The structure at Casi was basically a glorified tower. The base of the building jutted out, like a very large stone hall, with a lofty tower sprouting through the center. Enormous walls, separating us from Borra, extended from both sides of the square structure. In the center, facing us, was a single iron gate. While it had no guards outside, I knew they would be well prepared inside.

  We picked a spot close to the entrance, but deep in the brush. Haro joined us, standing awkwardly between Avian and Sani while holding the rope that held the apprentice. We left many of the supplies with them, carrying only what we intended to sell.

  I handed Avian the pouches that held the powders I stole from Dante and Omar. “I don’t want to get caught in there with these on me.”

  Avian nodded. “You should bring all the horses.”

  “Won’t they wonder why the two of us have five horses?”

  “Tell them you brought them to sell.” She paused. “They won’t make the trip down the rocky terrain.”

  I nodded, realizing that when we were ready to leave Cusi, we could only bring necessary supplies. Losing the horses meant carrying everything ourselves. “Once we acquire the gear, Kiri will send Haro a message, relaying our plan for crossing the wall.

  Kiri and I led the horses to the gate. I held my breath as a man wearing a Cusi uniform appeared on the other side.

  His posture straitened as he shifted his grip on the pike he held. “What’s your business in Casi?”

  “Yori sent us with supplies.”

  He scanned the area around me, standing on his toes to look over my head. “You don’t have the livestock we requested.”

  I cleared my throat. “The bulk of your supplies were stored on a wagon that was damaged during our trip. She should be a night or two behind us, but will arrive with the rest of the goods.” I handed him the note Yori gave me.

  After reading it, he signaled to the man next to him. The iron gate rose. Once it was higher than our heads, we walked through.

  The gate slammed shut behind the last horse.

  We stood in a small space, with a stable to the right and enclosures for hogs to our left. Five guards, all holding pikes, stood close to a small fire. Past them were two large wooden doors, which led into the main hall.

  The first guard signaled for us to follow him, while another guard led the horses to the stables.

  Kiri and I walked into the great hall. There were enough tables for a hundred yaksha, including one table at the far end that sat on a platform, allowing its occupants to look down at the rest of the hall. Doors lined all the walls. I’ve heard enough stories to know that most of the doors led to barracks for the soldiers.

  Behind the raised table was a large raging fire, with a large door to the right. I was certain that led to the watch captains quarters. There were two more doors on that wall, one to the right of the watch captains room and one on the other side of the fire. I couldn’t be sure which was which, but one led to the kitchen, and the other the armory.

  Other than the watch captain, who sat at the center of the raised table, only three men occupied the hall. They played a game with stones and bones as they sipped on something inside a mug.

  “Approach,” the watch captain said. “Don’t dawdle.”

  We walked to the table and stood in front of him. Even though he sat, we had to look up at him.

  “Yori sent you along to say she was on her way.”

  I nodded.

  “And you bring us only a few horses.”

  Again, I nodded.

  “Do you speak, or just move your head?”

  “I speak.”

  “Your note suggests there was trouble in Palla Cahua regarding some of our guards.”

  “Yes, captain. They were captured by Void Wigons.”

  His eyebrows raised. “Really? Void Wigons. Inside Mallma? I can’t imagine having something as vile as a Void Wigon so close to Cusi.” After shuddering, he added, “I thought the Palla Cahua guards were searching for a Nasar Wigon.” He thought for a moment. “A yaksha named Tye and his human accomplice.”

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  “Thay escaped in the other direction, heading deeper into Mallma,” Kiri said.

  “I shall provide you with a room and a hot meal, but I require the rest of my supplies before I release any payment.”

  “Captain,” I said. “We mean to only stay this night, and need to be on our way by Petra Dawn.

  He pursed his lips. Then nodded. “You may take your leave when you please. I’ll pay Yori when she arrives.”

  “We used our supplies on the voyage here. Is it possible to take partial payment in goods? What we need won’t exceed the cost of the horses.”

  He thought for a moment. “Very well. Barry!”

  A yaksha who was playing the bone and stone game pushed himself up from the table and joined us. “Yes, captain.”

  Show them to the room and inform the storeroom to give them credit for goods, based on the value of the horses they brought us.

  Barry gave me a double take. “You look familiar.” He squinted as he studied my face.

  For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Did Barry recognize me as a guard from Palla Cahua? If he realized who I was, we wouldn’t be able to escape. Our friends were outside, with an iron gate between us and them, and Kiri didn’t have any human blood to give her extra strength and speed.

  The watch captain glanced at Barry, then focused his attention on me. “Where might he know you from?”

  After finally sucking in some air, I shrugged. “I’ve made deliveries for Yori in the past.”

  The captain glared at me. His forehead crinkled.

