Page 29 of The Threadbare Queen

“You know that’s what Evelyn and I were making sure wouldn’t happen in Bartolo. Whoever comes looking for her will head down river. We put on a good show to ensure it. You’ll have a clear run.”

So that’s why he and Evelyn had come from behind. They’d been laying a false trail.

But the general knew the Grimwaldians were involved. She wouldn’t easily be fooled by a false trail, Ava was sure of it.

She turned her head to look at the firelight and noticed her hand seemed a little translucent.

Fear at the sight of it sharpened her concentration.

She hadn’t realised Sirna had meant she was literally coming more into focus.

She had been fading away in a real sense. The rope must absorb its captive, somehow.

She knew she could make a working that had the same effect of sapping someone’s strength, without the damage, and she couldn’t help but wonder if the damage was on purpose.

Someone very nasty had made this.

“All right, I’ll leave the rope with you, but you’ll hand it over with her when you get to the border.”

“You can have the net back.” Sirna stood and walked to the cart, coming back with a dark bag. “Is it supposed to glow when it’s used?”

The man took the bag, put his hand in, and then frowned. “The magic’s been stripped from it. Did you destroy her clothes and shoes, like I told you to?”

“I threw them in the sea. They’re gone.”

“Then she’s no more dangerous than anyone else. No need for the rope unless you absolutely have to keep her quiet. If she wanders off, which I doubt, given the state of her, you still have the Focus to track her down. It’s foolproof, made out of something from her past.” He tied the black bag to his saddle and then turned sharply. “What about the tea?”

Sirna went still. “There’s not much left of it.”

“Is that so?” The words were soft and dangerous.

Sirna stood looking at him for a moment, then turned and stomped back to the cart.

Ava heard him rummaging around and then he came back holding a tin.

“This had better be everything that’s left.” The man opened the tin and peered inside. “If there is any hint you’ve taken some—”

“I swear, that’s all that’s left.”

The man slid the tin into the black bag with the net. “I’m warning you one last time, Sirna. There’ll be no mercy if she’s too damaged for whatever the Speaker has in mind for her. And no payment, either.”

At the mention of payment, Sirna bridled. “I did the job. And I need money for the road. The agreement was thirty gri.”

“The agreement was that you’d get her last week, and she’d be in one piece.” The man turned back to his saddle bag, pulled out a small pouch. “Here’s five gri. You’ll get the rest when you reach the border. Only if she’s in good condition.”

“That’s not what was agreed. She’s right here, isn’t she? Alive and well.AndI’m taking her to the border, which wasn’t in the plan. I should be getting more for that.”

“I’d keep that attitude to myself, if I were you.” The man swung up on his horse and then he was gone, yipping to his horse to hasten its step.

“You’renotme,” Sirna murmured.

Ava didn’t know whether to be glad of that or not. At least, for now, the rope was off her.

She had a chance.

But aside from the rope, she realised there were other things in Sirna’s arsenal.

This Focus the man on the horse spoke of.

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