in Tzader?
“Or,” Sam continued, “Quinn is working with Kizira and released Conlan to draw attention away from the real traitor, who is still among the Beladors.” Sam’s frail chest lifted and dropped with his sigh. “I can see you don’t want to believe me and are ready to go to Tzader, but I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Did this guy read minds? Of course, she had to tell Tzader. “Why not?”
“Because Quinn might or might not have had control over what he did … if he did help Conlan.”
She made a derogatory noise. “I’ve never been one to accept the ‘I didn’t know what I was doing’ defense.”
“Even if someone is compelled, Evalle? Kizira might have been able to do that when she went to see Quinn in his hotel.”
If that happened.
If Quinn did break out Conlan.
If, if, if.
Evalle rubbed the back of her neck. Quinn had one of the most powerful minds among the Beladors. Evalle had seen him overpower Kizira’s mind two years ago, so she doubted Kizira had compelled Quinn. “So why would I not tell Tzader?”
“You would destroy your friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you say anything to Tzader”—Sam paused, panting as if just living took an effort—“he’ll have no choice but to have Quinn’s mind probed to prove Quinn’s innocence or confirm his guilt. If Quinn did help Conlan, even for a noble reason, a druid will find that memory. What do you think Macha would do?”
Horrible images flashed through Evalle’s mind, all ending with Quinn dying in excruciating pain.
And Quinn would accept a death sentence before giving up Conlan if he truly believed Conlan to be innocent.
What other possible reason could there be for Quinn to break trust with the Beladors? But he had no reason to deceive her or Tzader. Did he?
Sam’s assessment of the situation had merit.
Tzader’s first duty might be to protect Brina, but Evalle had picked up on something more going on between Brina and Tzader beyond the Belador-Maistir-to-Warrior-Queen relationship.
He would never jeopardize Brina’s safety, and he’d hate himself for putting Quinn’s neck on the chopping block.
But did Quinn really present a risk to Brina? Evalle needed more than Sam’s word. “Is that all you have?”
Sam’s hand shook where he held his knee still. “If Kizira did meet Quinn inside his hotel room, then that would explain how Kizira knew she’d find you with Tristan when you went underground with him in the Maze to retrieve the two Rías.”
Evalle hadn’t wanted to believe Kizira’s claim that Quinn had given her information. She still wouldn’t accept the word of a Medb witch and this unknown Belador over talking to Quinn first.
Loyalty meant standing up for those you cared about. Giving that person a chance to tell his side.
She asked Sam, “How do you know all of this?”
“I still have my resources within the Beladors—”
Just as she figured. “Spies.”
“Friends. And since going off the radar, so to speak, I’ve developed resources within other factions.”
“The Medb?”
He didn’t respond, neither confirming nor denying.
Evalle had heard all she wanted to from this guy. Time for him to show all his cards. “Why are you telling me all of this when we don’t know each other?”
Sam’s eyes creased with admiration. “I’ve heard all about you, Alterant. How you’ve had to fight to stay free of imprisonment simply because you’re not a full-blood Belador, yet you’re the first one to step forward to protect humans and the Beladors. That you don’t shift into your beast no matter what, even when your life is at stake. I’m telling you because you’re the only Belador that I’m sure is not the traitor.”
How could a stranger see more than many of whom she’d fought alongside? She shook off how that touched her deep inside and kept her business face in place. “We agree on that one thing. So what am I to do with this information?”
“Find the
“Or,” Sam continued, “Quinn is working with Kizira and released Conlan to draw attention away from the real traitor, who is still among the Beladors.” Sam’s frail chest lifted and dropped with his sigh. “I can see you don’t want to believe me and are ready to go to Tzader, but I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Did this guy read minds? Of course, she had to tell Tzader. “Why not?”
“Because Quinn might or might not have had control over what he did … if he did help Conlan.”
She made a derogatory noise. “I’ve never been one to accept the ‘I didn’t know what I was doing’ defense.”
“Even if someone is compelled, Evalle? Kizira might have been able to do that when she went to see Quinn in his hotel.”
If that happened.
If Quinn did break out Conlan.
If, if, if.
Evalle rubbed the back of her neck. Quinn had one of the most powerful minds among the Beladors. Evalle had seen him overpower Kizira’s mind two years ago, so she doubted Kizira had compelled Quinn. “So why would I not tell Tzader?”
“You would destroy your friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you say anything to Tzader”—Sam paused, panting as if just living took an effort—“he’ll have no choice but to have Quinn’s mind probed to prove Quinn’s innocence or confirm his guilt. If Quinn did help Conlan, even for a noble reason, a druid will find that memory. What do you think Macha would do?”
Horrible images flashed through Evalle’s mind, all ending with Quinn dying in excruciating pain.
And Quinn would accept a death sentence before giving up Conlan if he truly believed Conlan to be innocent.
What other possible reason could there be for Quinn to break trust with the Beladors? But he had no reason to deceive her or Tzader. Did he?
Sam’s assessment of the situation had merit.
Tzader’s first duty might be to protect Brina, but Evalle had picked up on something more going on between Brina and Tzader beyond the Belador-Maistir-to-Warrior-Queen relationship.
He would never jeopardize Brina’s safety, and he’d hate himself for putting Quinn’s neck on the chopping block.
But did Quinn really present a risk to Brina? Evalle needed more than Sam’s word. “Is that all you have?”
Sam’s hand shook where he held his knee still. “If Kizira did meet Quinn inside his hotel room, then that would explain how Kizira knew she’d find you with Tristan when you went underground with him in the Maze to retrieve the two Rías.”
Evalle hadn’t wanted to believe Kizira’s claim that Quinn had given her information. She still wouldn’t accept the word of a Medb witch and this unknown Belador over talking to Quinn first.
Loyalty meant standing up for those you cared about. Giving that person a chance to tell his side.
She asked Sam, “How do you know all of this?”
“I still have my resources within the Beladors—”
Just as she figured. “Spies.”
“Friends. And since going off the radar, so to speak, I’ve developed resources within other factions.”
“The Medb?”
He didn’t respond, neither confirming nor denying.
Evalle had heard all she wanted to from this guy. Time for him to show all his cards. “Why are you telling me all of this when we don’t know each other?”
Sam’s eyes creased with admiration. “I’ve heard all about you, Alterant. How you’ve had to fight to stay free of imprisonment simply because you’re not a full-blood Belador, yet you’re the first one to step forward to protect humans and the Beladors. That you don’t shift into your beast no matter what, even when your life is at stake. I’m telling you because you’re the only Belador that I’m sure is not the traitor.”
How could a stranger see more than many of whom she’d fought alongside? She shook off how that touched her deep inside and kept her business face in place. “We agree on that one thing. So what am I to do with this information?”
“Find the
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