“Please.” He looked pained. “You insult me. I would have thought you’d appreciate my skills more by now.” He shut the door behind him. “Do I have to remind you my time isn’t my own at the moment? I didn’t have an opportunity to retrieve that phone I promised you until this evening because unfortunately my slave labor services were required elsewhere. It seems that Masenak wanted the castle spruced up for his guests’ arrival.” He was coming toward her. “I’ve decided I won’t make slave labor one of my chosen sidelines in the future. I’m sure I did it far better than anyone else, but it doesn’t appeal—” He broke off as he looked down at the hand she’d extended palm up to him. He grinned as he reached into his tunic pocket, pulled out a small phone, and placed it in her palm. “You’re welcome.”

“I’ll thank you later.” Her hand was trembling as she punched in Alisa’s number. “Though I’m glad they didn’t throw you off the mountain. I didn’t—”

“Are you all right?” Alisa asked the instant she picked up the phone.

“That’s just like you,” Sasha said shakily. “You’re the one who got shot, Alisa. That should be my question. But I know you won’t answer me until I tell you that I’m as fine as I can be with Masenak threatening to kill you, my horses, and anyone else he thinks will give him an edge. Gilroy didn’t lie when he told me you weren’t hovering at death’s door?”

“I walked twelve miles through these mountains today and I could have gone a hell of a lot longer if Korgan hadn’t been such an ass about it.”

“I’m beginning to like the sound of him.” Sasha had to stop to clear her throat. That last remark had been pure Alisa, and nothing could have convinced Sasha more that she was on her way back to normalcy. “Maybe you should keep him around.”

“Only until we get you out of there. He has many more profitable and intriguing projects to keep him amused. But since he has a vested interest in ridding the world of Masenak and Reardon, I believe we’ll be able to maintain his involvement while he works at doing that.” She paused. “Which we’re doing nonstop. We know that we can’t get you out of there while they’re still alive. It’s only a matter of time, because you know that’s going to happen.”

“Of course I do.” She added lightly, “You sent me Gilroy, didn’t you? I guess you could consider that a beginning.”

“Ouch,” Gilroy murmured. “I’m never a beginning. Find another description. Perhaps the grand climax.”

She ignored him. “Masenak and Reardon. What do you need from me?”