I soaked in the sound of his laughter, closing my eyes and imagining Moon Man standing there scowling at his father for embarrassing him. Then again, Moon Man wouldn’t be embarrassed. He’d be scolding me for running away without thinking it through.

But what could I do without my magic?

“It is a shame that people without access to the power blanket are so helpless. It is a wonder they do not die at an early age.” Midnight Son tsked.

“Don’t start that mind-reading stuff.”

“I am sorry. You wish to wallow in self-pity. I will leave you to your brooding. But I will say this... You should not feel disconnected from your family and friends nor should you fear for their lives. Their story threads are woven with yours. Even without the strand of magic twisted around your story, the rest of your threads remain strong.”

“In other words, I’m not going to unravel.”

“Exactly.” He grinned and bowed. “A pleasure to meet you, Soulfinder. If you need further assistance, you know how to find me. I will admit, chasing intruders away from a plant is not nearly as exciting as talking to you.”

“Glad I could provide some entertainment.”

Midnight Son flashed me another toothy smile and stepped into a shadow. He disappeared as he returned to the shadow world. I stared at his boot prints in the sand. His comments spun in my mind. Three main things snagged. Midnight Son had claimed I’d figure out how I lost my magic and he’d given me a fifty-percent chance of regaining my powers. Plus he’d called me Soulfinder, which could have been a slip of the tongue due to something he’d seen in my story threads.

I needed to keep trying to solve the puzzle. What options did I have left? Pazia Cloud Mist might have some answers. She lived in Ognap, which I guessed was northeast of here. Although I’d no real idea where in the Avibian Plains we were. My other choice was going south to the Illiais Jungle to visit my father. He might know about or have heard about a magic-blocking substance. I chewed on my lip, deciding.

Kiki nudged my arm, surprising me. Glancing at her saddle, she turned her blue-eyed gaze back to me.

“Ready to go?” I asked.

Another nudge.

“Okay.” Securing my cloak and shouldering my pack, I mounted Kiki. In that instant, I knew the right thing to do despite the terror clamping down on my guts. “Back to Fulgor please, Kiki.”

* * *

I wasn’t surprised by the extra security measures that had been installed around Opal’s glass factory. In fact, I approved despite the fact they wouldn’t be enough to protect Reema from a determined assassin. One of the many things I’d learned from Valek was that an assassin would sit and wait for days, weeks or even months to find the perfect time to kill.

Looping Kiki’s reins around a nearby post, I shouldered my pack and approached the entrance. I tried to ignore the certainty that watchers followed my every move, and the creepy crawly sensation of invisible gazes pressing on my back. The afternoon sunlight had done nothing to dispel the chill in the air, and now that the sun balanced on the horizon, the cold intensified. Or was it the icy glares the guards outside the factory turned on me?

While I waited outside, one man went to verify my claims. He returned with Devlen in tow.

“Have you found the plant?” he asked in a flat tone.

He was probably angry at me. I didn’t blame him. I tilted my head toward the guard hovering over me. “Can we talk inside?”

“Opal’s not here.”

“Opal’s not the one I’m worried about. How’s Reema?”

Ire flared in his gaze, but he gestured for me to follow him into the factory. Then he stopped. Workers buzzed around the kilns. The heat rolling off the four enveloped me. My numb fingers thawed.

“Reema is driving me crazy.” Devlen crossed his arms. He wore short sleeves and pants. “Being cooped up inside is not...ideal for her.”

Alarmed, I asked, “Is she upstairs alone?”

“No. Two more guards watch her. Are you going to tell me what happened that night?”

“Where’s Opal?”

“In the city, searching for Ben.”

“Have they found him?”

“No. You did not answer my question.”

“I’ve no idea what happened that night. They must have lured me away and changed my memories. All I know is if I remained in Fulgor, Reema would be assassinated and the rest of my friends and family would be killed, as well.” I held up a hand, stopping his questions. “Even though I think it’s just a planted threat, we have to send Reema away or I won’t be able to function. She’s not safe here.”

“She sleeps with us and we have four guards from Fulgor’s security forces here at all times.”

“Not enough. An assassin might be coming after her.”

Fear replaced his anger. “How do you know this?”

I met his gaze. “I don’t know, but we can’t take the chance that it’s one of my fake memories. If Ben thinks his...” I tapped a finger on my temple. “Plan didn’t work, he might go after her out of spite.”

He nodded. “All right. What do we do?”

“Get Reema. Tell her to pack a bag and don her warmest cloak. You’re going with her, so grab your travel kit.”

While he rushed off to collect Reema, I pulled my new purchases from my pack and set them aside. They had rested atop my cooking paraphernalia, flint, Esau’s field manual and other travel essentials that had all jumbled together. I also kept my valuables in my backpack and I’d tied my bedroll to the bottom.