“Stop,” Isolde cuts in. “We’re not going anywhere until you tell us what is going on.”

A look passes between Raze and Olani that I can’t read.

“Let’s start simple,” I say, pleased to find I sound much calmer than I feel. “Those were Leira’s people. Why did they seem to personally know you?”

A long moment of shuffling silence, like they’re hoping Isolde and I will suddenly develop short-term memory loss.

When that doesn’t happen, Raze lets out a breath. “They, uh...they work for my aunt.” He says it as if we’re supposed to know who that is.

We stare blankly. Finally, Isolde prompts, “Your aunt?”

He blinks, as if surprised we don’t know who he’s talking about. “Leira Wildfall.”

Oh. I picture the woman standing before the crowd at Revelnox, shimmering with power. I knew they were related, but I didn’t think of them as family.

Before I can respond, he adds quickly, “Well, she’s more like my...second cousin, once removed, I think. I mean, she kind of raised me, but I’m not—” this sentence could end in a variety of ways, but he chooses the one I expect least “—important.”

No. He is not going to make me feel bad for him. Even if his face does briefly resemble a very sad puppy. “Ah,” I say uncomfortably.

“I used to work for her,” Olani says. “Kind of. She prefers to keep...the sort of work I do off the official record.”

“Oh,” Isolde says. “You’re a mercenary—”

“I was,” Olani interrupts firmly. “I did some work for Leira for a bit. It was supposed to be a first step, but... I got kind of stuck there. Following orders. I kept thinking if I could just impress her, she’d give me a real job adventuring. You know—finding treasure, slaying monsters, defending people. Took me too long to realize that was pointless. So I created my own opportunity.”

I’m still buzzing, and none of this really makes sense, and we need to get going again before they find us. I fight to not let my limbs swing around in place to burn off the nervous energy. “What about that enchanter?” I ask. “What does she know about the compass?”

“Aris...” Raze turns to meet Olani’s eyes in a silent plea for help.

Her jaw clenches, and then she finishes his sentence. “Aris is Leira’s favorite pet.”

Raze grimaces. “Aris is another distant cousin who hates me. We grew up together, taken in by Leira because of our abilities. But I’m not gifted like she is. I could never live up to her magic. And now she’s tracking me down like an animal. Funny, isn’t it?”

No. It’s not.

“She hates everyone,” Olani breaks in.

“I mean, yes, but especially me. She can’t stand that I can shapeshift and she can’t. Not that it matters. I didn’t think we were bad enough for Aunt Leira to send her.”

“I told you this was a terrible idea,” Olani grumbles.

Isolde groans impatiently. “What is this? Why did you have to break into the manor in the first place?”