Page 101 of Of Nine So Bold

“We should leave,” Ozias stated flatly. “Or get her out, if nothing else.” He jerked his head toward me.

“And what?” Niko countered. “We can’t just abandon these people here.”

Clay and Lars looked like they definitely were considering that option, and Byron just looked like someone had died. Meanwhile, I could feel the distrust seething beneath Ozias’sreserved exterior. Nearby, Roan was watching the giants with a mixture of worry and threat, like the demon wanted to come back and deal with them while the man dreaded what would happen if things turned into a real fight.

Dex sighed. “We won’t abandon them.” Clay straightened a bit like he wanted to protest, but Dex spoke before he could. “Do you want to live the rest of your life knowing you left children to die? That you’re no better than the humans who imprisoned them and their parents?”

Clay looked away, scowling. Lars put a hand to his arm in support.

I could only imagine how they felt, given what the duke had done to them. Norbert and Brock too, most likely. I’d never heard the details—not many anyway—but what Ihadheard was bad enough.

Not to mention, how would I feel if it was my stepmother down here?

Discomfort gnawed at me as I tried to push the thought aside. My stepmother was actively trying to kill us.

And the duke wouldn’t do the same when he got his abilities back?

Gods, there was no winning here.

I let out a slow breath. No, there was only what Dex had said. The choice of what kind of people we wanted to be. “Niko is right. We can’t leave them. But can we power the gateway ourselves?”

“I will try,” Casimir said before Byron could respond.

Byron looked a bit pasty, but he nodded. “I can help you?—”

“No,” Casimir interrupted swiftly. “I will do it. You should remain separate from the spell, just in case anything goes wrong and the others need protecting.”

“But the magic is Erenlian,” Byron pointed out. “If anything,Ishould try andyoushould stay to protect the?—”

“I will not negotiate this, my friend.”

The others and I exchanged wary looks. “What’s wrong, Casimir?” I asked.

He hesitated and then lowered his voice. “I do not wish to risk you.”

I was confused. “But?—”

“Please.” Insistent urgency threaded through his tone. “Do not argue with me. Not where others may hear.”

I bit my lip. Dammit, I hated it, but he had a point.

A small, grateful smile crossed his face. “Allow me to protect you.Allof you. My tutors were Erenlian. I have experience with their kind of magicandwith complex spellwork. Please trust me when I say it…” His eyes didn’t quite flick to Byron. “It would simply be better if we did things this way.”

“Okay, but—” Clay shifted his weight uncomfortably. “—are you sure you can trust this Ignatius guy?”

At that, Casimir glanced at Byron again, questioning.

The scholar was silent.

“Byron?” I pressed.

He didn’t quite look at me, a strange sort of reluctance flashing over his face.

Clay made an incredulous sound. “Out with it, man.”

“It’s only that…” Byron frowned. “Ignatius despises dwarves. He was one of the most outspoken opponents of allowing me to join the Order. He believes we aren’t capable of strength or integrity.” His eyes twitched in my direction without ever meeting my own. “Or of keeping our vows.”

My mouth opened but words failed me. Oh… oh gods.

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