“We don’t know if she outdanced them. She got over the fence, but then what? I think—I think I’m trying to be mad because it’s easier than being afraid. What if they killed her, Martial? What if they tracked her into the mountains and captured her?”

I reach out and set a hand on his shoulder. “She made it.”

“You know that?” Farian asks desperately. “You can’t possibly know that.”

“I feel it. Down in my bones. Don’t you?”

It takes a second, but he nods. “I’m just worried. Until I see her and know she’s all right, I’ll always be worried. Those components she stole are worth a lot, Martial. Even if she escapes the Ashlords, someone else might kill her for them. I’m worried I’ll never see her again.”

I let out a sigh. “Well, I can help a little with that fear.”

Reaching back, I remove the bills from my pocket. I’ve had them hidden in the floorboards for days. Farian’s cut of the winnings. I thought I’d have to scatter the sales, but with war coming on, vendors are positioning themselves for the long run and buying up what components they can. It’s been easy to sell off everything, except the Ivory of Earl. That one’s rare enough to get someone’s attention. I’ll sell it off when the time comes, but for now I’ll have to wait. I take the banded wad of money and stuff it into his hand.

“Twenty-five thousand legions.”

He stares at it. “What?”

“That’s your cut. Twenty-five thousand legions.”

“Martial…”

“It’s not from me.” I smile at him. “It’s from Imelda. She said go to school. She better be invited to all your premieres.”

He fans a thumb through the bills, stunned. “But…her family…”

“Will get plenty of money. Don’t worry about that.”

He shakes his head in disbelief. “I don’t get it. I mean…How could she possibly…”

I smile again. “Might never know. But I have to say, you were spot on with your nickname for her, Farian. All Imelda did was snap her fingers. And here we are, enjoying all the something she made out of nothing. If I were you, I’d give up on trying to figure out how she did it and just be thankful she did it at all. Be thankful the Alchemist thought your pockets were worth filling.”