Chapter 22
Elariya
“The Shape of His Name”
Wolfe summoned another meeting.
It was late morning. Everyone sat in the same places as yesterday, with him at the head of the table. But no one seemed entirely relaxed.
I would have preferred to be excluded. I’d been up for hours, but I was no less furious. I didn’t wish to be in Wolfe—or anyone else’s—presence so soon after yesterday’s disaster. But it was wise to attend.
If I had any hope of escaping, I needed to know Wolfe’s plan, and everyone else’s movements.
Wolfe’s gaze moved across the room, ensuring every eye was on him.
“I wanted everyone here so there would be no confusion about what comes next,” he said evenly, jumping straight into the discussion. I was glad he’d skipped the pleasantries. Then again, I hadn’t seen him be pleasant. Maybe this was what he was usually like.
“Even with everything that’s happened, I believe our priority should remain the ring.” His voice carried easily through the chamber. “So we’ll be resuming our efforts to find it.”
“What do you propose, my lord?” Alaric asked, his voice still heavy with disagreement. “The Seer’s counsel has changed our previous plan. We now know we can’t simply cast a blood-tracking spell to locate it.”
The plan had changed because the Seer revealed that my magic was the key to finding the ring. Not my blood. Blood was just the first step in making the connection to the path.
Wolfe rested his hands on the edge of the table and his eyes flicked briefly toward me.
“I propose Elariya resumes training with Arielle, along with her studies at Hyxian. Garrick will also resume his watch of the girls, but with Alaric on standby.” He looked across at Bastian.
“You’re with me, unless you’re needed here. ”
They all nodded their agreement.
I just watched, watched another decision being made for me as if I wasn’t even in the room.
“It’s imperative we get Elariya back up to speed as quickly as possible. We’ve lost enough time.” The room fell quiet again as he spoke. “Every delay strengthens the forces already moving against us. We need to make progress before the next reset.”
“My Lord, if I may speak,” Arielle said, leaning forward.
“I am not so certain we can do all that the Seer suggested in twenty-one days. Of course I am willing to try. It’s just that we’re talking about time magic, which is hard to master by itself, and also the possibility of finding a familiar. A dragon. Another equally hard task.”
“I’m aware. I’ve been thinking about that and trying to figure out the ring’s intentions. I don’t believe they’re as streamlined as we think.”
“What do you mean?” I spoke up before anyone else could.
Wolfe looked at me, his eyes guarded, free of the emotion he showed yesterday.
“The Seer said you need only locate the ring to get your memories back and break your curse,” he began. “You wouldn’t need to recover it. I believe that means the ring needs your memories intact to actually retrieve it.”
“How can you be certain of this?” I searched his eyes.
“You’re my tracker. The ring would have thought things through in the most effective way, so you’d have the full capacity of your powers to guide me. That won’t happen in twenty-one days.”
Arielle seemed to relax on hearing that. I couldn’t share her ease because I was still on edge. Probably because I wasn’t used to magical objects having a mind of their own.
“So for now, I’d just have to get myself to the level of power needed to locate the ring,” I surmised.
“Exactly,” Wolfe said calmly. “I came to the conclusion because a dragon bond requires immense power. Dragons will only bond when an individual has reached a level where their power can match the creature’s own abilities. Both have to be ready.”
I absorbed the information quietly, wishing I already had the dragon. I’d simply fly out of here.
“In my journal, I noted that the Seer said the dragon would call to me when I was ready to make the bond.” I wasn’t going to be here long enough to make that bond but I still wanted to know.
The master of the dragons was the best person to tell me.
“She also said it was here in the caves in a temporal space.”
“That is correct.”
“What kind of power would I need to have for it to call to me?”
“A hells of a lot. You are not of that level yet. Nor will you be in twenty-one days. A bond is a merging of magic. A synchronization of power.” He paused.
“To get to that level you will need all your memories. You can’t be stuck in the loop where you are always going back to square one and relearn the basics. ”
I had to agree with him.
Arielle nodded faintly. “This makes sense. So we’ll focus on training Elariya to harness her time magic and see how far we get. Then we attempt the tracking spell again.”
Wolfe’s attention turned toward her. “Yes, that’s the plan. You may go to Hyxian as soon as you see fit. I will put in a royal request so that Archmage Magdalena is available whenever you need her. We will need her expertise.”
