Chapter 5 #2
His control, Emmeline was certain he meant.
But she was in no place to correct the Temple Master.
On the Isle of Lyra, the temple was the main establishment that kept life thriving and families in business.
It was the highest Academy on all seven islands, the scholarship revered and envied. Warriors fought to get a place here.
And he was the head of that network. What he said, went. Which was why Emmeline jolted when he commanded, “I need you two to work together to try to put a stop to this mess.”
“What?” Roremar laughed.
“Why us?” Emmeline asked much more practically. She scowled at the reckless warrior. What good could the two of them do? With his rash reputation, he had to be one of the worst possible choices for something like this.
Falliare pinned her with a stare that said way more than his words.
“Emmeline, you know as well as I that you are the best choice to read fortunes surrounding any sensitive matter such as secretive crimes.” She swallowed.
He was right. Her magic was simply so much stronger than others, and she worked damn hard to master it.
It was how she’d earned this spot. “You will use the reading practices you have honed as a tutor and searcher to attempt to uncover the guilty party.”
“Why, th—”
“Do this, Emmeline,” he said pointedly, “and we will work on that favor you requested when you first arrived at my temple.”
Emmeline’s breath caught.
Her transfer.
She’d come to the isles on the heels of temple traders, but for the six years she’d worked here, her ultimate goal had been to get transferred to the Angelic Temple Academy in Valyn, the capital of Starsearcher Territory on the continent and the most likely place to end the trading for good and find her.
It was an impossible position to get without a contact from another esteemed Academy.
She’d been biding her time killing the threats and trying to find information that would make the work quicker when she arrived.
And Falliare had made it clear there was no position for her to transfer into.
“They have room finally?” she barely whispered.
“There have been rumblings of developments in recent months as clan leaders work to confirm the new Chancellor.”
Progress. He’d told her nothing of it, and while that pricked at her nerves, her chest inflated with hope.
After so many long years, it was a light at the end of an unending tunnel.
A potential step closer to the one person she truly sought, the one who had been her driving force nearly all her life.
“Find whoever is responsible for this, Emmeline, and we will get you there as soon as this mess is taken care of.”
Which meant she also had to exhaust all possibilities of information on the isle before that moment came. Resolve hardened in her gut, but it wasn’t fearful or under pressure.
It was determination that shone brighter than starfire.
As if seeing that promise, Falliare gave her a knowing nod of approval. And though her nerves were steel and her shield was still in place, something about the interaction left Emmeline feeling entirely translucent.
“And you, Roremar—”
“I can’t go anywhere,” he interrupted, and Emmeline had to fight a scoff. As if a transfer would be gifted so easily.
“You won’t,” Falliare assured him, and Roremar seemed to relax.
“But you will use the unique skills you’ve cultivated.
Be the keen investigator to Emmeline’s Fateblessed talent—be quick and quiet—and ensure this is taken care of while keeping yourselves safe.
No matter whom you have to keep quiet to do so.
” Her chest fluttered at the warning. “As we are well aware you are capable of.”
Roremar’s lips turned down slightly, his throat bobbing. That’s what he deserved for being so careless with lives in the army.
“What else can you tell us of the disappearances?” Roremar asked, voice tight. A soldier being briefed.
“Everything is in these files.” Falliare handed them each a leather-bound stack of papers. “Review them. Work together. Find who is responsible for this before the Remembrance Revels, or I won’t be able to help either of you with my promises.”
That was all the time he was giving them? Barely over a month? She had her lessons to teach and her own missions to conduct. Emmeline’s chest crowded at the thought, her mind whirling to rewrite every inch of her carefully crafted schedule.
But…Valyn.
In unison, she and Roremar answered, “Yes sir.”
Falliare folded his ringed hands. “Do not come to me with anything less than success. You both know the standards to which I hold you.” His eyes flicked between the pair of them. “Emmeline, you may go. Roremar, stay a moment.”
Emmeline jolted at the abrupt dismissal.
Why is he staying?
They were supposed to work together. Why exactly had Falliare chosen Roremar, anyway? There had to have been hundreds of Starsearchers on this isle who could be a guard and assistant. She didn’t need a heedless warrior rushing into anything.
Emmeline narrowed her eyes, scanning Roremar from head to toe.
Distrust of his reputation planted roots in her gut.
The Reckless glared backed, tilting his head in something between accusation and curiosity.
Raven-black hair drooped in soft waves to the top of his ears, swaying as he shook his head at her as if to ask, What do you think you’re seeing?
Annoyance prickled at her mind. She’d have to talk to him privately and impress upon him the importance of solving this quickly. With that resolve, she gave both him and the Temple Master a smile that gleamed like the stars. “I won’t disappoint.”
Falliare’s knowing grin curled in response. “I expect not, dear Emmeline.”