The tunnel smelled of wet stone, mold, and the sweat of the man shu๏ฌing along behind him. It was pitch-black.
Murtagh felt an uncomfortable prickle along his spine: not a premonition, but a concern. It would be easy for the man to hit him in the head with the cudgel. Too easy. Murtagh had wards to fend o๏ฌ attacks, but there was no knowing what enchantments your opponent had, if any.
The mark on his palm no longer itched, which gave him some comfort.
Nevertheless, he remained tense.
โKeep straight,โ said the man, rough. โ โBout a hundred feet thereโs a turn to the right. Be careful, there are stairs going up directly after.โ
โUnderstood.โ
Murtagh was tempted to summon a werelight, but there was no point in revealing that he could use magic.
As he felt his way through the dark, a profusion of possibilities bedeviled him. A thousand likelyโand unlikelyโfates, each worse than the last. It was fruitless speculation, so he wrenched his thoughts away and instead reviewed his answers to every question he could imagine.
He wasnโt about to allow Carabel to catch him out, even if she were the cleverest of werecats.
In the blackness beneath the ground, the hundred feet seemed more like a thousand. Murtagh would have sworn they had crossed the fortress yard and were under the houses on the other side.
Just when he was about to ask how much farther they had to go, the hand he had on the wall slipped around a corner.ย Finally!ย He breathed a sigh of relief as he turned. Another stride, and his left foot bumped into the bottom of a step.
Using his sta๏ฌ for balance, he climbed. Oneโฆ
Twoโฆ Threeโฆ Fourโฆ
Fiโ He slipped on the ๏ฌfth step; a patch of water caused his boot to lose its grip. He caught himself on his sta๏ฌ and then continued, heart pounding.
Fiveโฆ Sixโฆ
Seven. A dim thread of light appeared before him, tall and straight. โGive it a good push,โ said the man. โItโll open right ๏ฌne.โ
Murtagh put his hand out and pushed. An arched door swung open, revealing a small storeroom. A lit candle sat in a sconce on the wall, and after the profound blackness of the tunnel, the ๏ฌickering ๏ฌame was almost blinding. Several barrels were stacked in one corner, and dried hams and chains of sausages hung from hooks in the ceiling.
โNasty business that,โ said the man. Murtagh turned to see him closing the door behind them; when shut, the outline of the door was practically invisible. The man brushed cobwebs from his shoulders and made a face. โToo many spiders down there. Right, sheโll be wanting to see you directly. This way.โ
Murtagh followed as the man led him through several side passages in the fortressโretreating behind corners whenever they heard voicesโuntil they arrived at a dark wood door somewhere on the eastern side of the complex.
The sleeveless man bowed in what Murtagh thought was a slightly mocking fashion and opened the door for him.
Murtagh stepped through it.
 |
He found himself in a sumptuously appointed study. Rows of polished bookcases lined the walls; thick dwarven rugs, rich with reds, greens, and blues, covered the ๏ฌoor; and a beautiful map of Alagaรซsia, painstakingly annotated with thousands of names, was framed as a centerpiece above a stone ๏ฌreplace, wherein a stack of logs merrily burned.
Facing the door was a great desk of carved wood. And sitting behind the desk, propped up on a green velvet cushion, was none other than the werecat Carabel.
She was in her human form, which meant she appeared to Murtagh as a slim, grey-haired woman no taller than four foot. A loose white shift left her lean arms uncovered. Murtagh guessed the shift made it easy for her to change shape if she wished. Although she had the same general contours as a human, there was no doubt that Carabelย wasnโt. Her cheekbones were too wide, her emerald eyes too angled, her pupils too slitted, and there were small tufts of white hair on the tips of her ears. Murtagh wasnโt sure if the tufts were because Carabel hadnโt fully transformed or if they were a normal feature of her race.
Until then, he had never actually seen a werecat, and he found himself unexpectedly hesitant.
On the desk in front of Carabel were three things: the cage with the ๏ฌnch heโd bought, now empty save for a few yellow feathers; a plate with cuts of cold meat; and the parchment heโd given the page, unfolded to reveal the lines of runes written within.
The sight puzzled Murtagh. If the werecat had intercepted his message to Ilenna, was she acting as Lord Relginโs spymaster? And did that mean she had used the magician and soldiers as a ploy to force him into her clutches? Or were things as they appeared, and she really had been trying to save him from Relginโs forces?
