Nik Read online

decipher what I had said.

  I hadn't gone more than a few buildings down when I heard my name called by a familiar female voice. I glanced at the ground and spotted a small green form on the ground ahead of me. I paused long enough to scoop Keela onto my shoulder, then continued my flight through the streets.

  Energy from the earth, Keela had said. It certainly felt like that now. I raced through the streets like the wind, and it was only when I was completely and utterly lost that I stopped to catch my breath.

  "So," I wheezed to Keela. "What was the idea, abandoning me back there?"

  She had the grace to appear ashamed for a moment, but defiance was strong in her voice as she answered. "You would have been fine if you hadn't said anything. They were Quis, and they knew my name. The only way you would know it is if you were a Druid, so they wanted to catch you and bring you to the Asylum. They weren't going to hurt you, so why did you run?"

  "It seemed like a good idea at the time," I muttered.

  "Nik, I can't go with them. They'll kill me. But you can. You must. Only they can help you to learn. I don't know anything about how a Druid's power works - there's nothing I could teach you. But they can. Go to the Asylum, Nik."

  "What about you? What are you going to do?"

  "Hey, I survived without you before we met. I can do it again."

  "If I recall, you were about to be dog food."

  "The point is," Keela continued, "splitting up is best for both of us. Trust me, I hate to do this. It's been nice actually having someone to talk to."

  "Well," I said, "I suppose you're probably right. You'll be safer on your own, if you're careful. Why don't you head for the Mountains? They'll never find you there."

  She nodded. "I'll consider it. Thank you, Nik." She paused for a moment. "I should go. Head back to your inn. The Quis will escort you back to the Asylum. Don't worry, it's their job to protect you. As long as you're not a Ratan, they won't hurt you." She grinned suddenly. "In fact, having to escort you will get them off my back. May I ask you a favor, though?"

  "Don't tell them about you?" I guessed.

  She shook her tiny green head. "They already know all about me, it seems. You can't tell them anything new. No, I would ask you to go to the Asylum and learn everything they have to teach, but do not join them. Use them, but don't let them corrupt you. That's all."

  "Can do," I said.

  She nodded again, then turned to leave. "I hope we'll meet again, Nik."

  "Me too, Keela."

  In a flash of green, she scaled the wooden wall of the nearest building, and disappeared over the top. I stared at the spot for a few seconds, briefly hoping she'd change her mind and come back. When I had convinced myself that she was truly gone, I headed back to the inn.

  The place was surprisingly calmer than I expected. No crowds milling outside the door, no guards poking around and making themselves a nuisance, and perhaps most surprisingly, no damage to the inn - at least, not that I could see from the outside. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

  It had been too much to hope that Tinai was as calm as everything else seemed to be. The moment I walked in the door, she threw herself at me like a storm. Lost amid the flurry of shouts and blows the diminutive woman rained down on me, I could barely pick out what she was trying to say.

  "How dare you leave me here to deal with your mess while you run away! And what was that whole thing about not coming back? You think I want to deal with this place on my own? It's hard enough just taking care of the problems you create-"

  She cut off abruptly as I gently picked her up and set her to one side. Her expression changed from upset to shocked and back to furious in the space of a few seconds. I ignored her for the moment - I was going to pay for that later - to focus on the two men approaching from the common room.

  "Where's the lizard?" one of them asked. I smiled to myself when I noticed the bruise forming underneath his left eye. My bouncers knew their job well.

  "The what?" I said, attempting innocence.

  "Keela," the other growled. "Where is she?" The look in his eye was dangerous enough that I abandoned my innocence tactic.

  "Ah. She's gone."

  "Gone where?"

  "I couldn't say."

  "Don't screw around with me-"

  "Calm down, Chad," the other man said. "It doesn't matter now anyway. Our cover's blown, let's get out of here before we have a mob descend on us. The lizard is someone else's problem now."

  Chad ground his teeth. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll get our stuff, then." He stormed up the stairs, two at a time.

  The other man watched him disappear around the corner at the top of the stairs, then turned back to me with a smile. "Sorry about that," he said. "We've been looking for Keela for some time, and Chad has trouble letting go. My name's Orden." He stuck out his hand, and I took it tentatively.

  "I'm Nik," I said.

  "I know," Orden smiled again, and gestured at Tinai. "The lady informed me after she broke up our little scuffle. It looks like she'd like to have a word with you, so I'll only take a moment more of your time." His smile widened at that.

  "I want to go to the Asylum," I said.

  He blinked once. "That was easier than I expected," he said. "Very well. We leave in an hour. I expect you'll be ready." Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode up the stairs, leaving me alone with Tinai.

  I turned cautiously, half expecting another physical assault. Instead, I was met with tears.

  "You're really leaving?" Tinai asked. Without waiting for an answer, she threw her arms around me. I didn't react. I couldn't react. After a moment's embrace, she pulled away and slapped me across the face. "And you're leaving me in charge of the inn?" she said in an accusing tone.

  "Well, at least you won't have to deal with my stupid ideas anymore," I said with a grin, ignoring the sting of my face.

  "Did it ever occur to you that I might like your stupid ideas?"

  "Um, no, not really." My grin faded slightly. I'd never thought of Tinai having any sort of feelings toward me other than near-constant irritation.

  She sighed. "I give up on you, Nik. You're impossible. When are you coming back?"

  "I don't know. Tinai..."

  "Stop." She looked me in the eye. Tears still glistened. "You do what you have to. I'll do what I have to. And when you're done, I'll be right here. And then we'll have this discussion again."

  I smiled. "You have a deal."

  She hugged me again, and this time I returned it. Then, without another word, she disappeared into the common room, leaving me standing alone in the entranceway. It took a long moment before I realized I had a lot of things to take care of before I left.

  But even as I raced around the inn in a flurry of activity, my thoughts - for once - remained fixed on a single point: Tinai.

  And I couldn't keep the smile from my face.