Soraya didn’t make the same mistake she’d made the last time, pulling herself from his mind as soon as she had what she needed. That she was able to direct his mind so easily spoke to what he was: Behind that arrogant, cocksure façade, he was as malleable as a hunk of clay.

“What are you doing?” Commander Destin snapped, tearing his hand from hers.

“Zaranaya,” she said, keeping her voice low so it wouldn’t carry to anyone’s ears but his.

“Excuse me? What did you say?”

“Do you really want me to repeat it?” She was shocked by her own boldness, as well as the coldness in her voice. She’d never spoken to anyone like that in her life, much less a commander of Finfalla’s famed Knightguard.

He was looking at her differently now. Less like a target and more like an adversary he’d underestimated.

“Are you really going to believe this rot?” Loris said. “Ask her about the markings on her face, too. I’d wager they’re pagan symbols, no matter what she claims.”

“There’s been a mistake. It was a different young woman who left your tavern after curfew.”

The proprietor spluttered, “But her room was empty! I swear it on the Sculptor Himself! And what about her markings?”

“You are mistaken, sir,” the commander said. “And a few tattoos are nothing to get all worked up about. Am I right?”

There was a long moment where all eyes in the room were fixed on the tavern’s proprietor. Loris blinked but then seemed to understand what was happening. “Gods, these eyes of mine. Have never worked well, even with these useless bottles attached to them. Must’ve been mistaken. Definitely wasn’t this young, upstanding woman. I am most sorry for any inconvenience I’ve caused.”

“It is no trouble at all,” the commander said. “Catching lawbreakers is a worthy pursuit and we always need good citizens like yourself to assist us in our endeavors. That said, we won’t take up any more of your time. The damage from the nightdemon’s attack last night is severe and it must be assessed, the witnesses questioned. And preparations must be made for further attacks. We’ve just received a shipment from the Four Kingdoms. Traps used to kill large creatures known as mamoothen. They must be positioned and set. There is no rest for the swift hand of justice.” With that, the commander tipped his hat and left, his men filing out after him.

When they were gone, Loris extended his hand, palm up. Soraya looked at him. “You disgust me,” she said, and then, without another word, walked past him.

By the time she reached her room and slammed the door behind her, her entire body was trembling, her eyes as wide as twin moons. She crumpled to the floor, eyes wide. “I just did that,” she murmured to herself.

“Morg?” Morg said, finally managing to wriggle his way out of her pack. She stroked his head for a long time before she finally pulled herself back to her feet.