Lewis came up beside her, clearing his throat quietly. "I'm sorry to intrude, but could we start from the top? I'm afraid I'm not following any of this."
Avel glanced at Lewis and Baz, then his eyes flicked back to Sadie. "Can I talk to you?" he asked. "In private?"
He took her off to the side and lowered his voice.
"Listen, I'm sorry I couldn't tell you more earlier," he said. "I really thought you were just interested in the plants."
"Why were you so shifty about it?"
He looked right at her. "Would you have believed me if I'd told you straight out they were from another world?"
Sadie sucked in a breath. She'd still half-believed there was another, more logical explanation for everything that was going on. That they weren't living out a madman's fantasy. But hearing it from him meant that beyond a shadow of doubt, it was true.
She hesitated then shook her head. "Probably not."
Avel relaxed a little. "I didn't want to keep you in the dark. But with these kinds of things, the fewer people that know, the better."
Sadie supposed he had a point. "I guess," she said. "Is that all you wanted to say?"
Avel bit his lip. "That Salbarra," he said. "Is that the only thing you've taken out of Eseran? Aside from those flowers?"
Sadie tilted her head, noting the edge in his voice. "Why do you ask?"
"Just tell me," he said. "Please. It's important."
Always holding out, Sadie thought. What would it take to get a straight answer from him?
"Yeah," she said. She glanced at him and added: "For the moment, at least."
She'd added the last part mainly to see how he'd react; she wasn't even sure the angry, catlike creature had been down to her in the first place.
But a look of alarm flitted over Avel's face as she said it. Something about it was definitely putting him on edge.
"What do you mean, for the moment?" Avel said.
Sadie shrugged. "I figured the fastest way to learn about Eseran was to see it in person," she said. "But there's still a lot more stuff I don't know about, so maybe..."
His shoulders tensed. "Don't."
She stared back at him, a silent challenge. "Why not?"
"Look, if it's just information you're looking for, I can answer your questions."
Sadie quirked an eyebrow. "Really? You'll answer all my questions? Baz and Lewis' as well?"
With some reluctance, Avel nodded. "But in return, promise me you won't take anything else out of Eseran," he said. "Is that a deal?"
Sadie smiled and stretched out a hand.
"Sure," she said. "It's a deal."
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