Murtagh forced himself to remain relaxed even as he realized his understanding of the situation was woefully inadequate.ย Iโm going to have to step carefully. Very, very carefully.
The door shut behind him, and he was conscious of his guide taking up a position in the back corner, cudgel still in hand.
Carabel cocked her head and watched Murtagh in exactly the same way he had seen yard cats watch a bird or mouse they were stalking. He had a sense that she would happily sit in silence for the rest of the day.
Or until she got bored, and Murtagh didnโt think he wanted to deal with a bored werecat.
He motioned toward the wicker cage. โYou enjoyed the bird, I take it.โ
Carabel lifted one perfectly sharp eyebrow. โIt was acceptable, man of the road.โ She had a plummy, purring voice that oozed self-satis๏ฌed con๏ฌdence. And yet, Murtagh detected a note of underlying strain. Her gaze shifted to the sleeveless brute at the back of the room. โWas there trouble on the way?โ
โClose, maโam, but none worth mentioning.โ
โGood.โ She smiled, revealing sharp little fangs. โYou have met Bertolf, yes? He is a most excellent help. He fetches me meats and morsels and tasty mysteries such as yourself.โ
Murtagh wasnโt sure if he liked being referred to asย tasty. He allowed himself an expression of cultured amusement, as he would have used at court, and made a sweeping bow. A bit of theatrics never hurt, especially with cats. โMy apologies, Lady Carabel, but the ๏ฌnch was intended for another. Or perhaps you didnโt know?โ
With one long, needle-tipped nail, she pricked the center of the parchment square. โOh yes, I knew. You sought to speak with Ilenna Erithsdaughter, did you not?โ
โThatโs right.โ Murtagh felt glad heโd couched his message to Ilenna in deliberately vague language that, he hoped, would mean little to others.
Carabel gestured at the chair in front of the desk. โSit, human. We have much to speak of.โ
โDo we, now?โ But Murtagh pulled his cloak to one side and sat. He leaned his sta๏ฌ against his right knee, where he could grab it in an instant. โMight I ask why you seized my letter and gift? I have broken no law and caused no trouble.โ
โThat is the wrong question. You should instead askย howย I knew to seize your letter and gift. The pageโs master is Lord Relginโs chamberlain, and the
page told him of the strange man o๏ฌering coin to speak with Ilenna Erithsdaughter. No doubt the chamberlain rewarded him far in excess of your bribe.โ
Murtagh winced. He should have quizzed the page more closely. โAnd the chamberlain then came to you. I see, butโโ
โNot quite,โ said Carabel. โThe chamberlain went to Lord Relgin, and Lord Relgin dispatched a number of his men to apprehend you, O Tornac. Most unusual. Such court intrigues are usually beneath Relgin.โ
So the soldiersย hadย been after him. A sour taste formed in Murtaghโs mouth. It seemed like he wouldnโt be getting near Ilenna anytime soon. He put the thought aside. That wasnโt his immediate problem. โI admit, I am confused, Lady Carabel. Did Lord Relgin tell you all this? If so, why bring me here in de๏ฌance of him? And why should any of you highborn folk care about my doings? I am no one of importance.โ
Carabel licked the points of her teeth. Her tongue was small and pink. โThatโs not exactly true, now is itโฆMurtagh son of Morzan?โ
|
A coal popped in the ๏ฌreplace, startlingly loud.
