29. Chapter 29 #2
“Clarissa, my maid, did the most noble thing in her attempt to shield me as I called on my Wielding to put out the fires. I heard her scream and found a beast on top of her, tearing into her.” Her lip quivered.
“I tried to Wield it away but was hit by something that knocked me out cold. When I came to, I found myself on the back of a supply wagon covered in blankets. My face”—she lightly brushed it with her fingertips—“I felt the disfigurement before I saw it. One of the servants in the cart told me he had found me face-down in the coals I’d been trying to extinguish with vines and grass.
As soon as I saw a Healer, I made haste to come back here. ”
“That Healer must have been rushing. I’ll take a look at it and make sure those scars Heal properly, oh sweet darling sister of mine,” Fyom said from his seat.
If looks could carry temperature, Paige’s glare to her brother would have been full of ice.
“Well…Vovias was correct in one thing—I was taken to Dokvalon. Not by my sister’s design, but his,” Ora spoke up quietly. “I don’t know how long I was there, but it was enough to know I never want to go back.”
Paige turned to us all in shock. “I had a hunch that sniveling prick was involved! I didn’t think he was clever enough to pull it off, but now…” She trailed off, thinking. “I’ll write letters to the others. Tell them the truth. We’ll find Vovias and—”
“There’s no need,” I cut in, not daring to look her in the eye.
“What do you mean?” Paige asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.
“He’s dead,” Ora stated matter-of-factly.
Paige leaned in. “How?”
“I killed him,” I said bluntly. I hesitated to look her in the eye, fearing what I would see in her expression. Fear? Shame? Disappointment that I’d used such a harsh force? Instead I saw…pride. Satisfaction.
“Good. He reaped what he sowed,” Paige replied curtly and looked to her brother next. “How do you come into play with all of this? What coaxed you to come out of your shell?”
“I guess that would be my doing of sorts,” I began before filling her in on the rest that had happened, from the time of the Temple, to me discovering the depths of the Wielding that ran through my veins, to the threats we faced.
Through it all, Paige hung on to every word.
Ora nudged me to display my newfound powers, proving I could Wield each element with ease.
The lady laughed when I coaxed a stubborn plant next to the window to bloom before sending a soft breeze to tickle the petals.
Her eyes grew wide the moment I cast a roaring fire into the hearth and then doused it quickly in water.
Ora beamed and told Lady Simret that we were learning better ways to Heal thanks to Fyom’s instruction.
We theatrically demonstrated our strengths in the celestials of the sun and moon, respectively.
Ora did a fine job showcasing bright starbursts in various forms peppering the room, while I harnessed the moon’s energy into my orbs, creating whatever came to mind.
Weapons, tethers, even a teal-tinged puppet to dance in my hand.
The static in the air caused the ends of my hair to lightly float then fall once our Wielding was reabsorbed into our bodies.
We took turns explaining just how far our power went beyond what everyone knew of the Endromeon line.
“You two have the illicitus?” Paige gasped.
“But how can that be? It’s practically a myth.
” She hardly batted an eyelash when I revealed my stronger powers.
I was careful to pull just enough to the edge to wilt the petals of a nearby flower.
The same sweet taste coated my mouth, threatening the brink I was so close to teetering on, as the poor flower turned gray with decay and wilted into nothing.
From the corner of my eye, I witnessed Peiro’s body tense and his knuckles turn white. His body gently relaxed the moment I pulled back my magic. I quickly hid my shaking hand that begged me to find more life to take.
“You can Wield death. By the giants, may Thuvina give you grace,” Paige whispered as she tried to collect her thoughts on what she’d just observed.
“I can take it and Wield it to some extent.” My eyes flitted to Peiro, his grays locking on mine. “But I’m still learning as we go along. Unfortunately there’s little information to guide us, so here we are.”
The way Paige looked at me with such reverence, it was almost like she had known of the deceit told to me all along. She looked at Ora. “And you Wield life?”
“We’re still trying to figure that out as well,” Ora replied. “I think I can help regenerate it, but I haven’t exactly figured out how to Wield it.”
“By Ythos and Thuvina—and you’ve told no one else of this, correct?” Paige looked at us both as we all quickly shook our heads. “Good. This is your ace. Keep it that way.” I was relieved at our decision to not tell Beralt about our shared powers until we knew how trustworthy he was.
“I knew you shouldn’t be underestimated. Felt it in my bones,” Paige said as she looked at me with veneration in her eyes. “I just couldn’t prove it.”