“Just a little preparation.”
“For what?”
Corian nodded at the cross-legged drow.
A purple light flashed and grew brighter in the space between L’zar’s curved palms. The flashes sped up into a violet strobe, and when the light disappeared the next second, something round and silver appeared in its place. It dropped to the floor with a clink, then L’zar’s golden eyes flew open and he gave a sharp, raw gasp.
Corian stepped back. “Is that it?”
L’zar looked down at the thick silver wrist cuff in front of his crossed legs. “Yeah. That’s it.”
“Crazy, man.” Persh’al shook his head and picked up his pacing again. “I don’t know how you last that long and don’t lose your mind.”
Picking up the cuff, L’zar smirked. “Maybe I lost my mind a long time ago. You ever think of that?”
Persh’al stopped and shot the drow an unamused glance. “So I’ve heard. Everything’s a rumor these days, isn’t it?”
“Not everything.” L’zar rose fluidly to his feet and noticed his daughter standing slightly behind him. He turned toward her with a wide smile, though his golden eyes narrowed. “Good. You’re already here.”
“Sure am.” Cheyenne spread her arms and glanced at the magicals standing around her. “Still wondering why, though.”
“Here.” L’zar handed her the metal cuff and nodded. “This is for you.”
“Not my style, but I appreciate the gesture. I think.”
“It’s not a fashion statement, Cheyenne. Take it.”
Frowning, the halfling accepted the cold, heavy band of metal and turned it over in her hands. “What is this?”
“Put it on and keep it on.” L’zar stared at the cuff. “Right now. I want to watch you do it, so I know it’s working.”
Corian nodded. “Go ahead.”
“As a drow, if you would,” L’zar added without meeting her gaze.
Cheyenne pulled up her drow magic and transformed in a split second, then slipped the metal cuff onto her wrist next to the wrapped silver chains. A wave of icy energy tingled up her arm, and that was it.
Pursing his lips, L’zar looked her over intently and nodded. “That’ll do.”
“Awesome.” Persh’al rubbed his head again. “Good to know you didn’t waste all that energy conjuring a dud.”
Corian shot him a warning look, and the troll hissed in irritation before turning away to walk in a tight circle between L’zar and the back door.
“What does it do?” Cheyenne turned her wrist over and studied the plain silver band.
“I’ve made improvements on that one.” L’zar clasped his hands behind his back. “This will make your halfling identity almost impossible to detect. They won’t be able to see what you really are.”
“I’ve already got a handle on my magic. I don’t need a charm for that.”
“I’m not talking about hiding your drow face from humans who wouldn’t recognize what they saw.” With a deep inhale, L’zar raised his eyebrows and gave her a thin smile. “And this is not a charm. I’d call it a shield. Now there’s nothing on the outside to hint that half of you is human.”
“What?” Cheyenne looked at Corian for an explanation. “Why would I need help to hide being a halfling?”
“Because it’s a lot harder to do on your own where you’re going.”
“Where am I going?” Her eyes widened as she glanced from the nightstalker to L’zar.
Persh’al clapped his hands again, then shook them out as he rejoined the loose circle. “Then I guess we’re all good, and I’m startin’ to get twitchy.”
“One moment.” L’zar lifted a finger toward his troll friend but kept staring at Cheyenne. “When the time is right, you and I will be doing this together. Unfortunately, I can’t be the first one to take you, because the Crown has been keeping tabs on me, more or less, for a very long time. I’ve managed to stay under her radar so far, and we don’t want to blow that wide open.” He looked at Corian and pressed his lips together, nodding once. “Corian and I are working on a little something to help in that respect, but it will take time. Until then, you need to know what you’re getting into.”
“Yep.” She couldn’t pull herself away from those golden eyes boring into hers. This isn’t gonna be good. “I’d love to know what that is.”
“Yes.” L’zar’s lips twitched into a vanishing smile. “Before you take your marandúr to Ambar’ogúl to claim your legacy and all your rights as a drow who’s passed her trials, you need to know what to expect. Scope out the lay of the land, as it were.”
Cheyenne tried to ignore Persh’al’s continued nervous pacing and glanced at Corian. “I don’t get it.” There’s no way he’s serious about this.
“Yeah, you do.” Corian nodded at her while L’zar stepped away, hands still clasped behind his back. “You’re taking your first trip across the Border, Cheyenne, and Persh’al’s going with you as your guide.”
A laugh burst out of her, and she glanced at the millennia-old magicals staring at her. “Good one. I can’t go across the Border. I don’t belong there. What’s really going on?”
“You can, and you will.” L’zar pointed at the silver cuff on her wrist. “And as far as anyone else is concerned, while you’re wearing that, you belong in Ambar’ogúl just as much as the rest of them.”
“You guys are serious.”
“Completely.” Corian nodded at Persh’al, who cleared his throat and took off across the warehouse to his computer tables. “This is important, Cheyenne. Things are coming together quickly now, and we all agreed this is what needed to happen next. To be prepared.”
“What about the war machines?” She shook her head, feeling the smile on her face and somehow unable to rip it off. This has to be a joke. “We still don’t know where they’re coming from.”
“We got a tip about an hour ago. Byrd and Lumil are on it as we speak. Ember’s safe for now, with the wards around your apartment. I’m happy to check on her if you want me to.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll go home and tell
