Jayden cursed. “I thought that was you tracking us.”

Rendor had been following them? She must have really depleted her magical energy.

Jayden sighed, then said, “Stay out of sight. There’s going to be deacons searching the city for her and stationed at all the exits.”

“She’ll be safe,” Rendor said.

“Make sure she’s back at headquarters by the next sun jump.”

“Only if she’s recovered and it’s safe.”

Jayden grunted. “Come on, Mojag, we need to hurry.”

The boy gave her a wide-eyed look before following Jayden.

Rendor crouched down next to her. “We have to stop meeting like this.”

Oh no, he didn’t get to tease her. Not after leaving her like that and not letting her explain. Despite being glad to see him, Shyla punched him on the arm, but the blow was weak. She opened her mouth to demand he explain why he’d left.

“Not here.” Rendor pulled her to her feet. “Can you walk?”

“It depends.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Yes, it is. Are we going up, down, or lateral?”

“I can carry you.”

She crossed her arms.

“Fine. It’s two levels down and half a klick south.”

“Then, yes, I can.” She gestured for him to lead the way.

They walked in silence. Rendor adjusted to her pace as it changed from slow to lumbering to a painful trudge. The tunnel’s walls and floor softened around her. When had her legs become so heavy? Perhaps she’d been overly confident about her energy level.

“We need to keep moving,” Rendor said.

Huh? She had stumbled to a stop.

“This isn’t the best spot—”

“Then go. I didn’t ask for help.” She didn’t have the strength to glare at him even though a part of her acknowledged she was the one behaving badly.

He growled, then dipped down, swept her off her feet, and threw her over his shoulder. “We don’t have time for this, either.”

She squawked in protest, but he ignored her. Soon his smooth and silent ground-eating strides lulled her to sleep. A change in movement roused her enough to note she no longer hung off his shoulder. Instead a softness cushioned her prone body. A fur being pulled up to her chin was the last thing she remembered.

When she woke, she was comfortable, warm, and alone. Disappointment seared through her over that last one. A druk glowed with a reddish light, illuminating the small room that barely contained the sleeping cushion. Her pack rested on the floor next to her. Sitting up, she dug for her water skin. Her sore muscles complained, but the bone-deep fatigue was gone. After gulping enough water to un-shrivel her tongue, she found a roll of jerky and ate it without really tasting it—a good thing.