They sat at a table in the common room. Shyla had slept for a long time, scaring everyone. Gurice had been about to send for Zhek when she woke. Even now, after another full sun jump of rest, fatigue still tugged on her muscles.

“Let me come with you, then,” Gurice said. “Or take Titus. He has magic.”

“No, you’re both needed here in case our hideout is discovered.”

“At least take a couple of the acolytes with you. Jayden will kill me if he finds out you went alone.”

Shyla considered. “All right.”

Gurice pressed a hand to her chest. “You can be reasonable. Praise the goddess.”

“Cute.”

“Finally, a challenge,” Lian said. “I’m sick of shoveling sand.”

“My blisters have blisters,” Jaft quipped.

“All part of being a member of a not-so-secret organization,” Elek said.

“Are you done complaining?” Rae asked her friends. “Shyla hasn’t finished explaining the mission.”

Shyla didn’t mind their banter, although she’d never tell them that or they wouldn’t shut up. Their easy friendship and loyalty was what she hoped all the members of the Invisible Sword would eventually feel toward each other. A big family, working together, fighting together, helping others.

They had agreed to accompany her to Tamburah’s temple without knowing all the details. Dressed and ready to go, they had met her in the common room at angle three-fifty-five for a quick briefing.

“This shouldn’t take long,” Shyla said. “The hardest part will probably be finding the escape tunnel.”

“Are you expecting trouble?” Elek asked.

“I’m always expecting trouble. However, I’m hoping that we’ll be disappointed.”

They left at angle zero. Shyla erased their tracks. The action reminded her of her escape from the monastery. It was too dangerous to send a runner to check on what happened there after she’d left three sun jumps ago. Worry for her parents and the monks pulsed in her chest. If the Water Prince contacted the King about her, it could mean trouble for the monastery. Would he send his elite soldiers to investigate the dangerous sun-kissed? What if the King ordered the monks to turn Shyla over to the Water Prince if she ever returned? Best to stay away for a while. She’d wait until Jayden and Mojag returned from Zirdai and ask if they’d heard any rumors.

Despite their earlier chatter, the four ex-acolytes settled into a quiet, highly focused team, scanning the desert for potential problems. Jaft and Elek carried shovels. A sense of readiness and competence oozed from all of them, their smooth gaits and graceful movements reminding Shyla of predators.