Page 43 (1/2)

It looked like a tunnel, but as dark as it e could be walking into a dead-end alcove for all I knew But that’s where o Just because it was the right direction didn’tinstinct didn’t pay any attention to little things like dead ends or death-inducing goblins along the way It just tolddeath and dis to do this?" Piaras sounded dubious about the whole thing So to where the spellsingers are--killing or incapacitating any goblins or evil elves before they can do the same to us--we free Ronan and the kids, and if we’re really lucky, we get out of here with all of our pieces and parts intact"

Piaras looked down at me and blinked "This is how seekers typically work?"

"Nope, this time I have a plan"

"Good What is it?"

"I just told you"

"That’s it?"

"I like to keep it siet it done?"

Piaras went through theabout it, then blew out his breath

"Should I take that as a ‘no’?" I asked hiht as well"

Reality rarely settles in lightly Most tiranite Any noble illusions Piaras had about what "charging to the rescue" really ot plenty of blades and blunt objects" I tried to at least sound reassuring "You’ve got quick-and-dirty spellsongs; I’ve got the Saghred Best of all, we’re both highly motivated to survive"

Piaras didn’t ot it I didn’t say I wanted to use it"

"But you would"

"Yes The Saghred taking a chunk out of me is a small price to pay to see you and those kids safe"

Piaras’s eyes hardened "Don’t use it to save me"

"That’s not your choice It’s mine, and I’ve alreadyI have to" I jerked my head toward the embassy above us "If it’d coet you out If Rudra Muralin brings out the big guns down here, I will use everything in my arsenal to shut him down"

Piaras drew breath to retort I held up a hand

"Last time I checked, my brain was still in my arsenal," I told him "It’s always been my first line of defense, and it alill be After that… well, I can’t make any proical arsenals How could anything possibly go wrong?"

I do believe he was being sarcastic

"Raine?"

"What?"

"I’er and male, I knew that admission had cost hi that’s happened since we got here has been scary"

Piaras exhaled "Let’s finish this so we can stop being scared"

I smiled at hilobe

I figured the goblins could see us whether we had the globe or not This way, if they juet a good look at thean every now and then to locate the cell block Not necessary Piaras and I siruesohtshades; the next one was Khrynsani

The one after that was also a goblin--but he wasn’t a Khrynsani

He was one of Tam’s

Oh no

Piaras looked over uard"

"No, it’s not"

"Who is--"

I scowled "Taet Talon Until about a half hour ago, this one was a bouncer at Sirens"

Piaras arched an eyebrow "Talon?"

The bad guys already knew, so why shouldn’t Piaras? "Talon is Tam’s son"