“If they sent me,” Jessikah said, “they must think I’m qualified.”
“They don’t expect you to return from this case, I’m afraid. You will have encountered the dangerous dark mage and been killed in the line of duty. At least that’s what the report will say.”
“Killed?” Jessikah replied. “Why would they…?”
“Like my husband said, you’ve angered someone who would like you out of the way…or worse,” TK said. “Do you have any enemies in the Black Orchid?”
“Enemies?” Jessikah asked, confused. “I was top of my class at Farsight and I’m a Daughter of Bast. Why would I have enemies?”
“Why indeed,” TK said. “I’m sure everyone loves you. Daughters of Bast are quite known for their wide circle of friends and the admiration of their peers.”
“I didn’t have any friends,” Jessikah answered slowly. “Once I became a Daughter of Bast…”
“You were isolated and trained mostly on your own. I know. Being Farsight and a Daughter of Bast doomed you from the onset. I’m actually surprised you’re still alive.”
“They told me I was rare.”
“The Black Orchid used to retire mages like you in childhood,” TK said. “Gregor did an excellent job of hiding your abilities.”
“How did you know?”
“In the past, your combination of abilities was considered too dangerous,” TK said. “The only way you could have made it to adulthood was a runic mask. It was only a matter of time before your abilities revealed themselves.”
“My classmates looked up to me,” Jessikah answered. “When the farsight happened, they were all scared. The elders said I needed to be kept apart. It was for my safety.”
TK smiled.
It was the kind of smile that made sharks nervous.
“Of course they did. Three seconds is novice level in the Farsight Division,” TK answered evenly. “Can you explain how they expect you to apprehend a mage of Tristan’s caliber and bring him back?”
“I’m supposed to conduct an erasure if the mage is uncooperative,” Jessikah answered, “or combative.”
“Or die in the process.”
LD walked in a second later.
“We have a situation,” LD said. “Dex is gone.”
“Bloody hell,” TK said. “He’ll be in a foul mood.”
“Already is.”
“Finding him will prove difficult, if not impossible.”
“It gets better.”
“How many Black Orchid?” TK asked. “Did you leave them alive?”
“That wicked brain of yours is why I asked you to be mine.”
“Your twisted mind is why I said yes,” TK replied. “How many?”
“Dex was not pleased to see them,” LD answered. “Three at the Rump, possibly more. This seems personal.”
“At the Rump?” TK asked. “They must be doing a proximity search first.”
“Overheard some of their conversation before Dex went…well…Dex, and nearly blasted them all inside the Rump. They’re using this one”—he pointed to Jessikah—“to bird-dog Tristan.”
“Makes sense,” TK said, looking at Jessikah. “Miss Onuris, you have a choice to make.”
“A choice?” Jessikah replied, confused. “What choice?”
“Help us find Tristan, or die where you stand. Choose.”
Green energy crackled around TK’s hands.
TWO
“What do you mean?” Jessikah asked, taking a step back. “Die where I stand?”
“I’d pick option one if I were you,” I said. “She’s not kidding.”
“I lack a proper sense of humor,” TK replied. “To date, only LD understands it.”
“My gift,” LD said with a mock bow. “Let’s not atomize the novice, dear. They tossed her to the wolves. Besides, she’s Farsight—she could come in handy.”
“Three seconds is”—TK glanced at Jessikah—“not entirely useful.”
“Neither is blasting her to bits,” I said. “Wouldn’t that just piss off the Black Orchid?”
“You’re operating under the presumption that I care about what the Black Orchid thinks…I don’t. Let alone that the Black Orchid actually cares about Miss Onuris’s welfare. It doesn’t.”
“Disintegration is a little harsh though,” I said. “She didn’t know they set her up.”
“That’s why I gave her a choice,” TK said, still looking at Jessikah. “Miss Onuris?”
“I’d like to stay alive,” Jessikah said slowly, realizing she was outclassed. “I’ll help you find Tristan.”
“You will not engage Tristan when we do,” TK said. “He’s not in a normal state of mind and may decide to obliterate you. Understood?”
“Obliterate me?” Jessikah asked. “Is he really that powerful?”
TK narrowed her eyes at Jessikah.
“He’s undergone a schism,” TK answered. “Are you aware of this?”
“I was instructed to stop a dark mage,” Jessikah answered. “No one mentioned a schism.”
I stared at her. She was either hated or dangerous. Possibly both.
“Monty was powerful before this happened,” I said. “Scary powerful. Now…”
“He’s more powerful than you,” TK answered after a few seconds. “You would be eliminated before you were aware of the danger.”
“My farsight…” Jessikah started.
“Would allow you an entire three seconds to accept your fate,” TK finished. “Nothing would prevent your death…even with your farsight.”
“Why would they send me?” Jessikah said, her voice suddenly angry. “If they knew he was that powerful?”
Jessikah’s cat purred next to her.
“No, I don’t think so,” she said, looking down at the cat, then back at us. “Sorry, this is Inkling—Ink for short. He and I can communicate. I know, it’s weird.”
“Not really,” I said, pointing at my hellhound. “That’s Peaches. We can communicate too, although most of our conversations revolve around meat, how hungry he is, and how I don’t feed him enough.”
“Will he be okay around Ink?” Jessikah said, looking at my hellhound. “He looks…I want to say, impressive.”
“But you really mean dangerous, I know. He’s the friendliest hellhound I know.”
“Do you know many hellhounds?”
“Just his dad,” I said, rubbing Peaches behind the ears, “who is not friendly at all.”
“Ink isn’t exactly keen on strangers. Takes a while for him to warm up to people and…hellhounds.”
“I’ll make sure Peaches doesn’t try to snack on him,” I said, looking at my hellhound, who pretended to be ignoring the entire conversation. “Do not eat the cat. No eating Ink.”
<She said I’m impressive. Did you hear that?>
<I did, and you are. Especially the amounts of meat you can devour.>
<I’m a growing hellhound.>
<Try not to scare her or her cat.>
<She is not scared. Her animal is ignoring us.>
<I know you’re always hungry; make sure you
