.
“Oh, come on.” Sir gestured to me. “It was a measure of revenge for what she did to him.”
“What if she had a connection with the Stormdancer and he felt her distress while harnessing the storm’s energy? All deals would have been off and he would have ripped this place to shreds.”
“You cut her on the arm,” Sir shot back.
“A moment of pain.”
“Didn’t matter anyway. He danced and we’ve cornered the market!” Sir’s eyes lit up. “We’ll send the full orbs back with Namir and his crew after the next storm. He can sell them in Sitia. Factories outside the Stormdance lands will be willing to pay lots of gold for them. Since the Stormdancer Clan can’t make their own orbs, we can sell our empty ones to their clan. The blizzard died before reaching MD-1, so the General has his proof we’ve done the job and we’ll have even more gold.”
Sir left in good spirits to make his plans. Devlen turned to me.
“Why don’t you want Kade’s power?” I asked.
“If I didn’t help Tricky, he would have found a way to kill you. I need you alive for now. One more storm and then you will keep your promise and find the prison.”
“One more?”
“These northern blizzards come in pairs about a day apart. I waited almost five years to find my mentor. I can wait a little more.” When Devlen turned to leave, he stopped. “What’s this?” He bent over and picked up the key. “Where did this come from?”
All plans for using the key vanished. I’d admit the plans were vague and dependent on many factors, but still it could have been useful. No reason to lie, I told him about Tricky’s mess.
“Must have been frustrating, knowing it was there and unable to get to it.”
“You want me to admit it so you can feel a perverse pleasure from my aggravation?”
His gaze flattened. “I take no pleasure in this. I wanted to be Ulrick the entire time, tricking you into finding the prison.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Stay with me after we free my mentor. I lied to Sir. I intended you to be my Kirakawa sacrifice. Instead, I’ll teach you blood magic. We’ll increase your limited powers, and you won’t have to worry about being at anyone’s mercy again.”
I stared at him, seeking deceit. He seemed sincere in his offer and I was unable to match the man before me and the man who frequently tortured me. The thought of not being at anyone’s mercy, especially his, was tempting. “I don’t trust you. You have no qualms with lying. Even if I agree to stay with you, you’ll probably use me for the ritual anyway.”
“Everyone lies when it suits their needs, and everybody uses people, too. It’s in our nature.”
I looked at Kade’s inert form. “Kade and Ulrick didn’t.”
He flicked his hand in anger. “Does it make you feel better to lie to yourself?”
I didn’t answer.
“It must. Because Kade used you when he gave you his orb to keep safe. It’s a dangerous object to have lying around.”
“He asked me. Big difference.”
“If the orb scared you, would you have said no?” He didn’t wait for my reply. “Of course not. Ulrick was right, you’re a nice accommodating doormat.”
“He didn’t say that.”
“Not to you. You claim Ulrick never used you. His connection to the Keep and the Master Magicians was through you. Why do you think he pretended to care and to act as your bodyguard? He worried he would be sent home if something happened to you.”
Devlen tortured me without even touching my body. But I remained stubborn. “You’re lying again.”
He pointed to his temple. “I’ve seen his memories and I’ve felt his emotions. He had no regrets when he swapped you for magic.”
My reaction must have betrayed the turmoil in my mind. A smug half smile quirked his lips. “I’ll let you think over my offer.”
An automatic refusal pushed from my chest, but I clamped down on the impulse. Instead, I asked, “Since you consider me an accommodating doormat who lies to herself, why would you offer me more power?”
A rush of emotions, too fast for me to decipher, crossed his face. “You’ve endured more than anyone else. Usually I only need one session and the person is mine, yet you suffered a long time before giving in to me. I admire your inner strength and your courage.” A wistful lilt stole into his voice. “I enjoyed our time together, and I know you did, too. Think about what I’m willing to do for you, and, this time, don’t lie to yourself.” He strode from the room.
I already had finished deluding myself. I knew who I desired, and it wasn’t Devlen. But I wouldn’t tell him. Not yet. Pretending to go with him might be the only chance I would have to escape.
Once I was sure Devlen wouldn’t return to the storeroom for a while, I wiggled up on my knees then gained my feet on the pile of sacks. I remained attached to the ceiling, but now my hands could reach my waistband. It was a relief having my arms down. The breaks Devlen gave me for eating and such were never long enough.
My fingers sought the glass spider and after a panicked moment, I pulled it from where I had wedged it. But what to do with it? Kade lay in an exhausted sleep and another blizzard was on its way. Sir would want him to dance in the next storm and he should be rested by then. The best time to attempt an escape was right as the next storm hit. Kade would have the storm’s full power at his disposal.
I mulled over my logic. Unfortunately that was when Sir and the others were extra careful and on guard. Tucking the spider back into its hiding space, I sat. Ideas formed and dissipated when exposed to reason.
Eventually, I lay down, drifting off to sleep. A muted click woke me. The door swung open, revealing a wedge of firelight and the outline of a man before shutting without a sound. I drew in a breath and prepared to scream if it was one of Namir’s men looking for fun. My eyes strained in the darkness, but I lost sight of the silent intruder.