Redsand Canyon the day pressed on like crushing weights

Both of them chose their words with care, weighing each syllable against what it could do to them. For Aventus, Tuur could blow his entire operation here in the mountains. The basalt Ostrega could run off right now and tell Nyra that he had seen one of Ursus spying in the mountains and tip the Saints off to the storm gathering over their heads, endangering not only him, but Arielle as well. He couldn't have that.

Aventus, too, held some cards of his own. If only he had cared to know the other boy better, maybe he could find an ally here, but he still viewed Tuur as something beneath his regard. Merrick, though ... He could tell Merrick where Tuur was hiding, and knew his father would not be happy to learn it and might very well turn his teeth upon his former ward.

He was tense as well, he realized, and willed himself to relax with a few sinuous steps. It wouldn't do to betray that he was afraid, too. He took Tuur's news with a harsh bark of mirthless laughter. Of course she would run. She kills those weaker than her and then runs off like the coward she is. He grit his teeth together so hard his skull rattled. It hurt to admit his mother was weaker than Nyra, but he reminded himself it was only because she was sick. She would have torn Nyra's throat out otherwise. Fuck the Saints. He had to find them!

Tell me where she and Donovan went and I will forget I ever saw you here.