Page 31 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
“A week ago, I went into Salizar’s private tent. I had this weird dream—I don’t know what it meant, but when I woke up, I just went outside and walked straight there like I was possessed.”
Malaikah shook her head. “Okay, so then what happened?”
“I met Raith.”
“For the last and final time, who the Shades is Raith?”
“He’s…well, Salizar thinks he’s a wraith.”
Mal’s mouth dropped open.
“But he’s not! He’s—well, I don’t know what he is, but he’s sweet, and he trusts me, and I can’t just abandon him. Salizar has him locked in a cage, and he’s been hurting him.”
Malaikah dragged a hand down her face. “Salizar thinks he’s a wraith? But…why? Are wraiths even real? And aren’t they supposed to be like ghosts?”
“He’s convinced, Mal. No matter what I said, he wouldn’t change his mind. But Raith’s not evil. I know he’s not. I would have sensed it.”
“Wraith? But I thought he wasn’t…? Honey, I’m so confused right now.”
“Raith with an R.”
“With an R? What?” Poor Mal was barely keeping up.
“It’s his name. When I asked him what it was, he told me it was Raith, but I think he just picked it out of the blue. Loren tried to make a sign for him, but the oaf spelled it wrong, and I think he just read it off the sign.”
“Why didn’t he have a name?”
“Because he has no idea who he is.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why didn’t you ask him?”
“I tried, but he doesn’t speak much.”
Mal shook her head again and then gulped a humongous swallow of coffee. “I still don’t understand why any of this means you’re leaving the circus. And you’d better start explaining fast, or I’m going to lose it.”
Harrow did, telling Malaikah everything that had happened the night before, including how Salizar had agreed to let her “train” Raith for the performance and her certainty about what would happen if she didn’t help him escape. “He’s going to die if he stays here, Mal. The Water told me clearly. I can’t just sit back and watch it happen.”
“Are you sure, though? I mean, Sal may be acting like an ass, but I don’t think he would actually kill him.”
“Salizar believes he’s a wraith. I think he’d kill him without a second thought. If it weren’t for the money-making opportunity, he probably would have already. Besides, I don’t know for sure who Raith’s life is in danger from, only that it’s in danger. I have to help him, Mal. He has no one else.”
Malaikah sighed heavily. “You and your wild urges, Harrow. I never know what you’re going to throw at me next.”
“This is serious,” Harrow pleaded. She couldn’t do this without her best friend by her side. “I swear I’m not making it up.”
Mal reached forward and patted the back of Harrow’s hand. “I know you’re not making it up. I just wish you weren’t telling me you’re putting yourself in danger to help someone you barely know escape.”
“Mal…” Harrow winced in anticipation of Malaikah’s reaction. “I’m not just helping him escape. I have to go with him.”
“What? No way!”
She rushed to explain herself. “Salizar told me that if anything went wrong with Raith’s training, I wouldn’t receive any leniency. He’s going to kick me out of the circus when he finds out Raith is gone, and besides, I don’t think Raith has any clue how to get by in the real world. At least if I go with him, I can help him and make sure no one hurts him again and—”
“Harrow, listen to yourself!” Halfway through taking a sip, Malaikah slammed her coffee mug onto the table so hard that black liquid sloshed over the edge. “Who is this guy? You just met him, and you’re going to throw away your entire life for him? It sounds to me like whatever was going on in that tent last night was between Raith and Salizar. It’s not your problem. This life is all we’ve got. If you run, what will you have? Where will you go?”