Murtagh felt his eyes narrow. He gripped the sta๏ฌ, ready to ๏ฌght. โHow did you ๏ฌnd out?โ
A cruel little smile curved Carabelโs dark lips. It unsettled him to think how often they touched raw meat and blood. โThe nameย Tornacย is not unknown to us werecats, human. Besides, you smell of dragon.โ
Her explanation did nothing to ease his mind. โAll right,โ he said. โWhat do you want?โ
A frown pinched Carabelโs delicate features, and a dark aspect settled upon her face. โA question for you ๏ฌrst, human. What business had you with Ilenna Erithsdaughter?โ
Had. Murtagh didnโt like her use of the past tense. He a๏ฌected an abashed look. โIn truth, no business. It is a private matter between us. Iโm sure you understand.โ
Again Carabel paused.ย Sheโs uncertain, he realized.ย Why?ย He decided to take the initiative. โIs there a problem with Ilenna? Has something happened to her?โ
The tufts on Carabelโs ears swayed as she shook her head. โIlenna is unharmed. The problem liesโฆelsewhere. I will ask you again, Murtagh son of Morzan. What business had you with her?โ
โAm I speaking to you or to Lord Relgin?โ
She inspected the nails on her left hand, holding them up to the light so the tips gleamed red-gold from the ๏ฌames. โWerecats answer to no one but ourselves. You speak to me and me alone.โ
โAnd him.โ Murtagh jerked a thumb back over his shoulder. A slight purr escaped Carabel. โBertolf is trusted.โ
โMaybe by you.โ Murtagh adjusted his grip on the sta๏ฌ. โWhy should I tell you, werecat? Thereโs nothing you can do to stop me from leaving.โ
Carabelโs slitted pupils constricted. If her tail had been present, he thought it would have twitched. โNo, but you want information, human. Why else would you wish to talk with Ilenna? Oh yes, I know of her familyโsย activities. Great clumsy oafs they are. Not like cats. But I can promise you this: there is no way you can speak to Ilenna or her father without Lord Relgin ๏ฌnding out. If you donโt mind revealing yourself, then go to them. Leave now. But I think you prefer to remain hidden, you and your dragon.โ
Murtagh turned his sta๏ฌ in his hand. What was the werecat getting at? He felt as if he were ๏ฌghting a duel and he was two steps behind his opponent.
โMaybe youโre right,โ he said. โYou still havenโt given me a reason why I should share anything with you.โ
Carabelโs thin shoulders rose and fell. โIf it is secrets you seek, then who better to ask than a cat? Ask of me, Murtagh son of Morzan, and if I do not know, I will speak to Ilenna on your behalf.โ
โYouโre o๏ฌering to help me,โ said Murtagh, wary.
Her eyelids lowered until they were half closed, and she nestled in on herself, as if to brace against inclement wind. โI am.โ
โIn exchange for what?โ
She blinked. โThe smallest of favors.โ
In an instant, things became clear to Murtagh. A cynical laugh escaped him. โOf course. And what is thisย smallest of favors?โ
The werecat lifted her pointed chin, de๏ฌant. โA task that needs doing,
and none there are in Gilโead who can do it, save you.โ
โSomehow I doubt that.โ He frowned at her; she was trying to manipulate him. โIโm not your errand boy, cat. No one gets to order me about. Not you, not Relgin, not even Nasuada.โ
โI would not think to tell a Dragon Rider what to do. This is an o๏ฌer, not a command.โ
Murtagh growled and ran his ๏ฌngers through his hair. โAnd what is it you need doing?โ
โYou will agree to it?โ
โThat depends on the nature of the task and whether or not you have the answers I seek.โ
With a seemingly uninterested air, Carabel licked a ๏ฌeck of blood o๏ฌ the middle ๏ฌnger of her left hand. โThat is hardly fair, human. What if I must confer with Ilenna? Shall I hunt for you out of nothing but the goodness of my heart while I await your agreement?โ
โShall I help you out of nothing but the goodness of my own?โ
Carabel ๏ฌexed her ๏ฌngers, as if to extend and retract claws. โTrust is a sword with a blade for a hilt. It cuts all equally.โ
โThat is far from a convincing, or comforting, argument.โ โFor a human.โ
โHuman I am.โ
She gave him a ๏ฌat, humorless stare. โI have not told Lord Relgin of your presence here. Is that not enough reason to trust me?โ
Despite the werecatโs seemingly relaxed pose, Murtagh saw hints of coiled tension throughout her body.ย Somethingโs seriously amiss, or she wouldnโt have gone to so much trouble.
He lifted the sta๏ฌ a few inches and let it rap against the ๏ฌoor. Once. Twice. Three times. He decided. The cat was right; he wouldnโt be able to talk with Ilenna without attracting attention. Regardless of theย favorย Carabel
had in mind, he might learn something by putting his questions to her. Even if she knew nothing helpful, that itself was a useful piece of information. And in any case, it could be prudent to forewarn Carabel and, by extension, Lord Relgin about the strange doings in the land.
โItโs not,โ said Murtagh, โbut let us both cut ourselves.โ From inside his cloak, he removed the bird-skull amulet and the stone with the inner shine and placed them on the desk.
A sulfurous smell began to taint the air.
