“No.” His grip tightened for a moment. “Not pretending at all. It was Zhek. He did…something…to my injuries. The monks did a great job saving my life, but Zhek tsked over my shoulder and hip and readjusted something. All I know is they were hurting pretty bad after that first fight with Yates, and Zhek made it all go away.”

Another reason to test Zhek for magic. “You didn’t say anything.”

He shrugged. “You’d been stabbed. My pain could wait.”

Typical. She snuggled in closer. “I missed you.”

“Being apart was torture.”

“Good,” she said.

He looked at her. “Good?”

“Yes. That ensures you won’t do it again.”

“I won’t.”

When she woke, Rendor was gone. Not that she was surprised, but it still caused a brief moment of panic despite his promise. She understood why he’d left before and, without his efforts to recruit the guards, she’d be dead right now and not just feeling as if she’d died.

Standing required extra effort. She wobbled as her legs adjusted to bearing weight. Good thing no one witnessed her ungainly extrication from the fur and sleeping cushion. When she was steady, she went looking for Rendor.

The servants and guards that she passed eyed her with curiosity and not animosity. Still, she braced for someone to call out in alarm. Each intersection she fully expected to be tackled and arrested. She kept her distance from everyone out of habit, but it soon became clear she’d no idea where Rendor might be in the vast complex.

Shyla asked a passing servant, who escorted her to a conference room. Rendor sat around a low stone table with Ximen, Mojag, and Gurice. A number of torques and deacon robes were piled on the table. A sense of urgency rumbled through the low intense tones of their discussion. Mojag spotted her first. He sprang to his feet and almost knocked her over with his strong, enthusiastic hug. The rest smiled at her with hugs in their gazes.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said. His voice sounded young and vulnerable. But then he pulled away and with clear annoyance asked, “Can you tell them that I know the city better than anyone else?”

“I’ll agree you know the city well,” she said. “But I won’t go so far as to say better than anyone.”

He made a disgusted noise and flopped back to his cushion.

“Strategy session?” she asked.

“Yes,” Ximen said.

Gurice gestured to the empty seat. “Sit down before you fall down. Mojag, go tell someone to fetch her something to eat and drink.”

“Hey. I’m a magic wielder now, and—”

“Are still the youngest and the fastest. Go now so you don’t miss anything.”