Chapter 519: Tara

The girl was a trembling, sobbing mess, but when I sat on the stairs and reached for her, she rushed into my arms and hugged me as though she knew me.

It was impossible to get anything out of her for the first minute or so. I carried her down the stairs and back into the street, following Belkni after his short, "This way," which sounded suspiciously like an order but offered a course of action.

I only followed him because I had the girl to worry about. The next time he tried to boss me around, he'd be heading curbside.

A narrow park with a small garden overlooking a waterfall into the lower levels of the city offered a perfect place to regroup. Sassy's sister sat next to me, patting the girl's back as she clung to me for dear life. Ram and Belkni kept a look out as frustration at Ameline's escape made it hard to sit still.

I finally freed the girl's tight grip around my neck and made myself relax, knowing the poor thing was so shaken if I started demanding answers like Ahbi's magi