Page 136 of Silverbow
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lied.
Dread filled the hollow place in his chest left vacant by his dampered gifts. “For both of us, isn’t it?”
The bob in Liam’s throat set Mosphaera rattling him from the inside out. Her sudden return almost knocked Oryn off his feet.Oh, gods.He was across the room in two strides, seizing Liam by the collar as Aiden cursed softly. Bade hadn’t so much as lifted an eyebrow, still standing between the boy and the door.
“Tell me what you know.”
Liam stared down at Oryn’s hands. “I don’t think I will.”
“Gods damn it, Liam. Just tell me so I can help her.”
“She doesn’t need help.”
“Is that why she sent you back? Or does she not want you to see her head roll?”
Liam shuddered, but he heaved a breath and said, “Enya Ryerson does what she wants.”
The name crashed into Oryn like a tidal wave in the bay and he realized Enya’s omissions about his dealings with Hylee had been strategic. “She did not tell you.”
He could see the war raging in those gray eyes - torn between snarling a retort and asking what it was she hadn’t told him. He almost pitied Liam.Almost.
“Where. Is. She.”
“Why does it even matter to you?” He hissed.
“Because I promised to see her to safety and that is a promise I intend to keep.”
He swallowed. “What didn’t she tell me?”
“You’ll have to ask her.”
His eyes slid to the clock and he wet his lips. “I’ll make you a trade.”
Oryn relaxed his hands on the boy’s collar but didn’t let him go.
“What she didn’t tell me, for what she didn’t tell you.”
Oryn considered. It was not his to tell, but if she was in danger… She already hated him. What was a little more betrayal? “Deal.”
“You first.”
In spite of the ward, Oryn lowered his voice to barely a whisper. “She’s not really a Ryerson.”
Liam’s brow furrowed. “Of course she is.”
“Your end of the bargain, stable boy,” he growled.
“That’s a half answer,” he protested and Oryn wondered if it was genuine confusion in his face or a stalling tactic. He gave the boy a shake. “She’s in Misthol.”
Oryn stared at where Liam’s pulse beat in his throat and contemplated ripping it out. “Where. Is. She.”
“Who is she?”
“Something far more dangerous than a Ryerson. Something that should be protected,boy,“ Oryn breathed, watching color drain from his face as he dragged him closer. “So where. Is. She.”
He gave Liam another shake and the words came loose, tumbling out. They ripped the air from Oryn’s lungs like an air wielder on a battlefield.
“Blackash Keep.”
