“I’ll send Mojag and Gurice to the monastery as soon as it’s cool enough,” Jayden said. “We can discuss options once we learn more. In the meantime, you can explain to me why you thought going to Tamburah’s temple was a good idea.”

A childish retort—I don’t have to explain myself to you—pushed up her throat. Instead, she detailed her reasons and showed him the map. “I think it might lead to a maze of hidden tunnels and rooms. Do you recognize anything?”

He studied the scroll with his forehead furrowed. A pang gripped her. Underneath his eyes were dark smudges like faded bruises. He hadn’t been getting enough sleep.

Finally, he met her gaze. “We’ve had our headquarters in the temple for hundreds of thousands of sun jumps. If there was something like this in there, the Invisible Sword would have found it by now.”

“It has to be well concealed. And perhaps only I’ll be able to see it.”

“Still dangerous just for a perhaps.”

“We’ll go along as backup,” Elek said, gesturing to the other three who nodded in agreement.

His comment eased some of the pain in her chest. “And I’ll need you, too, Jayden. I think it’s worth the danger.” However, if he didn’t agree to accompany her, it would be too hazardous to go.

“I’ll think about it. For now, let’s deal with the problem at hand.”

“Which one?” she asked.

Jayden ignored her sarcasm. “The one associated with the other bit of news I picked up while working for the black-market dealers.”

She settled back on the cushion. “How bad is it?”

“There’s a trading caravan coming in from Tarim in a few sun jumps. The dealers say the leader of this cavalcade, Zimraan, is fond of precious metals and is well known to have ingots of platinum for sale.”

“How well known?”

“The Heliacal Priestess is probably already planning on sending a couple of Arch Deacons to the man’s market stand.”

Scorching sand demons. “We need to stop that sale.”

“Exactly.”

Shyla mulled it over. “When are they due to arrive?”

“In the next four to six sun jumps, but it could be longer.”

“At least we have some time to plan. But that will take away from all the other things we need to do!”

“You can’t save the city in a couple sun jumps, Shyla,” Jayden said before leaving to find Mojag and Gurice.