Ximen created a small whirlwind of sand. It buzzed through the one-story buildings. Sand whirls were a common enough occurrence to not be viewed as suspicious, but interesting enough to provide a distraction for Shyla and Jaft to get inside.

“Handy,” Jaft said once they were through. “Will Rae be able to do that?”

“Depends.”

“Wow, that’s vaguely specific.”

“It’s up to Rae if she wishes to access her magic and, if she does, it will depend on how strong she is and if she even has the ability to move sand.”

“Oh.”

Thankfully, Jaft didn’t ask any more questions. They rendezvoused with Elek and Ximen. After agreeing to meet Elek and Jaft back at the same location on level ten at angle three-fifty-five, they split up. Ximen headed to the markets to determine the time—or as close to it as possible—that Zimraan’s caravan was scheduled to arrive while Elek and Jaft took Rendor’s route to his water source. Shyla kept to the edges of the city as she descended to Professor Emeline’s quarters on level forty-two. When her and Ximen’s tasks were finished, they would meet back at Orla’s.

Shyla waited in the same dark nook for the professor to return from third meal. The temptation to seek Rendor with her magic pulsed in her veins. She had found if she kept busy, the memories of his kiss and the longing for his touch wouldn’t ambush her as often. To keep from thinking about him, she focused on the people in the tunnels nearby. Students mostly, but a few professors and a couple of guards patrolled. Not the guards who had helped her when Utina had accused her of murdering Banqui and stealing The Eyes from him. She wondered if those two would be receptive to changing their allegiance. Probably not, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

Emeline arrived at angle two-forty-five and Shyla stepped from the shadow.

The woman startled but recovered with a nervous laugh. “You certainly like to make an entrance. Do you have something for me?”

“Yes.”

“Come on in.” Emeline unlocked the door and swept out a bony arm, indicating Shyla should precede her.

She entered the dark room and waited near the door while the professor uncovered the trol lanterns, then slid the glass panel closed.

“Did you recover Gorgain’s crown and torque?” Emeline’s eyes glowed almost as bright as the lanterns.

“No, but I found something better.”

The woman deflated. “There’s not much that’s better.”

“Oh, I think you won’t be disappointed.” Shyla removed one of Tamburah’s crowns from her pack. This one resembled a ring of vines with berries interspersed throughout. The leaves and stems were made of gold, and rubies provided the vivid red color of the berries.

Emeline sucked in a breath. “Whose is that?”

“King Tamburah’s.”

“But his tomb and vault were looted thousands of circuits ago.”