Page 32 of Invocation

“You wouldn’t have survived that fight without me. There were too many of them,” Novikke said. “You need me.”

Aruna didn’t argue. He just looked at her with that soft, quiet appreciation that made her feel like she was breaking into pieces.

As Zara finished her ministrations on his arm, he ran a finger over the cut to be sure it had closed. Novikke checked her own wounds and found them already sealed as well. Her clothes were soaked with blood. She didn’t want to think about how close she’d come to death. The cut Aruna had taken with Zaiur’s sword had probably been the only thing that kept the blood loss from killing her.

“Where are we?”

“My late uncle’s shop,” Kashava said. “It’s been closed for months. No one will find you here.”

Novikke watched her cautiously. “You came to help us?”

Kashava paused, pressing her lips together. “Only because Zara convinced me to. She has a way of doing that.”

Zara gave her a sly look.

“Then you’re not going to turn us in?” Novikke said.

“Does it look like that’s what I’m going to do?”

“No. That’s why I’m confused.”

“Avan thinks you’re a spy for the Ardanians,” she said, her eyes sharp. “Are you?”

Novikke couldn’t hold back a long-suffering sigh. “No. I’m not a spy. Never have been. Just a courier.”

Kashava straightened, setting her hands on her knees as she turned a fierce gaze on her and Aruna. “Let me be clear. You’re still a traitor as far as I’m concerned. But it’s obvious that you know more about what’s going on than any of us do, and I think we’re going to need both of you in order to deal with it.”

“Then you believe us?” Novikke said, surprised.

“I don’t think you would’ve ever come back here, otherwise. Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not,” Aruna said. “Will you help us get inside the temple?”

“I won’t help you break into the temple against Avan’s wishes, no,” she said, arching a disapproving brow. “But if you’re telling the truth, I think we’ll see the evidence for ourselves soon enough, and that will convince her to aid you.”

“It may be too late by then,” Aruna said, frowning.

“You keep saying that, yet we’ve seen no sign of it yet in Vondh Rav.”

Aruna just shook his head, resigned to the fact that they wouldn’t be able to persuade her to betray Avan’s trust.

“When was the last time you slept?” Kashava asked. A good question.

“Too long ago,” Aruna said.

“You need rest.” She jerked her chin toward Novikke. “Her, especially. You’re in no condition to go saving the forest right now. Go sleep, and we’ll talk about this more tomorrow.”

Aruna glanced down at Novikke, then nodded.

“Should we take them back to the house?” Zara asked Kashava.

“No,” Aruna said. “I think Avan might kill me if I go back there right now.”

“And the watch will be keeping an eye on the house,” Kashava said. “I’ll take you to a safe place.”

???

Aruna supported Novikke on the way to the next cavern. She’d passed out again the first time she’d tried to get up. Her legs were heavy as they walked, her limbs weak, and the ground seemed to spin and warp under her. Kashava had generously traded clothes with her, taking her torn and blood-soaked clothes.

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