I paused, worried about the unbelievable nature of what I was about to impart. He responded to my expression by taking my remaining arm in his other hand, giving me the impression that for that moment, I was his entire world.
“Whatever you have to tell me, whatever you saw—you know I’ll believe you, Zaria. I was angry and confused when I first saw you yesterday, but I only have to look at you to see you’re the same person you always were.”
I nodded, overwhelmed at his words but determined to get the confession over with.
“I saw them go into their hideout. I know where their headquarters are—where they hide the gold they steal.”
Rek’s jaw dropped. Whatever he’d thought me about to say, this was more than he’d dared hope for.
“And you could lead me there?” he asked eagerly.
“Yes, I think so.”
I had taken careful note of our surroundings, and the route we took back to the road. Not that I had planned or wanted to go back to the cave, but it had seemed prudent.
I swallowed. “But that’s not all.”
“Not all?” Rek looked back down at me with a laugh in his eyes. “Don’t tell me you singlehandedly detained them all, and I’ll find them trussed up in a row, waiting for arrest?”
I chuckled reluctantly. “I’m afraid not. I cowered in the bushes until they left. But after that, I went inside and…This is the unbelievable bit. The reason they kept managing to elude pursuers inside the forest is that they’re using an enchanted cave with a hidden entrance. And inside the cave…” I shook my head. “Even a lifetime of theft couldn’t have filled that cave. As soon as I saw it, I knew…Rek, somehow they found the missing second treasure cave of legend. That’s why the entrance is hidden. That’s why they can disappear, literally into thin air.”
“You found the treasure cave?” Rek whispered. “And it’s also the thieves’ hideout?”
“What!?!” Adara shrieked from over his shoulder, and I jumped guiltily. I’d been too distracted by Rek to notice her approach.
He whirled around, frustration clear in the lines of his body. He hadn’t been planning to share this new piece of information with his sister.
“Zaria?” Navid asked in a strangled voice.
I shrugged apologetically at him, thankful neither of the royals were taking any notice of us. I had carefully left Ali out of my story, making it sound like I had run into the robbers almost immediately after seeing Rek. Hopefully if they noticed Navid’s response, they would think he was upset at my not telling him about it.
“No one can know about this, Adara,” Rek said seriously. “No one.”
She looked at me. “Was the treasure amazing? Was it as big as the legends say?”
I nodded, and she squealed, jumping up and down and clapping her hands.
“This is so much better than I could possibly have imagined! Did you take some? Can I see it?”
“Of course I didn’t take any!” I said. “For all I know, it might be guarded by some terrible enchantment.”
Rek looked back at me, his forehead creased with concern. “Did you see any sign of an enchantment?”
I shook my head reluctantly. “No, but that doesn’t mean one wasn’t there.” I paused, prodded by my conscience. “I did actually take a single gold coin. It’s back at home, hidden under my bed. I could go and fetch it, if you—”
“You don’t need to prove it, Zaria!” Adara cried. “Of course we believe you. You were always the most honest of us as children.” She wrinkled her nose. “Except perhaps for boring Rek, here. And besides, who would make up such an outrageous tale?”
“Finding that treasure cave could change everything.” Rek’s eyes glowed. “It would put us on much more equal footing with Ardasira for a start and give us something immensely valuable to offer the Four Kingdoms. Even without the gang, this discovery—”
“If,” I interrupted firmly, “it doesn’t have some deadly enchantment on it. I wouldn’t go building castles in the sky quite yet.”
“Always so sensible, Zaria,” Adara murmured, but she slipped an affectionate arm around my waist.
The contact loosened a tight knot deep inside me, and I had to restrain myself from throwing both arms around her and squeezing tight. Even with all my new friends, I had missed my old one desperately.
“Zaria is right,” Rek said. “The treasure in the cave has been there for centuries. It’s not going anywhere right now.”
Navid winced slightly, and I kicked his ankle.