Arielle nodded and her gaze flicked toward me. “I’d like to spend some time going over what we learned last month before we resume training at Hyxian.”
“How long will that take?”
“Just a few days,” Arielle said thoughtfully. “We just need to go over the foundations so Elariya feels comfortable in her magic by the time we see the archmage.”
She turned toward me again. Outwardly, I kept my expression calm. But inside, my thoughts were racing.
Training meant power. Power meant options. And options meant escape.
I knew from the get-go that I couldn’t leave this place without knowing how to use my magic.
I’d done a lot in Morg?ven and I felt magic coursing through me more powerful than even days ago, but the curse had robbed me of the basic knowledge I’d gained last month.
I needed to get back to where I was, fast. And I preferred to do it alone. Time was limited, and I didn’t want Arielle watching me while I put an escape plan together. She’d see too much and ask the wrong questions.
She’d know what I was up to.
“I’d like some time on my own first,” I cut in.
As expected, Arielle looked hurt.
“I’d prefer to review my notes first,” I continued.
It was a reasonable request and exactly the sort of thing someone in my position should say.
“Very well,” Wolfe agreed after a moment of silence. “Have the next two days.”
Relief settled in my chest. This was good. It was a step. If they believed I was preparing for training, they wouldn’t suspect anything else.
Arielle glanced at me but I averted my gaze on purpose.
I understood that the situation wasn’t her fault, but my disappointment in her promises still sat too deep. Memory or not, I’d taken her for a friend. Knowing that she was bound to Wolfe meant I couldn’t trust her the way I wanted to. The way I needed to.
“The Bloodsworn and I will take care of everything else,” Wolfe said, changing the subject.
“We’ve had two massive attacks and other disturbing incidents weeks apart.
We need to be more careful than ever. The Seer counseled that the enemy may not be at full strength as yet, but we need to be mindful that the day will come when they are. ”
“We just need to make sure we’re ready for them,” Garrick stated with conviction.
“Indeed,” Bastian agreed.
The conversation continued with more of the plans Wolfe had to secure the place and ensure our safety but I zoned out, thinking about what I had to do.
Magic was the key. I’d already tapped into it so I just needed to reacquaint myself.
I would do so the moment this was over.
My attention drifted back to Wolfe when Alaric asked a question about the manor. I wasn’t paying attention to Wolfe’s answer. I was simply looking at him, wondering how he felt it was okay to keep me here.
There was all this talk about safety, but no mention of my family. As if he couldn’t feel how much worrying about them was eating me alive. I knew the bastard must have felt my fury because he looked straight at me, even though Bastian had begun talking about something that sounded important.
People who desired each other could always find the other. That’s what I’d written in my journal when we first got together.
It was part of a game we played.
Was desire the same when they were angry? Could they feel each other’s rage? And hate?
Wolfe looked away, the tick in his jaw betraying him.
I’d unnerved him. Good.
It didn’t surprise me that he’d looked away. I’d do the same too if I were him. But I’d be ashamed of myself. I didn’t think he felt anything of the sort.
The meeting dissolved minutes later.
I was the first up and out of the room. And I didn’t care how rude I appeared to be. They all knew I was still furious.
Arielle caught up with me in the corridor.
“Elariya.”
I turned as she fell in step with me. Up close, the concern in her eyes was unmistakable.
“You’re certain you want to practice on your own?” she asked softly.
“Yeah. I just need a little time to gather my thoughts.” I forced my tone to stay light.
“I would have preferred to help you get back on track as quickly as possible.” She held my gaze.
“I know. I just want to be on my own for a while.”
Arielle studied my face for a moment longer. Then she gave a small nod. “Of course. Promise me you’ll call me if you get stuck.”
“Sure. I’m going back to my room now.”
“That’s fine,” she replied. “Take this. It will help bring you up to speed.”
She turned over her left palm, and a black leather book appeared in her hand. She held it out for me to take.
Principles of Arcane Harmony.
I took it, recognizing the title from my notes in my journal. It was one of the main textbooks they used at Hyxian. Yes, indeed it would help bring me up to speed.
“Thank you.” I smiled faintly
“I’ll come and check on you later.”
“Alright.”
She stopped and I continued walking, my mind already turning.
I’d just bought myself space.
Now to plan.