Had he ever followed her? Had he been there with her in Australia, where some of the Southerners had emigrated?
Not that it mattered. He could follow her anywhere now.
Ill need another Mask, she said in the hours of early morning.
Why?
Tallis sounded strangely agitated. She was beginning to learn the expressivity of his voice, which was almost as animated as his faceif one paid attention. That she couldnt read his mind meant he was the first person shed needed to understand by sense alone.
Because Pashkah knows what I look like now. Even worse, hell recognize this version of my mind. Night or day wont matter.
Hell follow what he knows of us, Chandrani said. His pursuit will be entirely psychic now.
She had stopped speaking directly into Kavyas minda deliberate means of including Tallis in their plans. That was new. Chandrani trusted no one but Kavya, and vice versa. Voicing her opinions to Tallis was smart, for now, if only to fold his canny strategies into theirs. He was skilled in the use of his Pendray weaponsseaxes and berserker rage, both. Beyond that, Kavya knew he was an unacceptable liability. How could anyone be so susceptible to suggestions pushed into his dreams?
But she knew the answer. The mind was a fragile place. With the right whisper from the right person, that whisper could become the truth.
A Mask would disguise you, Tallis said without question. What does it do to who you are now? Or who you really were? I assume youve used them before.
Yes.
How often?
This will be my fifth.
He stopped. His boots made a squelching sound on the damp rocks along the river. Your fifth? Who the fuck are you, really?
Kavya jerked. Im me .
Layered with four other versions of you.
Why was he making this sound so wrong? It was the way of her world.
With the right Mask, she said, a Northerner could live alongside a Southerner in the same neighborhood. No fighting. No fear. Only the most visible, like our politicians, need them more frequently.
And cult leaders.
Youre not one to judge. For centuries, weve needed Masquerades to save us from aggressive twins, and to keep the peace between the factions. She huffed a frustrated breath. Disguise is better than fighting and dying.
Tallis continued their trudge, leading them down the mountain. It was roughly thirty-five miles to their destination, Bhuntar, but a four-thousand-foot drop in altitude. Kavya felt renewed strength in her lungs as the thin air gave way to stronger bursts of oxygen. She eyed Tallis. The tension in his shoulders gave away that he shared none of her invigoration, as did the way stiff steps spoiled his warriors grace.
What are Masquerades? he asked.
Back-alley merchants. Theyre generally considered unclean. No one acknowledges a Masquerade as a family member, and none Ive ever met live in pods. They hone their gift to provide Masks for the right price.
Like human moneylenders of oldnecessary but exiled.
Yes.
He seemed bitter, even repulsed, despite nodding. Again, she felt the need to explain Indranan culture. How could Dragon Kings know so little about the rest of the Five Clans? How had they become so insular?
Your gift is too dangerous, he said softly.
Thats rich coming from the man who used teeth rather than steel. Is a Pendray berserker any less dangerous?
Theres no hiding what we do. You hide behind party tricks and layers of lies. I know who I am. You dont have a clue.
You know, do you? She heard the sneer in her words, which was new. Surprising. When was the last time shed given over to words so pure in meaning and tone? Youre the man who doubts his sanity. Youre the man who dresses like a human but hides a raging beast. You might as well be Jekyll and Hyde. Admit it and feel better for it. Yes, Kavya, Im half of myself when Im a regular man.
He spun and grabbed her shoulders. The sound of Chandranis saber drawn from its scabbard shouldve been reassuring, but Kavya didnt want her friends protection. She wanted to push Tallis. To learn more about him.
Im both, he snapped. Theres no need to choose.
Liar. And if you keep lying to me, well part ways no matter how useful you might be in defending me.
You think thats the reason why Im traveling with you? He clamped tighter on her shoulders. Dragon-damned woman. Youre the most perfect bait a fisherman could want. A wiggling little worm to drag Pashkah out of hiding. If hes the person whos been manipulating me, or if he can provide any information at all, then with him is where I need to be.
So you can, what, bite him again? That must be your hobby.
Ill kill him. Get him out of my head.
Im a worm, she said with disgust. Bait. You are as delusional as you fear.
His mouth was a sour pucker, when shed felt it softer and more pliable, capable of moments of tenderness. Delusional, says the telepath who cant tell Masks from reality.
Youre a hypocrite, too. Or a stubborn moron, just like everyone assumes of the Pendray.
She actually grinned when all he could do was shake her. That snap of leashed aggression was welcome. It distracted her from Pashkahthe real danger she facedand revealed another aspect of Talliss character. He couldve unleashed that aggression at any point in their association, but hed held it back until the last possible moment. Then hed possessed sense enough to use it against genuine evil.