The pup scanned it and pointed to a passage. “The agent counted sixteen wagons going into the mines, but only thirteen leaving. Doesn’t make sense. These mines produce coal and ore, so they’d need all those wagons to ship out the product.”

“Maybe they were having a slow day,” Janco said. “See? The next day they had sixteen in and then sixteen leave... Oh.” What happened to those other three?

Ari reclaimed the file. “Looks like there’s a pattern. Every three days, more wagons arrive than leave.”

“Could this be the smuggling route?” Janco asked. “Through the mines?”

“You tell me. You’re the one who spent a few weeks undercover at Vasko’s ruby mines.”

He scratched his scar. “There are a million miles of shafts under the Emerald Mountains. It’s possible that there’s a way to cross under the Ixian border and come out in the Soul Mountains. But...”

“But what?” Little Miss Assassin asked.

“The mine owners guard their maps with their lives. They don’t let strangers into the mines. For one person to know how all those shafts connect...” He shook his head. “Impossible.”

“They don’t have to know all of them. Just the right ones,” Ari said.

“And you said Sitians used their power all the time. Why couldn’t they use magic to find a passage into Ixia?”

The young pup had a point. Unfortunately. A cold dread coated his stomach. Two things Janco despised more than anything—magic and being underground. And it appeared he might just get both at once. Oh joy.

17

YELENA

I gaped at Devlen as blood slammed through my heart. Did he just say...? “You know what the poison is?”

“I believe so. But I am not sure how it will help you.”

Relaxing my grip on the teacup before it shattered, I calmed my out-of-control heart rate. “Please explain.”

Devlen set his cup down and sat in the other chair opposite Opal’s desk and between me and Leif. My brother perched on the edge of his seat and Opal leaned forward. All our attention focused on Devlen.

“Your symptoms of being hot and then cold sounds like the effects of a poison called Freeze Burn,” he said. “It is made from the roots of the reedwither plant that grows in the Avibian Plains.”

“How come I’ve never heard of this poison?” I asked.

“Only the Sandseeds know about it, and the plant is so rare, only one was found during my father’s lifetime, but the Sandseed who discovered it refused to divulge the location. According to our stories, it is fatal, but before the victim dies, they suffer those extreme temperature swings you described for a full day.”

Another near miss. The familiar ache of disappointment panged. “It can’t be Freeze Burn. I didn’t die.”

“That’s ’cause it’s you,” Leif said. “You said you expelled most of the poison from your shoulder. Combine that with your healing powers and...voilà! You survived.”

Great. How did this information help me? “Is there a cure?”

Devlen shook his head. “Not that I know. In our stories, everyone died.”

I considered. “If we can find the plant, then perhaps my father can find a cure. Do you know what it looks like and where it grows?”

“All I know is that it has long thin leaves, resembling blades of grass. In fact, it is often mistaken for a patch of crabgrass until you get closer and see that the blades are attached to a red stem. It is said that the Sandseed horses avoid those plants because the roots poison the water sources nearby.”

“Who else knows about the reedwither plant?” Opal asked Devlen.

“The Sandseeds. Not many of them left, though.”

“Less people to interrogate,” Leif quipped.

No one smiled.

“I don’t believe the Sandseeds would share this information with anyone or use the poison to attack Yelena,” Opal said. “They view her as family.”

“I agree,” Devlen said.

My thoughts circled back to Ben Moon and his famous ancestor. Perhaps the knowledge of Freeze Burn had been passed down to Ben in Master Magician Ellis Moon’s book. It wouldn’t be the first time forgotten information had returned to cause major problems—blood magic and the Kirakawa ritual both sprang to mind. Unfortunately, it probably wouldn’t be the last.

“Do you think you can envision the plant so Kiki can pick up on the image?” I asked Devlen. Perhaps she could find it in the plains.

“I can try.”

Devlen accompanied us to the Second Chance Inn. When we left, we promised Opal to return that evening for supper. On the way to the inn, we talked about Devlen’s new family.

“It has been an adjustment,” he admitted. “I am still in shock that Opal wishes to be with me and the fact she married me...” He spread his hands wide. “Plus taking care of two children is a bigger responsibility than I had thought. It is a bit overwhelming at times.”

“And then you have to deal with the crazy in-laws.” Leif smirked.

“Opal’s parents and brother have been very supportive.”

I laughed. “Notice he didn’t defend you, big brother.”

“Shut up.”

“How is Teegan doing at the Keep?” I asked Devlen.

“I was hoping you could tell us. We have only gotten a few letters from him.”

“I haven’t seen him. I don’t spend too much time at the Keep.”