Chapter 11 #2
'He is no more. He left me at The Barrack after he took me. Perhaps he intended to come back for me when I was old enough to help him do what he wanted. What my father refused.'
'What was it that this mage wanted?'
'To find a lake. One with black water.'
‘The Black Lake,’ Locke whispers, and he and Jak’s eyes meet for a moment.
‘You know of it?’ I ask.
‘Varrik was a mage…’ Jak says quietly. ‘He was obsessed with finding it. The Black Lake. He looked for many, many years before he found it.’
'You think Varrik may have been the mage my father spoke of?'
‘Perhaps.' Jak shakes his head. ‘Varrik did find the Black Lake eventually, after many years of searching for it. He used it in many ways before he was killed and the knowledge of its location was lost again. It’s said it’s the birthplace of the Harbinger.’
‘What else did he tell you, Bryn?’ Locke urges, leaning closer.
‘He said that I could hear him because I'm strong enough to understand his words now. The life of a slave kept me weak. Food and rest, and,’ my cheeks color, ‘the need I sometimes feel. It makes me more powerful. He also said that I have gifts, that Fate doesn’t just work through me…’ I taper off.
Will they believe me? I scarcely believe it myself and I’ve seen it three times now. I take a breath.
‘Could that be why Fate has never harmed us?’ Jak murmurs, almost to himself, his eyes unfocussed. ‘If you were in control of it, then perhaps you didn’t want it to harm us.’
‘My father seemed to think that Fate would choose those who were worthy.’
They all glance at each other.
‘Anyway, something happened in Merediea,’ I blurt, ‘and I wasn't sure if I was remembering it properly, but there was a goblin?—'
'I remember,' Locke says softly. ‘When I found you wandering.’
I nod. 'Well, I was trying to get away from him.
A candle flame suddenly burned high, and it set him alight.
And then his hand was trapped hard in a door.
He hadn't hurt me. And something similar happened in the alley with that man in Halsford.
A piece of the roof broke off almost hit him, and then again with Tavish.
An egg fell on his head from the ceiling.
He hadn't hurt me either. I've tried to make it happen again, but I haven’t been able to.’
'Have you tried since we came here?’ Locke asks.
I shake my head. 'I suppose I think that if I can't do it, then all of it was a dream. A waking dream.'
'Perhaps you should try now,' Locke presses, glancing around at all the people in the street who are talking and laughing.
'What should I do?' I ask dubiously.
'Anything.'
I survey the immediate area. I notice some drunken men down by the next corner, drinking over a large, upended barrel.
A stray dog slinks by, and one of them kicks it.
My eyes narrow. No matter where I am, whether Light Realm or Dark Realms, there are always those who think themselves better, who gain pleasure from being cruel.
It makes me angry and before my very eyes the man slips over in the mud. I hear an audible crack as his leg breaks. He squeals in pain, and my eyes widen. I look away immediately.
The males at the table all look shocked.
'Did you just?—'
I nod jerkily. 'I think so.'
I put down the food in my hand, suddenly no longer hungry.
'It was real,' I say quietly.
'Don't tell anyone you can do this,' Jak says, and the others nod.
'I won't,’ I say adamantly.
'Did he say anything else? Your father?'
I look down at the table. 'Well, he also said I could steal mages’ magicks. Suck them dry.'
Locke’s eyes widen. 'Gods, Bryn. That's quite a gift if it's true. I’ve never heard of such a thing.'
'Try it on Locke,' Morgan urges from beside me, sounding a little bit too gleeful at the prospect for my liking.
'No,' I say immediately, not wanting to hurt any of them. 'Besides, I think I already did it when we were in the cave.'
Locke frowns.
'Yes,' he says slowly. 'I remember. I felt as if my magick was being snuffed out. It was quite painful.'
‘It was an accident,’ I say ruefully. ‘I wouldn't want to do it to you again.'
'Still, you should try. Perhaps not here, not now, but it could mean the difference between life and death if Voss ever has another chance at you,’ Jak says. ‘Being able to stop him from using his magick would be quite the weapon against him.’
He stands abruptly. ‘Come. Let’s go back to our rooms. The hour grows late.’
Our meal all but finished, we all rise and walk the short journey back to the Great Library together. I take in the last remnants of the gaiety of the night, staring at the dancers in the streets and watching the freefolk in their enjoyments in case I never get to see such a thing again.
By the time we get back to our rooms, exhaustion has caught up to me, and I'm half asleep as we trudge up the stairs to our chambers. Jak brings me to my room, removes my clothes, and tucks me up into bed.
He turns to leave, but I grip his hand.
