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Elide recoiled, and the fire vanished as
quickly as it had appeared. “My name is
Essar,” the female said softly. “I am a friend
—of your friends, I believe.”
Elide said nothing.
“Cairn is a monster,” Essar said, taking a
step closer. “Stay far from him.”
“I need to find him.”
“You played the part of his mistreated
lover well enough. You have to know
something about him. What he does.”
“If you know where he is, please tell me.”
She wasn’t above begging.
Essar ran an eye over Elide. Then she said,
“He was in this city until yesterday. Then he
went out to the eastern camp.” She pointed
with a thumb over a shoulder. “He’s there
now.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he’s not terrorizing the patrons of