“What’s wrong with the wind?” Zethan asked him, digging into his pile of bacon.
“It blows the sand around, making the glass gritty.”
“And it cools the kilns, so more coal is needed to keep them at temperature,” Ahir added.
“I can move the storm for you,” Zethan offered. “It won’t be hard.”
“That might attract the wrong kind of attention,” Zohav said.
Heli hated to agree with her. “I can keep a bubble of calm around your factory, Jaymes.”
“No need to exhaust yourself for us. It’s a minor inconvenience.”
“It doesn’t take that much energy. I do it all the time when I’m dancing in a storm.”
Ahir stroked his chin. “You know, having a Stormdancer around is handy. When everything is resolved with the Cartel, you should consider going into business.”
Surprised, she asked, “Doing what?”
“Weather stuff. Couples could hire you to ensure they have a sunny day for their wedding. Kade gave us beautiful weather for Leif and Mara’s day. Or farmers could engage your services to water their fields when it gets too dry.” Ahir sat up straighter. “You and Zee could work together when you’re not needed on the coast. You’d be rich in no time.”
“I never thought of it that way,” Heli said.
Vyncenza beamed. “That’s my smart boy. Always thinking.” She tapped her temple with a finger.
“Yeah, always thinking of ways to avoid work.” Jaymes stood. “Come on, Mop Top, the glass doesn’t gather itself.”
* * *
Their days fell into a routine. During the day, Heli helped in the factory while Zethan and Teegan practiced their magic. Zohav preferred to stay with Vyncenza, learning how to bake pies, crochet and cook, which had surprised everyone, including Zohav. At night, Zethan sprawled on the couch, groaning about eating too much, Zohav read a book next to the lantern, and Heli, Ahir and Teegan played cards or dice.
Heli should have recognized it for what it was—the calm before a storm—but she was having too much fun. When Ahir woke her a few hours before dawn on the ninth morning, she shouldn’t have been startled.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up in bed.
“Dad says we have company. And it’s not our distant cousins coming for a visit.”
Alarmed, she scrambled to her feet. “Are they in the house?”
“No. He spotted them outside the gate. Looks like they’re waiting for something...or someone.”
Her first impulse was to run and hide in the plains.
Zohav pushed her covers back. “How many are there?”
“Dad says six or seven, maybe more.”
“What do they want?” Heli asked.
Ahir shrugged. “I don’t know. But Tee might. He’s downstairs.”
Heli almost smacked her forehead. Of course. They rushed to join Zethan, Teegan and Jaymes in the dark living area.
“Mom’s asleep. It’s better if we don’t wake her unless we absolutely have to,” Ahir whispered.
Teegan peered into the night.
“Robbers?” Heli hoped.
“No,” Teegan said. “The Cartel. They know we’re here.”
“All of us, or just me?” Heli asked. Bruns had learned that one of the Stormdancers had helped with Yelena and Valek’s escape, but he shouldn’t know about the twins or Teegan.
“All of us.”
Damn. Something must have happened at the Citadel. “Are we surrounded? Can we slip out the back?”
Zethan turned to her. “There are only seven—”
“Ten,” Teegan corrected him.
“—only ten of them. Between the four of us, we can easily blow them away.”
“Yes, we could, but they’ll just come back with reinforcements.” Heli mulled it over. “What are they planning?”
“A sneak attack while we’re still sleeping.” Teegan flashed a grin. “Good thing they didn’t know Grandpop checks the kilns at night.” Then he sobered. “They have Curare and null shield nets with them. No magicians, though.”
“They won’t be able to use their weapons because they’ll be too busy flying through the air, and so will their reinforcements,” Zethan said.
Heli touched his arm. “We still can’t stay here. We’re putting Teegan’s family in danger. We need to leave. Jaymes, you and your family also need to find a safe place to go. The Cartel won’t be happy when we escape, and they’ll question you or use you to get to Teegan.”
“When we escape?” Zohav asked. “You’re that confident?”
Heli resisted snapping at the girl. Instead, she glanced at Zethan and Teegan. “Escaping won’t be the hard part.”
“What’s the hard part?” Teegan asked.
“Making them think they have a chance to catch us.”
Except for Zohav, there were answering grins all around. Heli explained her plan, and the four of them slipped through the back door to their positions. There wasn’t much light, so they moved with care. The twins hid behind the well while she and Teegan sidled up to the stables. All three horses were awake, with ears pricked forward and nostrils flared.
Since Heli needed to know where the soldiers were, Teegan updated her on their positions.
“There are twelve of them now,” he whispered. “They’re climbing over the gate. Huh. Someone must have told them it squeaks.” A few long seconds passed. “They’re moving to surround the house. Two of them know how to pick locks.”