Carabel hissed and scooted backward on her velvet cushion, her spine arched as if she were about to spring into the air. Her grey hair nearly stood on end. โWhere did you ๏ฌnd thoseย thingsss?โ
Once again, Murtagh had the disconcerting realization that he wasnโt
talking with another human, but something entirely di๏ฌerent. โCeunon. I took them o๏ฌ a rather disreputable trader by the name of Sarros.โ
Carabel extended a clawed hand and touched the tip of her index nail to the amulet. She snatched her hand back as if burned, and then shivered and straightened, again assuming a digni๏ฌed air. It was a false front; Murtagh could see that the werecat was shaken, and that likewise disturbed him. Werecats were many things, but cowards they were not.
โTell the full tale, human, and leave nothing out.โ
He didnโt do as she asked. Not entirely. There were some secrets he didnโt feel like sharing, such as his use of the Name of Names. (Even if the werecats were aware the Name existed, he saw no advantage in revealing that he knew the word.) But aside from that, he told the truth.
As he talked, Murtagh was conscious of Bertolf listening behind him. He hoped the man was more discreet than the page.
The crackling of the ๏ฌre was the only sound in the room when he ๏ฌnished.
Carabel stretched and shivered, and Murtagh noticed for the ๏ฌrst time that her feet were bare. โSssah. You ask questions you may not want answering, human.โ
โThen you know where to ๏ฌnd the witch-woman Bachel?โย โYesss.โ
โAnd the origin of the stone? And also the Dreamers that Sarros mentioned?โ
Her lips retracted, showing more of her pointed teeth. โYes andย yesss.โ โAnd you will tell me?โ
Carabelโs gaze went to the map over the ๏ฌreplace before returning to the coal-like stone. โIf you will complete the task I set before youโฆyes.โ
โWhat guarantee have I that you actually possess the information I seek?
Tell me ๏ฌrst.โ
Her tufted ears pressed ๏ฌat against the sides of her head. โAfter, human.
After. We must both grasp the sword.โ
Murtagh still wasnโt convinced. โMaybe I should talk to Ilenna instead.
Iโm sure I could ๏ฌnd a way to approach her unseen.โ
An unpleasant scraping ๏ฌlled the study as Carabel drew her nails across the surface of the desk, leaving thin lines in the wood. โYou would be disappointed, human. She has no knowledge of these things. I swear it.โ
โBut you do.โย โYesss.โ
He tapped the butt of the sta๏ฌ against the ๏ฌoor. โAnd how is that?โ
โBecause I am a cat, human. I hear many things, and I know more. I hunt in shadows, and I dance in moonbeams, and wherever I walk, I walk alone.โ
Nonsense and riddles, but what else had he expected? โWhat is the task?โ
A tense stillness settled upon Carabel, and her eyes ๏ฌared with dark anger. She looked ready to ๏ฌght or spring after her prey. โOver the past six moons, three of our younglings have been taken in Gilโead. One of them was later found lost along the shore of the lake with no memory of how he got there. The others have never been seen again. Most recently, another youngling was seized, not three days past.โ
A sympathetic anger formed in Murtagh. โSeized by whom?โ โMen. Humans. But I cannot say why.โ
โAnd you want me to ๏ฌnd the ones responsible?โ
Carabel shook her head. โNo. I want you to ๏ฌnd the youngling who was taken.ย Allย of the younglings, if possible, but I fear only the one may yet be saved. Silna is her name. We tracked her through the cityโa werecatโs nose is hard to foolโand we know where she might be.โ
โBut you canโt get to her.โ
The werecat blinked. Her lashes were as long and ๏ฌne as the silk atop summer grass. โThere is a certain captain of the city guard. Captain Wren. In the barracks he has command over, there is a set of stairs that lead underground to a room where he and his o๏ฌcers meet once every sevenday. Past that room are certain other chambers, and at the end of them is a door that never opens. We suspect Silna might be found therein.โ
Murtagh frowned.ย A captain of the city guardโฆThe implications were unpleasant. โDo you think this Captain Wren is responsible for taking Silna?โ
โWe do not know.โ
โAnd just how many werecats are in Gilโead?โ
The tips of her ears twitched. โMore than you might think, human.โ He let that pass. โWho else has access to those chambers?โ
โAgain, we do not know. There may be an entrance from the other side, some secret tunnel we have yet to discover.โ
His frown deepened. โHave you spoken to Lord Relgin about this? I assume not.โ
Carabel let out a sharp breath. โWe are werecats, but still, at heart, we are cats. We are the ones who walk through doors. Always and ever. But we cannot walk through the door beneath the barracks, which means there is magic at work, and none there are in Relginโs service ๏ฌt to deal with such things. It is a task for a Rider. Besidesโฆthere is always a chance that Wren or someone in his command was given orders from above.โ
The more she spoke, the more troubled Murtagh felt. He turned the sta๏ฌ in his hand. โWhat about Du Vrangr Gata? Surely they could help.โ
A low coughing, spitting sound issued from Carabel. โI would not trust them to catch a mouse with three broken legs.ย Pah!โ
โAnd you need someone you can trust.โ
She met his gaze and held it. โYes.โ
Murtagh wondered about the elves. That Carabel had not mentioned them was answer enough, but he was curious as to the reason. Elves and werecats did not seem entirely dissimilar, and if bad blood lay between them
โor even just a basic dislikeโhe was interested in knowing why.ย A question for another time.
