Page 58 of Insolence (Eisha’s Hidden Codices #1)
“It’s difficult to explain. It’s not the color, necessarily. It’s the texture—the consistency. Their auras feel different somehow.”
I’ll be damned. Where Ghisele's lagging behind, Cordelia is blowing past her classmates’ progress admirably.
“You’re quite the sensitive mage,” says Maida in her Impressed Maida Voice. “Naturally gifted in First Sight as well as a devoted student. Most don’t reach that level of ability until well into apprenticeship.”
“Tonight isn’t the time or place to go into it,” I say, and Cordelia turns to me.
“Meet me in the Orrery Tower tomorrow after class, and we’ll have a private session.
Bring your lunch. I’ll have to apprise you of some things that may be a bit…
shocking at first. But the difference in auras is to be expected once you have the full picture. ”
“All right.” Not looking fully convinced, Cordelia nods. Shifts her weight between her feet. “There’s another thing, too. Tiss’s aura—”
Lungs constricting, my blood pressure is instantly in my shoes.
“It’s exactly like the betrothed girls’.” Cordelia looks between Maida and me.
To my friend’s credit, she doesn’t twitch an eyelid. Merely nods benignly, taking Cordelia by the shoulders and turning her around. “That’s fine, dear. Nothing to worry about tonight. You haven’t mentioned it to anybody else, have you?”
“N-not yet…” Cordelia strains to look over her shoulder.
“Lovely. See that you don’t and all will be well. Focus on the celebration. Tonight is a joyful occasion. The old year ends and a new one begins! Now go dance and drink some more with your friends.”
We watch her vanish into the crowd, and my heart rate somewhat normalizes. I could do without the white dots washing my vision, though.
A boot thumps on the ground behind me. When I look around to check, nobody’s there.
Maida grabs my elbow, turning me to face her. “You said you trust her, right?”
“Implicitly. Why?”
“Well, don’t you think it might be nice to have an extra set of hands around? Just in case certain things start feeling ‘too big’ and ‘overwhelming’ again?” She quirks a brow at me.
“ Fine ,” I sigh, knowing what she’s getting at. The pressure of her hand on my arm is strangely soothing. “I’ll talk to her about our plans.”
“Wonderful.” My friend studies me. “It will be all right . I know it doesn’t seem so, but everything will work out in the end.”
“Sure. But we need to be very careful about who we include in this.”
Maida shrugs, releasing me. “It’s your circus. You’re the Ringmaster.”
“Only the people I say, when I say.”
“Understood, my liege. I’d never dream of stepping on your toes.”
I nod. Try to dismiss the clawing anxiety. “Have I thanked you yet for helping me with this crazy caper? On top of generally being my bedrock.”
“Only nine or ten times.”
“Good to know you’ve kept count.” I tie the ribbon Bibi brought me around her wrist. “I mean it, though. I’d be lost without you.”
Both hands go to my shoulders, and she touches her forehead to mine. Her voice drops to a murmur. “Well, it was a strange day indeed when I realized I simply had no choice but to rescue a Succubus and her Thrall from utter despair.”
I pull away, looking this way and that. But we’re still alone in our spot between the large greenhouses and laundry lines. Shaking my head, I laugh. “You are the best friend I could have asked for. I don’t tell you that enough.”
“Does that mean you’re going to quit this pointless sulking and loosen up? I don’t know about you, but after that , I need another drink.”
Laughing again, I dab unshed tears from my eyes.
Kael and Autry have left the shadows. Join the festivities. The blacksmith’s apprentice juggles five of his red balls to the drunken delight of two betrothed girls. Seated on the Waymark’s benches, they’re watching him in awe and barely holding each other up.
Kael gives a whoop and catches another girl as she stumbles. “Watch your step there, love.” He scoops her into his arms as her legs collapse beneath her weight. “Off to bed with ya then.” He nods when he passes us.
Maida and I are heading to the refreshment table when two more betrothed girls catch my eye. Hand-in-hand, they giggle and sway toward the Gallery together. Abruptly stop to exchange a passionate kiss in the open. One girl’s hand sweeps the other’s hair from her shoulder, exposing her neck.
“Hey.” Giving a low whistle, I jog up. “Weren’t you told to keep it contained to your quarters tonight?”
They mumble something incoherent. Talk over each other and laugh again, the drunker of the two not quite focusing her eyes.
I rejoin Maida after pointing them in the right direction. “Deirdre’s got it down to an art. I’ll give her that,” I mutter. “The longest-lasting effects are just wearing off.”
“Still can’t believe I was blind to it for so long.” Maida shakes her head.
“You saw things here and there. But you have a good and trusting heart.”
“A naive heart, I fear.”
“Not because you’re foolish. Because you’re too good and kind to assume anyone is otherwise. And Deirdre would always keep your cup full and your mind distracted on nights like this.”
“True enough, I suppose.” Voice unsteady, my friend motions us toward the refreshments. “A full cup sounds merciful right about now.”