Chapter 56 Folami #2
I held the communication stone tightly and a small smile brushed my lips when I heard Peytor’s breathless voice come through the stone.
It was quiet and somewhat tinny—an effect of the rune’s waning power.
Soon, we would no longer be able to communicate, and I would have to return to Lishahl, information gathered or not.
“Hello? Fo?” Peytor panted into the stone, and my brow furrowed.
“Why are you out of breath?” My heart pattered erratically at the thought of Peytor maybe in a more intimate position with someone else. We had many attractive men and women in our rebel camp, and more than one had expressed interest in Peytor, even if he claimed to only have eyes for me.
“Hello to you, too, Fo. I miss you as well. Your daughter is fast, do you know that? We’ve been running all morning in the yard as part of training today and she keeps begging me to race her.”
My smile returned and split my face, the rarely used muscles aching with the motion.
“Oh. Yes, she does like to do that,” I admitted, chagrin filling my voice. “Oh, and hello, Peytor. I miss you, too.”
“I know you do.” I could hear Peytor’s grin through the stone.
“Is this a pleasure call or a business one?” he asked, and my blood heated slightly at the innuendo in his voice.
“I wish it was pleasure,” I admitted softly, and Peytor chuckled knowingly.
“You’ll be home soon, Fo, and we’ll make up for the lost time. I promise.”
I squirmed slightly as his words shot straight to the place between my thighs, and I cleared my throat before Peytor could lead us any further in that direction.
“I have news, I think.”
“Go ahead, I’m listening.”
I recounted the conversation I overheard, suddenly doubting its importance.
“It’s probably nothing,” I hedged, but Peytor cut me off with a noise.
“It’s not nothing, Folami. It sounds like they were talking about Rohak d’Alvey.
And anything relating to him is important.
Especially if he’s thinking of taking a Vessel.
I’ve met him before and he was incredibly religious—seems that if he’s taking a Vessel, he either is being forced or there’s something else at play there.
And the way those women were talking about Vessels and position at court is definitely information about Samyr that we didn’t have before. ”
His praise warmed my cheeks and I bit my lip slightly.
“Thank you, Peytor.”
“Don’t thank me, it’s the truth. Are you safe there? Doing okay?”
I sighed. “I miss you. And Itanya. This whole place just feels . . . weird. How is training coming? How is Torin?”
I absently picked at the multicolored quilt as I waited for Peytor’s response.
“Torin is . . .” He paused, and I thought for a moment our connection ended. “Torin gave us new directives. We’re no longer training to conquer Vespera.”
I frowned, sudden anger igniting my blood.
“What?” I bit out. “Why? Did he give a reason?”
“Hold on, Folami. Just hold on,” Peytor placated. Only for Peytor would I hold my thoughts.
When I get back, I’m giving Torin a piece of my mind.
“Torin infiltrated the Academy just fine. He’s had a little issue with the other Mages and Vessels accepting him, simply because of who he was before all of this.
There’s been a few threats and scuffles, but they’re slowly accepting him.
Vespera . . . it’s not like it was when you were there, Folami.
The people are happy, content. There are thousands of refugees from the south there right now, and they’ve just been easily accepted into Vesperan society.
Many of them joined the Academy and the army. ”
I humphed, readying my rebuttal.
“The abuse you experienced doesn’t exist anymore,” Peytor intoned softly, and I stiffened.
“General d’Alvey made sure of that—he’s a good man and the army is loyal to him.
Torin doesn’t want to move against Vespera or General d’Alvey if he doesn’t have to.
And I agree with him, Fo. There may come a time when we need them. ”
I ground my teeth together in frustration, angry that Torin was so easily swayed and entranced by the Academy and Vespera.
“Anything else?” I barked.
“Folami,” Peytor sighed. “I know you’re frustrated, but please try and see his reasoning.
Right now, we cannot afford to lose Mages in a futile attack against Vespera.
There truly is only one way in and out. We’d get bottlenecked and overrun before we even made it out of the lower sector.
The best thing to do is wait and see what the gods do.
I’m telling you, we’re going to need Vespera’s help before this is all through. ”
I sighed, the exhaustion and pleading in Peytor’s voice wearing my defenses slightly.
“Fine. I will think on it,” I acquiesced and heard Peytor’s stress evaporate.
“Good, Folami. That’s good. Thank you.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. The communication stone pulsed faintly in my hand and I startled.
“I’d ask to speak to Itanya, but I think we’re running out of time,” I said.
“I’ll pass along your love and a hug. I’ll also tell her that you said to stop poking me with her elbows in the middle of the night.”
I laughed at that, fully aware of Itanya’s pointy elbows and her inability to lie still while sleeping. Unfortunately, the girl loved to cuddle.
“They’re weapons,” I teased, and Peytor laughed.
“Yeah, they are.” He paused and the rune pulsed again. “We miss you, Fo. Stay safe. We love you.”
“I—”
The communication cut off before I could say anything in return.
Peytor would have the Bondsmith reinforce his rune, allowing me one final time of communication.
I wanted to speak to him again, now, and tell him that I loved them both, too, but knew I needed to save it in case something more happened while I was in Samyr.
Besides, Peytor gave me a lot to think about, and I wanted to process all of the changes first, before I said anything brash and was called home.
Either way, I’d see them both soon.
I’ll tell him when I get home, I thought. The prospect of seeing Peytor’s face when I told him I loved him for the first time buoyed my earlier frustrations.