Page 93 of Heir

“So, your people—your group is ruled by the Eye of Ankana?”

Aiz, like most who’d been educated in the cloisters, knew much about Ankana. Still, she felt a bead of sweat trickle down her neck. “The Eye is not to be questioned.”

“Might the Eye be persuaded to help your people? I’ve met the High Seer. Maybe if I know more about what your people are suffering, I could talk to him. Try to help.”

Aiz glanced at Quil in surprise, nearly tripping face-first into the ravine. Quil’s hand shot out, warm on her wrist as he pulled her back from the edge.

“Careful,” he said.

Her pulse quickened at his closeness. Then confusion hit. He offered his influence so freely.

Perhaps he did this out of kindness, and it was hard for her to recognize because she’d known so little of it. But the part of her that survived the Kegari gutters hissed that he must have an ulterior motive for helping her.

“Maybe the High Seer could help,” Aiz answered his question. “Though in truth, I would like to speak to your Empress of my people’s troubles.” It was the Empress who had power here. The Empress who could help the Kegari, if she was willing to listen.

Aiz intended to ask Quil more about his aunt when a breeze nudged her in warning and her magic tingled. Something—someone—approached.

Aiz realized that she and Quil were in a perfect spot for an ambush. They couldn’t escape up the mountain, nor into the ravine. She hunched quickly, knowing to make herself a smaller target, just as a volley of darts flew toward her companion.Assassin!

Quil stepped in front of her. “Ilar, run!”

Aiz lashed out with her windsmithing, thinking the wordshield! The darts dropped to the ground. Along with Quil.

The assassin came surging down the trail. Aiz remembered what Mother Div had taught her before. To call the wind, hold it, and shape it into a spear. She did so now, flinging the wind at the assassin. The woman gasped as it hit, her boot slipping off the narrow trail and sliding into the ravine. She screamed, the sound fading as she dropped down the canyon. Distantly, Aiz heard a thump.

She was already turning to Quil. His eyes appeared glassy and unfocused, and she wasn’t sure if he could even see her.

“Where are you hit, Quil?” She leaned over him, trying to make out his body in the moonlight. “Can you tell me?”

“N-neck. Poison. Could be Nightweed. Could be Anithas.”

Aiz felt methodically along his throat, going slow. The darts were small.

“S-sorry I—I don’t always know what to say to you,” Quil continued gabbling. “I feel out of my depth when we talk. You smile and it does strange things to me. Which is odd because I’ve hardly spent any time with you. And Tas said to be careful, and I want to listen to Tas—”

Not on the left side of his throat. Aiz moved her fingers to the right.

“But Tas doesn’t know anything about love—had his heart broken once and he’s hopped from bed to bed since. Anyway, I’m not in love! Skies, I don’t even know you. But you’re good to Ruh and— Am I talking too much? Why am I talking so much?”

Aiz had no idea, but she’d found the dart. With careful fingers she plucked it out, thin and featherlight—almost impossible to see.

“Oh hells,” Quil said. “ItisAnithas. That’s why I’m talking so much. Um—you’ll—have to get the poison out.” He looked away, and despite herself, Aiz smiled.

“Is the mighty Prince of the Martial Empire blushing because I’ll have to suck poison out of his neck?”

She put her lips near the bite before he could answer and drew out the poison quickly, spitting the bitter liquid to the ground.

“Thank—thank you.” Quil shuddered as if to shake off the poison’s lingering effects. After a few moments, he stood with her help. Sudden horror dawned on his face.

“Oh hells,” he whispered. “I don’t know what I was saying. I’m sorry—”

“Nothing to worry about,” Aiz said, relieved that he was all right. “We should get you back. Have the healer look at you. And Elias will want to do a sweep of the area—”

“No,” Quil said. “I have an antidote in my tent. I don’t need the healer. And I don’t want Elias to know. He’ll tell my aunt. What happened to the assassin?”

“Dead.” She nodded to the ravine. Far below, a dark lump was splayed on the rocks, a pool of blood spreading out from her head. “Tripped coming down the hill.”

“Huh. I thought I saw—” He shook his head, and Aiz spoke quickly.

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