Darsal was tempted to try again, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She might have captured the Roush, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t like him.

“I think so too,” a soft voice said to her right.

She turned to Karas, who’d woken and drawn even. Darsal returned her gaze to the gentle white sand dunes ahead. It surprised her that she was glad for the girl’s company. “You think what too?”

“That it’s unfair for me to sleep just because I can,” Karas said.

Darsal still wasn’t sure what to make of the girl. Too intelligent and witty for her own good. Brave enough to follow despite the obvious danger. But above all, Karas wanted to belong. And no wonder; her mother had been killed by her father, whom Karas had just abandoned to become a Forest Dweller. The girl had no family left.

Unless Darsal was her aunt, as the girl claimed.

“What makes you think Alucard is real?” Karas asked. “I’ve never seen a Shataiki, have you?”

“Yes.” Was she permitted to share that?

What does it matter now, Darsal? You’ve broken all the rules already.

“Billos, Johnis, Silvie, and I can see both the Shataiki and the Roush. Our eyes have been opened.”

“Really? Why?”

Darsal shrugged. “That’s more than you need to know.”

“I’m risking my life to help you. Doesn’t that qualify me to know what I’m getting into? Maybe my eyes should be opened too.”

Darsal scoffed. “You really do think that way, don’t you? That everything revolves around you. You’re not helping. If anything, you’re a burden.”

“Exactly,” Karas said. “But if my eyes were opened, I could be more of a help. Think about it.”

Darsal turned to her. “You think I have the power to open your eyes?”

“Then who does?” The horses plodded. “Can you see one now?”

“A Shataiki?”

“Or a Roush.”

Darsal faced forward, then snuck a peek at the fur ball leaning back against her. “As a matter of fact, yes.”

Karas rode silently for a dozen strides.

“If you can’t open my eyes, at least tell me why yours are open.”

Darsal considered the request. The girl might be helpful if she knew what they were looking for.

“We’re on a mission to find the seven original Books of History,” she said, then quickly recounted the barest overview of the quest.

“Then you’re on the right path,” Karas said after a pause. “Witch used to talk about the seven books. And of Alucard, who has more under his skin than anyone realizes. Or so Witch said.”

“Has what under his skin?”

“I don’t know. But don’t you think it was a mistake to leave Johnis and Silvie behind? You’re breaking the oath.”

Darsal turned away. “My oath to Billos came first.”

Another pause.