The Shattered Land_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [17]
“I don’t, Lei. All I can tell you is that I trust her. I had a problem when we first came to Sharn, and she helped me with it. You don’t have to come.”
“Don’t start that again.” Lei looked back at the boat. “It’s just … did you ask for her help this time?”
“No,” Daine admitted. “She just showed up.”
“How did she even know you were having problems?”
“Because I am the cause of them?” The voice was right behind then.
Daine and Lei spun around. There was Lakashtai, a backpack slung over a shoulder and her cloak draped across one pale arm. She was wearing dark blue breeches tucked into tall boots of black leather and a sleeveless shirt with the same indigo hue. A wide black belt was wrapped around her waist, dark leather laced with an intricate, mazelike pattern of silver lines. Her only other adornment was a silver pendant bearing a large green crystal. The stone was exactly the same shade as her eyes, and it too seemed to glow in the shadows. Seeing their expressions, she laughed musically.
“Will you stop DOING that?” Daine said. His sword was already in his hand—he’d drawn it as he was turning.
She nodded solemnly. “There was no door to knock on.”
“Some people just make noise. It works wonders.” Daine studied the kalashtar woman. “Lei has a point though—how did you know I was in trouble?”
“You told me.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Oh, but you did.” She pointed at his belt, and Lei blanched. “When I helped you before, I left a crystal for you. It’s in your pouch right now.”
Daine reached into the pouch and produced the sliver of emerald crystal. He did have the vaguest memory of picking it up after she’d helped him fight off the changeling that had been attacking his mind, but since then he’d completely forgotten about it. “This?”
“Yes. Think of it as a sort of alarm. I wanted to be certain that your treatment had been successful. If anyone tampers with your thoughts,” she tapped the green stone of her pendant, “I can feel it. I should have found you sooner, but distance is a factor and I’ve been far from Sharn.”
Daine looked down at the shard, a little disturbed that the thing could actually peer into his mind. He tossed it to Lakashtai. “Great. Now we’re all here, you can have it back.”
She shook her head and tossed it back to him, and he instinctively caught it. “Keep it,” she said. “Now more than ever, you are in need of protection. I do not know what lies ahead of us, and I must know if your status changes.”
He didn’t like it, but it made sense, and Daine slipped the stone back into the purse.
“Now,” Lakashtai said, “our ship awaits. Pardon the pressure, but I think it would be best if we were to leave swiftly.”
She walked toward the pier. Her posture was straight, every step precisely measured. Just like her appearance, there was something about her that wasn’t quite right—something just a little too perfect.
Lei and Daine exchanged glances, but Daine couldn’t think of anything to say, so they followed.
“Why are you going to Xen’drik, anyway?” Lei asked as they walked down the green pier.
There were a few other ships moored at the docks, but few signs of people; the sun had set, and Daine imagined that most of the sailors were at Cliffside taverns. Even looking at their ship, he didn’t see any movement in the rigging or people on deck.
“I am afraid that is not my secret to tell,” Lakashtai said.
“Oh?”
“You have finally emerged from your last war, Lei. My people have a struggle of their own, and it is far from over.”
“For you, it ends here.” A figure leapt down from the deck of the Lyrandar vessel—a lithe figure in a long, dark cloak. Her face was hidden by her hood, but Daine could see the glow of green eyes, and he remembered that voice. Catching Lei’s eye, he glanced down at his hands, placing his right index finger on his left thumb. She blinked slowly, her hand dropping down to her belt. Pierce had also seen the motion—prepare to engage, supernatural threat.
“Tashana.” Lakashtai stepped forward, raising her hands before her. There was surprise in her voice—was there