Page 41 of In The Dark
“If your memories are being siphoned, it may have pulled your essence out with it, and if that’s the case, I’m concerned. Why do they need to siphon at all? I understand why they would hide your memories but if they are using this on others, that’s a concern,” he said, talking out loud as he walked to the window and opened it.
“What do you mean growing? I can barely even leaf-whisper, and I can’t talk to animals. The most I can do is form orbs,” I said, crossing my arms. I leaned back, remembering the tingling sensation I get in my hands when I wield my magic.
“You’re from our realm, so you’ll have Aurelia’s magic, not Elderheim’s. Maybe you’ve just been trying to wield the wrong one. Try to practice the basic folk magic on your journey—elemental magic since all Fae can do that. Eventually, you should be able to Veil Walk and shift at some point, but that takes a lot of energy. Stick with the basics for now,” he said, leaning against the window, when a large hawk landed on his shoulder, causing a gasp to slip from me.
“What is that?” I gaped.
The hawk was massive with a white chest and brown wings. Dark eyes landed on mine before he chirped, gently rubbing hisbeak on Rydian’s hand. Rydian took a knuckle and gave him a small scratch.
“This is Ire, my messenger hawk,” he said with a smile and handed him a scroll right before he flew from the window again.
My eyes followed him out before I shook my head and returned to the conversation. “That’s easy for you to say. I have a hard enough time feeling my magic, but what is a Vision Walker?” I asked finally.
“Vision Walkers have the ability to see the memories or future outcomes of the person who touches their face with both hands. Though from what I know, it doesn’t always happen if someone touches you. It’s something you need to focus on in order to see them, like what I did with you last night.” He stopped pacing. “You didn’t happen to pick up a coin that night at the brothel, did you?”
A coin? A quizzical look grew on my face. What did that have to do with anything? But thinking back on the night, I did. The black one. My lucky coin, I called it and kept it with me.
“You mean this one?” I asked, pulling out the black coin with a diamond-shaped emblem etched on to the front.
“Yes, one just like that,” he mumbled, grabbing it from my fingers. “Do you know what this is?”
“Of course I know what it is,” I snapped, snatching it from his hands in annoyance. “It’s money, a coin that I just happened to pick up. Why, is it yours? Don’t you have enough money already, King?” My voice dripped with sarcasm.
He barked a laugh. “It’s not mine, but it’s a coin made from the Veil crafted by your Herb Weavers. There are only a few left, but it can help you enter the Veil or communicate through it if you are not familiar with our magic,” he explained.
“What does that mean exactly?”
“As you know, Shadovar are the only ones capable of entering the Veil, so it means that Aetheri can enter the Veil orcommunicate through it if they have one of these coins. I brought them in preparation for you not having your abilities as a precaution. You should be able to push a thought out to the person you want to communicate with, like leaf-whispering.”
“What?” I gasped.
“Isa?” Ezra is in front of me, touching my shoulder and pulling me from the memory.
“I’ll gather the horses and lead them down to the inn,” I get out. “My pack is ready to go. I’m just waiting on you two old bastards.” I throw him a light chuckle and rush out the door, taking my bag with me.
Feet thud against the cobblestone as I walk down the path, my attention shifting to the auburn-haired boy across the street—Rydian. I scowl just as someone walks past, causing me to lose sight of him, and he vanishes through the Veil within seconds of her passing.How convenient.
Quietly entering the stables, I shut the doors and stride to Bjorn. I saddle him when I hear Rydian appear behind me in awhoosh.
“You’re risking getting caught, you know,” I mumble, throwing a look over my shoulder to find that he’s shifted back into his usual form. Yet for some reason, my stomach flips at the sight of him.
Ignoring that, I turn and continue to saddle Bjorn. Rydian strides up beside me, helping with the saddle and grabbing the second buckle from underneath.
“I know, but Ivy has them distracted. She offered them breakfast and will keep them busy with conversation at the inn.” He gives me a tight smile and then drops it, the conversation suddenly turning more serious. “Be careful.”
I nod, leaning against Bjorn. “I’ll be fine. Just worry about yourself.”
“I know you want to trust them, but you can’t mention anything until we know for sure who’s siphoning yourmemories, and I don’t want you getting hurt in the process. I’ve waited twenty years for this moment. I’d hate to lose you again after only just getting you.”
I scoff. “You do not have me, let’s make that perfectly clear.”
He steps forward, the movement forcing my head back to meet his gaze. His eyes pierce me, searching my face with an intensity that makes him hard to ignore.
Regardless, my eyes narrow, and I take a cautious step back, the moment suddenly thrusting me back to the Painted Bird where we initially met. Did he know that was me? He seemed shocked at the Silver Lily when I came to kill him, so perhaps not.
He opens his mouth to say something before closing it again, looking off to the side. Then, as if sensing my discomfort, he steps back with a quiet sigh.
“I’m going to try to communicate with you through the Veil today, so try to keep the coin on you at all times if you want to respond,” he says.