  As an experienced leader with many under his command, he likely became good at remembering faces. I wouldn’t be surprised if he recalled the face of every yaksha who delivered goods to the tower.

  “Never to here though,” I blurted out. But at times I made deliveries to Palla Cahua.”

  Another yaksha from the bones and stones game didn’t look up as he said, “They look like the couple we ran into a few nights back, when we was out on patrol.”

  “The one’s building a cabin.” Barry nodded. “That’s right. You look a lot like them.”

  The man from the game said, “Hell, I thought it was them when they first walked in. But up close, I could tell the difference.”

  “Well,” the captain said. “That mystery is solved.” He nodded to Barry and waved his hand, seeming impatient to have us away from his table.

  Barry led us to one of the doors and opened it. Inside was an empty room with four straw beds. Each had a single blanket.

  “Are we to share a room?” Kiri asked.

  Barry nodded. “We keep only one ready for guests.” He paused. “We don’t get many female visitors. Many of the yaksha here haven’t left the stronghold in nearly a winter. I suggest keeping clear of them, my lady.”

  “How about a bath?” Kiri asked.

  He chuckled. “We can provide a bucket with heated water and some soap. But we haven’t the facilities for a full bath.” He raised his eyebrows. “Shall I bring one bucket or two?”

  “Two,” I said. “And if you don’t mind, can we get one at a time?” I glanced at Kiri. “I’ll stand guard outside the room until you have finished.”

  She nodded.

  After we ate and bathed, Kiri was eager to make our way to the storeroom.

  “Perhaps we should wait until right before Petra Dawn,” I suggested. “I would like to leave immediately after we request climbing supplies. The captain might find our request strange, which could lead to questions.”

  “Okay,” Kiri shivered. “But I get a weird vibe from this place. I don’t want to stay any longer than needed.

  “Perhaps you should remain in this room. I’ll go out and speak with the guards who work here. I’m hoping I can get one of them to tell us how to get past the wall.”

  She shook her head. “You heard Barry, these men haven’t been in the company of a female for a winter. I should be able to loosen their lips easily.”

  I watched as the taller of the guards threw a handful of stones onto the table. They bounced a few times, landing all around the small bones. Judging by the size of the bones, I guessed they came from a chicken or a squirrel.

  Glancing at Kiri, I tried to figure out if she understood the game. But the inquisitive look on her face suggested she didn’t. From what I could decipher, the yaksha who threw the stones would score points for each stone that touched a bone. The larger the stone, the more points they would get. But if a bone touched another bone, no points were given.

  The taller guard glanced at me. “Place your bet.” He handed me the stones.

  Digging through my pockets, I pulled out the few human gems I still had and placed them on the table.

  The guard’s eyes widened. He whispered, “Put those away.”

  I scooped them up and pocketed them. “I have no Mallma coin right now.”

  “Do you have anything of value?”

  Kiri pulled a bracelet from her wrist. “This was handcrafted in the capital.”

  As the soldier examined it, Kiri’s face twisted into a frown. She leaned toward me and whispered, “Haro is warning me that someone is coming.” Shaking her head. “A man in black leather robes.”

  “Whispering at the table makes me wonder if one plans to cheat,” The guard said.

  I shook my head. “How does one cheat at throwing stones?”

  The guard opened his mouth to speak, but closed it when the hall door swung open.

  I turned, watching Bandri stroll into the room.

  He paused as his eyes locked on us, then focused on the watch captain. “May I approach?”

  “Please do.” He waved him forward. “Have you brought the healing potions we requested?”

  Lori walked in the room behind him, a large smile on her face. “They’re in my wagon, along with the supplies.”

  My heart thumped in my chest. While I thought I might see those two again, I didn’t imagine finding them together. Bandri had claimed I was a Void Wigon, and said he wouldn’t hide my secret. Lori had been helpful, but her allegiance might have changed if she believed Bandri.

  Bandri climbed onto the platform and approached the Watch Captain. Once close, he leaned forward and spoke too quietly for me to hear.

  The watch captain signaled Barry, who walked to one of the rooms, knocked, then entered. A moment later he emerged with four armed yaksha.

  “I don’t like where this is going,” I said under my breath.

  Kiri glanced at Yori, then at me.

  The woman who had helped us escape Palla Cahua, now avoided making eye contact.

  Barry and the four guards walked toward us, but worked hard not to look directly at us. This seemed like a ploy to get close without risking having us challenge them.

  I considered getting up, but nothing I did would stop what was coming. Kiri and I couldn’t win a fight against this many guards, and I wasn’t willing to lose her trying something so foolish.

  Barry reached our table. “Put your hands where I can see them. You are both being charged with violating the True Blood Wigon ways.”