His thoughts returned to Silna. In his mind, he pictured a child huddled alone in a bare stone cell. He could imagine all too well the cold, the pain, the anger, and the despair she might be feeling. Had he not shared those same torments when the Twins had deposited him in the dungeon beneath the citadel at Urรปโbaen? Worst of all had been the uncertainty, not knowing what fresh outrages one moment or the next might bring.
Nor had that been his only experience in such a helpless, dire situation. He still remembered with painful vividness when, at fourteen, heโd snuck out of Urรปโbaen without permission or accompaniment. That evening, heโd tried to slip back in through the main gates, and the soldiers standing watch had caught him. Not recognizing him, they threw him into one of the cells buried beneath the guard tower. Galbatorix had been absent from the city at the time, along with his entire retinue. No one remained whom Murtagh could call upon to con๏ฌrm his identity. So there he had languished for a week and three days, convinced he would die in sunless con๏ฌnement and that no one would know or care.
In the end, Galbatorix returned, and word of Murtaghโs plight somehow reached the court, for the kingโs then chamberlain had come to see to his release. After which the chamberlain promptly had Murtagh soundly beaten for the trouble he had caused.
Murtagh suppressed a shiver. He could still smell the dampness of the cell and feel the cold of the stones seeping into his bones. And yet, despite his familiarity with the distressing realities of Silnaโs likely plightโand his compassion for herโhe resented Carabel using the youngling to secure his help. Doubly so because he knew he would hate himself if he walked away.
โFine,โ he ground out from between his teeth. โIโll do it. But not for you, nor even for myself. For Silna.โ
Carabel nodded. โWhatever you ๏ฌnd behind that door, the race of werecats will be grateful and count you as a friend, Murtagh son of Morzan.โ
Stop calling me that!ย โWhere are the barracks?โ Her hair bristled slightly. โIt is not that simple.โ
โWhy shouldnโt it be? Iโll walk in and open the door, magic or no, and if anyone dares stop me, Iโllโโ
โNo!โ She dug her claws into the arms of her chair, and for a moment, Murtagh thought she might leap across the desk. โIf you rouse the alarm, Silna might be spirited away before you can reach her. Or worse, killed. The risk is too great. And you do not know what spells may have been deployed in that place.โ
Murtagh inclined his head. โSo how am I supposed to gain entrance without attracting unwanted attention?โ
Carabel settled back on her cushion and smoothed the tassels on her ears. โYou must become a member of the city guard and join Captain Wrenโs company.โ
He allowed his eyebrows to rise. โOh, is that all?โฆWell, I suppose I can talk my way into their ranks, if need be.โ
โAlas, that will not su๏ฌce.โ Carabel was somber, but she seemed to take a subtle delight in confounding him. โCaptain Wren no longer accepts general recruits into his company. At Lord Relginโs indulgence, Wren selects his men from among the rest of the guard, and it is counted a high honor to be so chosen. But Wren only seeks out men whose service he trusts.โ
โAnd thatโs not suspicious at all.โ
Carabel ๏ฌicked her ears. โBut not uncommon for o๏ฌcers of distinction.โ โTrue enough. So how do I earn Captain Wrenโs trust?โ
โIt is not possible, not in the time we have. Instead, you will have to impress him.โ
Murtagh nearly growled. โAnd how am I to accomplish that? A feat of arms?โ
A sly smile curled Carabelโs sharp lips. โIt is very simple, human. To impress him, you must kill a ๏ฌsh.โ
โA ๏ฌsh? Aย ๏ฌsh? Do you take me for a fool?โ
โNot at all. But, alas, to kill the ๏ฌsh, you will need a special lure.โ โBah!โ With an expression of disgust, Murtagh fell back in the chair.
