“That’s a bit of a problem,” Max said. “He took off, oh, about two weeks ago. Left me with the balance payment on your contract and said to hand it all over whenever you guys got back, no questions asked. Wouldn’t tell me what that was all about.” He ducked to look more closely at Toria. “What’s going on, kid?”
“Syri’s dead,” Kane said. “She died about the same time you say Zerandan left. He must have been able to tell somehow.”
“s**t,” Max said. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks,” Toria said. She chased away the threatening bout of sadness with a clap of her hands. “Mind giving us a ride back to the manor? And how come Dad isn’t here?” She hoisted her packs, and they approached Max’s truck. The bags had held up well for a month. They would see how they handled for another seventeen.
“
