"Brother," Alex said slowly. "Your guiding item is glowing."
Kanos sat up in the leaves. The grin had gone.
He opened the little pouch on his belt and took the thing out with two claws, very carefully, the way you pick up an egg.
Alex had seen it plenty of times. It was small and carved, about the size of a walnut, and it had never done anything except sit there.
It was doing something now.
A cold blue light was beating inside it. Beat. Beat. Beat. Every time it beat, the shadows of Kanos's claws jumped on the ground.
Something buzzed against Alex's leg.
He looked down. It was his pockets. The twelve Korium crystals he had kept for emergencies were shivering against his thigh, in time with the light.
'Luna? My trousers are humming.'
'I noticed.'
'Is that bad?'
'It's interesting,' she said, and would not say any more.
'Great. Interesting. That's a worry for future Alex.'
"What is that?" Selina had her spear back in her hand. "Kid. Is it a weapon?"
