“We’ve paid for passage across the river,” I say as Emberlyyn steps forward and hands him the trout-coin.

The man studies the coin, then narrows his beady eyes on her. “I need two hundred more Common Trade guilders.”

I balk. That’s enough to buy a team of horses. And I’ve only 170 guilders in the purse Valasca hastily shoved into my pocket just before Lukas threw me through the portal.

“This passage is already paid for,” I coldly point out.

He flicks a finger contemptuously toward Emberlyyn and Tibryl. “They’re sick.” He jabs his finger toward Nym’ellia, disgust in his eyes as his gaze swings damningly back to mine. “And you’ve got a Roach with you.”

Nym’ellia is now staring at him like she’s a cornered animal, devastation writ plain on her face.

I narrow my gaze on him. “That’s a lot of money.”

He squints at me as if taking my measure. “Then you can swim now, can’t you?”

Fire rises in my lines as I realize there will be no bargaining with this man. He’s obviously well practiced in taking advantage of those fleeing east.

I pull my purse of money from my pocket and hold it out. “There’s a 170 here,” I admit tightly.

He swipes the purse from my hand and empties it into his palm. Then he raises his gaze to look me over once more. “I think you’ve got yourselves passage.” He gives me a chillingly suggestive smile. “You can figure out a way to make up the difference.”

I glance warily toward the small boat. “All right,” I venture. “Just get us across the river.”

He spits out a sound of amusement at my confident tone, his face twisting with derision, as if he wants to remind me I’m in no position to give orders.

Oh, but I am in a position to give orders, I lethally consider. Because as big as this man is, he’s not bigger than three scorpios and four wraith bats. And his blade is magic-free.

Yes, I can take you down, I muse, a bit stunned by the measured, predatory thought.

“You’re a feisty one,” he says, grinning broadly at me now. His gaze does another slow slide over my body, and I read it all in that look—he thinks he can leer openly at me and there’s not a damned thing I can do about it.

“When I have to be,” I say, returning his smile.

Thunder sounds with an impressively broad rumble, and we all peer anxiously at the sky.

I turn back to the vile man. “We’re ready. Let’s go.”

He nods, all business now, and tugs the boat closer, holding it steady as I help Tibryl, Emberlyyn, and Nym’ellia get in. I pull myself on board, my power leaping as my hands make contact with the wood, its source tree flashing through my mind.