She realized her mouth was open. “Where…where are you from?” she asked, almost unable to string her thoughts together. Tyrus was a manipulative and secretive man, but this went beyond anything her imagination could have summoned.
“I was raised in Wayland,” he answered. “My mentor was a man named Reeder. I did not learn that I had a sister until a short while ago. Tyrus summoned me to Kenatos two days ago. He told me of your situation and offered a way to free you.” He took a step toward her. “I will help you. If you believe what I say.”
Master Shivu had a strange smile on his face. He retreated slowly. “You will leave in the morning. I think it may be best if the two of you spoke a little while. I have known Tyrus Paracelsus for many years. There are always reasons for what he does.”
Hettie did not doubt that for a single moment.
“Please,” she offered, inviting him to enter. He did, glancing at the sparse accommodations with a look of simple pleasure. As a Druidecht he was probably used to sleeping on the forest floor.
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Annon looked at her knowingly. He did not say the words, but she could almost see them spoken in his eyes. A ripple of blue flames danced across his fingers.
Pyricanthas. Sericanthas. Thas.
She held up her own glowing hand, having thought the words as well, and touched her palm against his. She could feel the magic in his blood. Those with the fireblood were not persecuted among the Romani. They had made sure she was taught the Vaettir words at an appropriate age. That she possessed it only increased her value.
His arrival was unexpected. His arrival was almost a dagger thrust in her heart. How had Tyrus managed to keep this secret? What sort of man would do that?
How to buy it?
Annon seated himself cross-legged on the mat. She joined him, sitting opposite, leaning forward and giving him an eager look. A listening ear was usually all it took to get a man to start speaking. Silencing him, on the other hand, often took a great deal of work.
“That you are Romani, kidnapped at birth, and that you have your first earring. Since we are the same age, you are due for the next and wish to avoid it. He said you were trained as a Finder in Alkire by a man he knows. Despite his wealth and prominence, he refuses to bid for you himself.” She saw his eyes narrow at that. Good. “He told me of an abandoned treasure in the mountains of Alkire. He gave me the key words that will open the treasure and implored me not to speak them to anyone until we have arrived there.”
“It is no secret that is known to three,” Hettie said. “It’s another Romani saying. Go on.”
“That is it. We seek Erasmus in Havenrook, and I was told he knows where the treasure is but not how to retrieve it.”