‘Don’t,’ I beg, the many events of the day turning my thoughts dark. ‘I don’t want to be alone.’
He hesitates, but then nods. ‘Will you sleep?’
I shrug. ‘I’m tired but…’
‘Sit up,’ he commands quietly. ‘Face away from me.’
I raise a brow, getting on all fours, and expecting him to touch me, but all he does is take hold of my shoulders and draw me toward him, so I’m kneeling in front of him on the bed with my back to him.
I turn my head in question, but then he begins to knead my neck and shoulders with gentle, but firm hands, as if I’m a piece of dough on a baker’s table.
I can’t help the groan that leaves my lips, my body relaxing, my head hanging forward as I succumb to his expert fingers. He manipulates my flesh until I’m a veritable puddle and I can barely keep my eyes open.
When he notices this, he has me lie down, covers us both with the blanket, and cuddles me from behind, one thumb still rubbing my neck as I begin to doze off.
The next thing I know, there's sunlight streaming through the casement. There’s a knock at my door, and a servant comes in with a tray. She leaves it with a small murmur of 'good morning,' and, bleary-eyed, I sit up.
Jak isn’t here. I blink at the divot in the mattress next to me. He did stay last night as I asked, but he must have been up with the lark.
He was meeting with Vie, I recall, wondering if I should have been at this early meeting as well. But, I suppose if he didn’t wake me, I wasn’t needed.
On the table, I find eggs and bacon, fried bread, and fruit, along with a steaming cup of tea. I eat what I can. By all accounts I feel well considering all that happened yesterday. My guts are in knots thinking about what's going to happen today.
I open the bag that Gwen gave me yesterday, adding one of the sachets of leaves to my cup. I should try to be as strong as possible, and she did say they would help.
I hear the tenth chime of the morning and realize it can't be long before the festival will start properly. I need to be out in the streets soon, as conspicuous as possible. Morgan and Jak told me that the Underhill’s spies in the Dark Realms had been leaking tidbits about a Fate Touched human female who’d be in Kitore for the festivities along with a description, so they should be looking for me.
We decided that I will begin in the main square because that's where most people will be.
I get dressed, smiling a little in the direction of the various packages that have been left on my table by Jak from last night, and I hope that I'll be able to come back for them.
I go down to the main room and find my three fae males waiting for me. They look grim.
‘Have you already met with Vie?’ I ask.
Jak nods. ‘Aye. We’re as ready as we can be. The Library’s guards will be in strategic locations around the city. But, in truth, I’m not sure how much help they’ll be. Fiana’s agents must have some way of using the wards to their advantage.’
He winces.
‘We’ll have to let some humans be taken so they aren’t aware that we knew they were coming. You understand that, don’t you Bryn?’
I swallow hard, hating the idea of more humans being stolen. They all seem so happy here, so at ease.
‘Will we be able to save them?’ I ask.
‘We’ll do everything we can,’ he promises.
I give him a dubious look, but am beginning to understand why Locke was how he was in the Dark Realms. Not everyone can be saved and hard choices need to be made for the greater good. We have to make sure Fiana is stopped, and however her agents are getting to the Light is shut down.
'I want you to try it before we go out there, Bryn,' Locke says, taking my arm in a gentle grasp.
I blink at him in confusion.
‘Try to take my magick. You may need such a gift today.’
I look up at him, frowning deeply.
'I don't want to hurt you,' I say.
'I want…no, I need you to practice on me,' he replies. ‘Please.’
I let out a sigh and close my eyes, knowing he’s right.
‘All right,’ I acquiesce quietly. ‘But just for a moment.’
I try to think about what I did in the cave, but it won’t come. I find I can't summon it no matter how hard I try. After a few minutes, I shake my head, annoyed with myself.
'I can't do it. It just won’t… I'll try again another time,' I mutter, though I’m secretly glad that it isn’t working.
'Here.' Morgan comes forward and draws up my dress.
'What are you doing?' I ask. 'I don't think we have time for?—'
He gives me a quick grin and brings out an odd, belted contraption which he secures to my thigh, attaching two small knives in little sheaths to it. 'In case you have need of them, but we will be close.’
'I'll need to put a tracking conjure on you, Bryn,' Locke says, glancing at Jak and then away. 'I understand if you don't want me to. If you don't trust?—'
Jak snorts. ‘I’d have thought you’d have had one on her already.’
‘I… I’ve only been using temporary ones,’ he mutters, not looking at me. ‘They wear off quickly, which is why we had to search for her when she went missing.’
He appears contrite. ‘I’m sorry, but?—’