How deep of a hole had he fallen in? If he hadnโt already given his word, and if it werenโt for the vanished youngling, he would have gotten up and left. โEnough of these riddles, cat! Explain, and youโd best do a good job of it.โ
โOf course, human. It goes as such. In Isenstar Lake lives a great cunning ๏ฌsh the men of this place have named Muckmaw. He is ๏ฌerce, hungry, and cruel, and over the years, he has sunk many a boat and eaten many a ๏ฌsherman. There is a reward in Gilโead for whosoever can dispatch Muckmaw and present his head as proof of the deed. Four gold coins and a promise of a position in the guards, if so desired. I have no doubt that if you bring Muckmawโs head to Captain Wren, he will welcome you into the ranks of his men.โ
โKilling a ๏ฌsh is no great challenge,โ said Murtagh.
โWere that was true. Muckmaw is no ordinary beast.โ Carabel gestured at herself. โAnd a werecat should know. No common bait or cloth or colored thread will attract him, only something of special signi๏ฌcance.โ
โOr I could just ๏ฌnd him with my mind.โ Murtagh gave her a dangerous smile. โA quick spell, and that will be the end of Muckmaw.โ
The werecat matched his smile. โAnd how will you pick out the thoughts of a single ๏ฌsh amongst all the ๏ฌsh in Isenstar Lake?โฆNo, you will need a lure, one that he cannot resist.โ
โWhat sort of lure is that?โ
โA scale of the dragon Glaedr, whose body lies burned and buried outside this city.โ
Murtaghโs immediate reaction was outrage. โYou must be jesting!โ
โI would not jest about such a thing,โ said Carabel, deadly quiet. โNot when one of our younglings is in danger. Trust me, human, only the scale of a dragon will su๏ฌce for Muckmaw.โ
Again, Murtagh saw Oromis and Glaedr falling limply through the air while ranks of men and elves clashed on the ground below. He rubbed his
knuckles as he stared at the ๏ฌoor. โIโm not happy about this, cat.โ
The slightest bit of sympathy entered Carabelโs voice: โIt is a hard thing I ask you for, I know. But there is a rightness to it also.โ
โI fail to see anyย rightnessย in grave robbery.โ
โYou slew Glaedr. Now, by fateโs design, you may use a part of him to help save an innocent. What could be more right than that?โ
The question struck him to his core. He forced his hands apart. โThe elves will have set wards around Glaedrโs tomb to prevent exactly this sort of desecration.โ
A shrug from Carabel. โYes. Probably. That is why we havenโt tried.
That is why we must askย you, Rider.โ
โAnd what if I hadnโt come to Gilโead?โ
When she answered, he heard no pretense in her voice, only honest emotion, raw and vulnerable and shot through with determination. โThen I and all the werecats in Gilโead would have stormed the barracks and attempted to breach the door.โ She met his gaze. โIf that meant we had to ๏ฌght an entire company of guards, then so be it. We will not abandon our young.โ
โโฆNo.โ Murtagh frowned and looked at the wood-braced ceiling.ย I should have known better than to give my word. Another thought followed close behind:ย Thorn wonโt like that I did. But he knew he couldnโt ignore Carabelโs request, even if, right then, he rather hated the werecat. โGet the scale, catch the ๏ฌsh, ๏ฌnd out whatโs behind the door. Is that it?โ
Carabel nodded. โExactly. But you must be quick about it, human. We have heard whispers of men moving in the night, wagons readied, horses freshly shodโฆ. By tomorrow evening, Silna may no longer be in the city.โ
Murtagh silently cursed.ย This isnโt going to be easy. Then his resolve hardened, and he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. If the werecat child was in Gilโead, heโd ๏ฌnd her, even if it meant pulling the city apart beam by beam.
โThen weโd best not waste any time.โ
A savage, toothy smile spread across Carabelโs face.
