Her expression was not encouraging. “And why is that?”
“Well, partly because I like to keep track of everybody. That’s what a courier does. Knows where anybody can be found at a moment’s notice.” The grin deepened. “But partly because I think you’re pretty interesting. I’d like to see what you get up to next.”
She gave him a long, cool, assessing look. “You know I could do some serious damage to you without even trying very hard.”
His smile was gone. He met her eyes unflinchingly. “And why would you want to do that?”
“If you did something careless. If you did something cruel.”
“And why would I want to do that?”
“Some people do.”
“I’ve been careless sometimes, I guess,” he said slowly. “But I don’t think I’ve ever been cruel. You’ll need a better reason than that to avoid me.”
“I didn’t say I wanted to avoid you.”
His grin was back. “Well, then.”
“But I have no idea where I’ll find work.”
“Can’t wait to see what you figure out.”
Jayla was too restless to stick beside Cody much longer, though he seemed prepared to loll on the abandoned table till the world itself came to an end. Pretty soon she pushed herself away and began another circuit of the camp. She was heartily sick of this confined space and this edgy group of people and this sense of absolutely wasted time. She wanted something else to see and something else to do. She was never at her best unless she was in motion.
This time, when she made another pass around the Maratan camp, she was surprised to see Pietro was visiting. He was seated on a folded tarp, and Aussen sat right across from him, her knees practically touching his, her eyes fixed on his face. Jayla wasn’t close enough to hear, but he seemed to be talking, and Aussen seemed to be listening, even though it wasn’t clear that she could truly understand the Cordish language.
As Jayla watched, Pietro reached under the collar of his shirt and pulled out something hanging around his neck. An amulet or a religious pendant, maybe, dangling from a simple leather cord. Pietro tugged it off over his head and held it out so Aussen could examine it, and he continued to talk while she appeared to listen. Then he leaned over and slipped the cord around Aussen’s neck, tucking the pendant under her clothing so it lay hidden against her skin.
Jayla took a sharp breath and narrowed her eyes in speculation. No one in the Maratan camp seemed to notice or care that an old man was bestowing gifts on a young girl who had no protectors. Jayla felt her hands clench and her lips tighten. She watched another minute, and then she turned away.
By late afternoon, the temporary bridge was in place, and a few fearless souls had eased themselves across to make sure it was safe. When it was clear the planks and boards were holding, there was a massive bustle across the entire camp as people began packing their belongings and lining up to make the crossing. Jayla glanced at the horizon and estimated that they didn’t have more than a couple hours of daylight left. She doubted that even half the travelers could make it across the new bridge before sundown, and no one would risk the attempt in the dark. It would be tomorrow before she was on the other side of the divide.
Restless, she broke free of the crowd and circled the plateau again. At every campsite she passed, she overheard excited groups of travelers speculating about the safety of the temporary bridge and talking about what they’d do when they finally reached the city.
But she didn’t see the one person she was actually looking for. She kept moving.
Sunset had just begun uncoiling on the horizon when Jayla found him at the edge of the canyon, staring across the divide into the heart of the city. She glanced briefly at the view, which was admittedly impressive. Every building in Corcannon seemed to be outlined with tiny lights, making a gaudy display against the serrated skyline. The mountain bulked up behind the last row of houses, an impenetrable and looming presence. Against its density, the lights sparkled with an extra giddiness.
Her quarry stood at the foot of the ruined bridge, resting a hand on a twisted curl of metal. Jayla moved up behind him so quietly that he couldn’t hear her footfalls or her breathing, not even when she was inches away. Shaking a knife into her hand, she stepped close enough to slip the blade against his ribs through the soft folds of his clothing. She felt him stiffen with shock as the metal touched his skin and held steady. He didn’t even try to look over his shoulder.
“I don’t have any money,” he said, his voice admirably calm. “But you’re welcome to my bracelets or anything else you want.”
“I think you’ve given away enough jewelry for the day.”
Pietro jerked with surprise as he recognized her voice. “Jayla?”
“That’s right.”
“What do you—can I turn around?”
She pulled the knife away and said, “Slowly.”
He obeyed, turning to face her, his hands held out to show they were empty. In the fading light, she could clearly make out the bewilderment on his face. “What’s wrong?” he said quietly. “Why are you angry at me?”
She held the knife so close to his body he would have to realize she could gouge out his heart with a few quick strokes. “I want you to tell me,” she said in a low, angry voice, “why a lonely old man like you would be giving presents to a little girl who’s all by herself in the world. The only reasons I can think of make me want to run you right through and kick your body into the canyon.”
His face instantly showed comprehension and dismay—but not, she thought, guilt or shame. “I swear on my life I mean no harm to Aussen. I am trying to protect her.”
She pressed the tip of her knife against his chest just until she could feel the hard resistance of bone beneath his clothing. “That’s not an explanation.”
He nodded. “No. But what I tell you, you’re going to have to take on faith.”
“I don’t take anything on faith.”
He surprised her by suddenly bringing both his hands on either side of hers—not trying to knock the dagger away, but almost as if begging her to listen to him as he made a plea. “Jayla. You saw what she did last night. She scooped up a handful of dirt and she turned it into a diamond of light. You saw that.”
She jerked her hand away from his, and when he dropped his arms, she aimed the dagger back at his ribcage, but this time she didn’t touch him. “I did. So?”
“So that’s an ability very few individuals in Corcannon possess. And there are people in the city who would pay any amount of money to get their hands on someone with that talent. They would kidnap. They would kill. Jayla, if these people knew that Aussen existed, they would stop at nothing to get her in their power. Nothing. Do you understand me? Do you believe me?”
She didn’t understand him, but she believed him. His passion was entirely convincing. “Who are these people? And why would they want Aussen? What would they do with her?”
“I can’t tell you. I can’t explain. I’m just telling you it would be dire. You have to keep Aussen away from them at all costs.”
“Me? But I’m not her keeper.”
Pietro stepped closer and took her hands again, heedless of her knife. “You have to assume that role,” he said urgently. “Those Maratan women—they can’t protect her. You can.”