Page 87 of Blood Feast

“Still too much risk,” Lyros said. “The Collector is sure to have laid his own traps in the area to prevent us from beating him to his ultimate goal.”

Cassia nodded. “I agree. If we approach Solorum blind, it could be a disaster. When we go in search of the door, we cannot afford to miscalculate. We must learn more about it before we attempt to reach it.”

“Shouldn’t we go directly there to try to stop the Collector?” Mak protested. “He could be trying to open it right now.”

“This is why we require more information,” Cassia replied. “We need to know how he’s planning to open it now that he cannot use me. That is our only hope of outsmarting him.”

“Lyros and Cassia are right,” Lio admitted with reluctance. “Our lack of knowledge is our greatest weakness against the Collector.”

“He always has more ancient tricks up his sleeve,” Lyros agreed. “One more surprise like that might be our last. We scout first, and we don’t attack until we’re confident that we’re ready.”

Mak rubbed his brow, leaving a smudge of charcoal there. “In that case, where do you suggest we scout first, Cassia?”

All eyes turned on her, and Lio felt her tension between his own shoulder blades.

She slid her hand along Knight’s ruff. “I will open Lustra portals for us everywhere we travel, to give us shelter. But roaming the countryside digging through these ruins is a shot in the dark. We don’t have time to piece history together bit by bit.”

“No.” A grim certainty settled over Lio. “No need to hunt for lost secrets when we could ask someone who knows them already.”

Mak eyes widened. “You mean Miranda.”

“We need to find her.” Lio searched Cassia’s gaze. “Don’t you think so?”

Her conflicting emotions rippled through their Union, but she nodded. “You need to finish the mind duel you started at Paradum. This time, you won’t have to interrupt it to save me.”

Lyros crossed his arms. “You’re suggesting we go looking for a Gift Collector while the Order of Hypnos has a bounty on your heads.”

Cassia arched a brow at him. “Can you deny it’s the wisest strategy?”

“Wise?” Lyros returned. “Certainly not. But strategic and necessary? Yes.”

“No objections,” Mak said. “Let’s turn the hunter into the hunted.”

Their weapons, leaning against the wall nearby, were pearlescent in the magefire’s light. Lyros picked up Night’s Aim. “It’s time for us to finish enchanting these.”

Mak’s face clouded. “Our fists are good enough.”

“No.” Lyros’s tone brooked no argument. “Of all Hesperines’ many enemies, Gift Collectors are the most deadly and difficult to kill. No matter our training, experience, or magic, we’re walking into the greatest danger we have ever faced. We need every advantage.”

“I’d be happy to leave these weapons buried down here and never look at them again,” Mak bit out.

Lyros’s hands tightened on the spear. “We’ve come this far. There’s no sense in turning back now.”

Mak turned away, fists clenched. Cassia stood silent, her arms crossed.

Lio fingered the moonstone in his staff. “These are intended to be Union Stones, aren’t they?”

“Yes,” Lyros said. “I cut them and planned to enchant them so we can use them to signal each other.”

“That spell requires a mind mage, as well.”

“I hoped you’d be willing.”

“Of course.” Lio took a step nearer his cousin. “Mak, you began this endeavor with conviction—”

“I was wrong.”

“I’m not convinced you were.”

---