Chapter Thirty-Two
D ark red once again seeps across the floor of Thaliya’s office.
“Do you see how if you hold the thought in your mind you can feel the power within your body respond here?” Thaliya draws a circle with her unwounded hand around her own abdomen as we practice pulling power.
Even though we’re in the healing ward, we both agreed patrons and healers alike would catch on too quickly if magic was involved. Which has left us in Thaliya’s small, cozy office with her holding a dagger and me trying not to faint each time she drags it across her forearm. “Your power is of the earth, so you must be grounded in order to pull from it.”
This being the case, we’re sitting on the cool stone floor with the carpet rolled back. Sitting cross-legged gives me the most contact with the ground, allowing the most access to my magic.
“Is it different for others? Are there others?” She hasn’t said much of this since her first explanation. I suppose I don’t blame her; I’d be wary of someone who was expected to save the entire realm but runs from the first mention of it and refuses to believe in her magical gifts, even as they unfold in front of her.
“It’s different for others. My gifts are earth based as well, since I’m a healer. I can always feel it trickling in around my ankles at first, and then it slowly rises up toward my center, and then out of my fingertips. But those who call from water, air, or fire have different experiences with their elemental power.” As she explains her experience, I can feel my magic rising within me, but instead of a small trickle, it feels more like a wave cresting within, warm and knowing as it moves from my seat and thighs touching the stone to my core. A small tempest brews within as the magic feels around, searching for an outlet.
“And there are others. Not as many as we’d like, but the Fae are here.”
“Here? In Merula?” I can’t imagine remaining here after what Hadeon did. The cruelty. The ruthlessness. The hatred. All so apparent in his first step onto Everguard, and it has only grown in the past ten years.
“A small number are here. Most reside in Chessardolian, our homelands to the east. There, they are safe enough to rebuild our people.” Her gaze is distant, and I wonder how long Thaliya has been in Merula, and at what cost. “This has healed up nicely.” There’s not even a scar. Her skin looks just the way it did before. “I’d say you’re beyond me now, unless I’m willing for Patton to impale me on his sword, which I am not,” she says emphatically, nodding and rising out of her seat to return to the ward, ending both our conversation and our practice.
I know I should remain in the ward to help, but suddenly I’m very done with blood for the day. I close Thaliya’s office door behind me and follow the small hallway back into the ward and out the doors.
“Princess Rowandine, they said I might find you here.”