They both froze. Vallie’s arms were extended as she reached for Shyla. Pushing her arms down, Shyla hooked the manacles back on the woman’s belt. Then she took Nuru’s sword and slid it back into its sheath. Shyla stepped behind them and erased their memories of the encounter with her. Only when she was out of sight did she release them.

She climbed to level forty-two. After ensuring there was nobody in the tunnels around the professor’s room, Shyla knocked on the door.

Emeline invited her inside. “I didn’t think you’d be back this quick.”

“No sense waiting.” Shyla pulled the statue from her pack.

“Oh my.” She took the golden figure almost reverently. Holding it near a lantern, she examined it carefully, once again using her tools. “It’s genuine.” Emeline glanced up. “Well done. How many artifacts did you find in Tamburah’s second vault?”

“I’ve a few more pieces,” Shyla hedged. “Are you interested in buying them?”

“I doubt I have the coin for such historically valuable items. But the Water Prince is very curious where you found these. Guards!”

Shyla started as guards rushed from the professor’s sleeping chamber. So focused on potential ambushers outside the room, she’d never considered seeking them inside. A deadly mistake.

Fifteen

Shyla recovered from her shock and held up her hands. Not to surrender, but to push her magic at the six guards.

Stop.

They halted.

The professor clutched the statue of Tamburah to her chest as she glanced at the guards. “What are you waiting for? Grab her!”

Sleep.

The four men and two women collapsed to the floor.

Emeline backed away from Shyla. “What did you do to them?”

Shyla stepped toward the deceitful woman. “You’ll find out if you don’t pay me what you owe for the crown.”

“She’s bluffing,” a familiar and rather terrifying voice said. The Water Prince stepped from Emeline’s sleeping chamber with Captain Yates right behind him. “Shyla won’t hurt you.” He met her gaze.

Big mistake as that allowed her to read his soul. The prince gaped in shock as he noticed her new eye color. His surprise transformed to fury in a heartbeat, but he recovered, burying his anger deep and resuming his neutral expression. He studied her as if appraising a gamelu herd. As much as she was tempted to go deeper into his thoughts and emotions, she kept her focus on his surface emotions only. For now.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Shyla said. Her voice remained calm despite the tight fear ringing her throat. Gauging how much strength she needed to knock both the prince and Yates unconscious, she collected her will. From past experiences, Yates would be hard to influence. Perhaps she should just bolt. But would she make it to the door before Yates caught her?