Chapter 6

Leona decided to keep Casavir's past with Ophala to herself (and Sand). No one else needed to know details right now. The only person she wanted to see was Khelgar, her dearest friend, to see what he thought about the prison. She dreaded what he would say, but could have scripted it all the same. But still she didn't feel right keeping it from him.

"I don't like repeatin' myself, Lass. If the man's alive, we get 'im. Doesn't matter if he's King of Luskan by now. Casavir's a man deserves a choice, he is. If he's held against his will, we're breakin' 'im out."

"Even if he doesn't want to be found?"

"He doesn't know what he wants. He doesn't even know you're still alive, lass. He's got nothing to fight for, now he thinks you're gone."

Don't I know the feeling, thought Leona.

"We gots ta go, Lass. Ye won't rest until ye know. I know that much about ye, by now."

She knew he was right. But it was a fool's errand, a suicidal one. "I don't want to risk anyone's –"

"Come off it, Ranger. You know I'd never let ye go alone. And you'll take Grizelda, yeah?"

Leona sighed. She didn't know how she got into this, but Khelgar was right. There was no other way, until she knew for sure whether Casavir was alive or dead. He'd saved her life so many times she'd lost count. Even if he didn't want to live when he got back – or live with her – she owed him his life back, at the least.

"Yes, Griz will come. And Sand and Neeshka. No one else."

"No one else needed. We'll get the job done, if there's a job to do."

"May your words go straight up to Tyr's ears, Khelgar."

"That maimed old goat? Don't get me started on HIM, letting his bravest fall so far astray. I ever meet Him, He and I are havin' words, we are. God or not, you don't let your best men to rot alone in a house of ill-repute."