“No, wait!” Carissa followed him. She didn’t want to endanger the camp, but she had to speak to Elon first. She caught his wrist.
He glanced back at her, his eyes and expression blank. He didn’t speak. Would she become like him if they drugged her?
“Just… give me a day to tell them. I’ll take care of this.” Surely she could find Elon while they were traveling.
The boy blinked. “Half a day.”
Or she could find him that night. “Fine.” She released his wrist slowly.
He stared at her for another moment before walking back into camp. She hoped he didn’t tell anyone.
Now, to find Elon.
Carissa began walking. Should she just ask Zorelle? Or would Zorelle forbid her to see him this time? After a few minutes, she spotted the right tent—its ceiling low and its perimeter guarded by Reapers. The Reapers likely wouldn’t let her pass without permission, and she’d already tried to sneak in before. That meant she’d be seeing Zorelle.
Carissa veered to the right, striding towards the larger tents in the middle of camp. Zorelle would likely be in one of those.
And then a smell hit her. She slowed and sniffed. It smelled like warm bread and cooked meat. Her stomach cramped painfully. Where was that smell coming from? Her nose guided her towards a tent, and she peeked through the slit in the opening. A crowd of servants were gathered around a table.
Well, great. The servants wouldn’t likely help her. That meant she’d have to steal some—again.
Carissa circled around to the back of the tent and squeezed through the gap between the fabric and the ground.