However, since she was already in the city, she needed to do a few more things. “Send Mojag back to headquarters to tell everyone we’re going to stay another sun jump,” she said.

His shoulders tightened. “Did you forget about the Arch Deacons we attacked already?” His tone implied she was an idiot.

Instead of snapping back—something she’d done in all their prior arguments—she kept her voice even. “No. In fact, they’re one of the reasons I want to stay. By now, they’ve reported to the priestess that the Invisible Sword is still around and deacons will be stationed at all the city’s exits.” She held up a hand to stop his retort. “I know we can use our magic to slip by them, but I’ve a couple other tasks and need your help.”

The tension eased from him. Shyla refrained from celebrating. While Jayden went to find Mojag, Shyla changed into a clean tunic. She folded the stained one. The blood had dried, stiffening the fabric and making it difficult to stuff into her pack. The four torques clinked together. They needed to be hidden somewhere very safe. The Monks of Parzival had kept The Eyes of Tamburah safe for close to half a million sun jumps. Perhaps she should give them to Hanif to put in the Fourth Room of Knowledge. Not many monks had permission to access that room.

While growing up in the monastery, and even after she left, Shyla was allowed in the First Room of Knowledge. She earned the right to enter the Second Room of Knowledge when she retrieved a vial of “water” from the black river for Hanif—it had ended up being a rivulet of blood. She hoped to be able to earn admittance to them all—it would be a first for someone who was not a monk.

“Mojag isn’t happy to miss all the fun. His words, not mine,” Jayden said when he returned. “But he’s gone to tell the others we’ll be delayed. What do you want to do?”

“First, can you tell me how the vagrants get water?”

“There are water dealers in the black market. We make arrangements with one of them, but when we get poisoned jugs, that understanding is voided and we have to find someone else.”

“Do you know where they get the water?”

“No. Not many do. It’s one of those closely guarded secrets. We really don’t care if they steal it or bribe the guards or have another source as long as it’s clean. Do you want me to arrange a deal with one of them? I’ve done it for my commune on level sixty-two many times.”

His comment about bribing the guards made her pause. Rendor should know about how the Water Prince’s guards collected and distributed the water. “Not yet.”

“Why not? We’re going to run out of water soon.”