Page 3 of Untraceable
“We are electing a new ruler. Ours was blown up.” He flipped his book closed and inclined his head. “I am sorry there is no one to see you off.”
Amori pressed a few buttons on his phone, swept past the peacekeepers, and out of the embassy. He got into his vehicle, and his driver nodded in acknowledgment. They drove out of the city while Amori sent a message to his fixer to put a reward out for the safe and whole delivery of the necromancer who had saved him. He didn’t have a name to operate with, but his people had a heavy thread of seers. Someone was going to be able to find her; it was just a matter of time.
She had known that she would be hunted. It had been why she had made sure he was willing.
He would have an artist render the woman he had seen. That would be the basis for the search.
She should not be punished for saving him.
* * * *
Ten years later.
Valhay checked the time as she got the last of the bread out of the oven. The heady scent of sourdough was the reason she had chosen to work here. Plus, the workout. Lifting the pans was amazing for her biceps.
Her arms were marked with the burns acquired over the last decade, but she didn’t mind. As long as she didn’t heal herself, no one would know she was a healer, and the questions wouldn’t expose her.
She flipped the bread onto the cooling rack and righted them. Out of habit, she picked one up and thumped the base. “Nice.”
The afternoon bread was a weird tradition that had started when the folks who needed to assemble dinner were upset when there was nothing left after school. A dozen loaves came out of the oven and were only available to those who could bring in a current receipt from the next business over for soup.
The cooperation had been going steady for the last two years, and for two years, the bread had been baked for three in the afternoon.
“Val, is it ready?” The owner, Bailey, came to the back.
“It is still too hot to handle, but it’s ready.”
“Can I grab one?”
“Who is it going to?”
“Alusabra.”
“Oh, sure. Grab a bag.”
Val slid the aromatic and extremely hot bread into the paper sleeve. “There you go.”
“Thanks. You done for the day?”
“Yeah. Five to three is enough.”
“Mira and her crew are having a beach party on the weekend, and they asked if we wanted to come.”
Val smiled. “Did they want you to cater it?”
“Just whatever is left from Saturday afternoon. There is a food truck on the beach.”
“Sure. As long as the burns don’t freak anyone out.”
“They are a lovely icebreaker, but you have met Mira’s friends before.”
“Ah. The ladies of theCupcake Orgy. I do recall that vividly.” She took off her apron and checked her watch. “Right. I have to get to the clinic. I need my shots, or I will turn rabid.”
Bailey snorted. “Almost caught up on your inoculations?”
“Yeah. This is the last jab.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t get them as a kid.”
